FROM CAPETOWN TO BEATING THE SUN IN IRELAND

HAVING met in London, Leigh and husband Paul dreamed of relocating to her native South Africa, to Cape Town where she grew up. And they did exactly that in 2010; quitting their jobs, upping sticks, committed to starting a new life.

‘When we got to South Africa we realised the work situation was really bad for what we did in hospitality. Shortly afterwards I found I was pregnant with my daughter Keira,’ Leigh recalls.

Paul, a Wexford town man, jokingly suggested they move to his homeland, a place Leigh had only ever visited on holidays.

‘I’d only ever come for a weekend, a week. I never thought I could live here. I grew up in Capetown, and had been living in London, so was used to very big cities.

‘We ended up coming back here, and it did take a while to get used to but, to be honest, it’s the best thing we ever did. It had to happen the way it did. This is home now. I love it here.’

And Leigh’s family have grown to love Wexford too, her mother visits every January for two weeks and takes a little something back with her each time.

‘I normally take the first two weeks of January off because Christmas is so crazy for me. I like to enjoy the time when my mother is here, but towards the end of the second week I have to start working on the chocolate which needs to be sent back to South Africa.

‘My mother’s entire hand luggage bag on the way back is usually full of chocolate,’ Leigh says.

Are there any plans to stock Zaeire Artisan Chocolates in South Africa, bring this blend of cultures a step futher.

‘ The idea is lovely, but logistically it’s difficult. It’s very hot in SA. During the heatwave here a couple of summers ago, that was the first time I’ve ever found it challenging to make chocolate in Ireland.

‘It’s all about temperature control, and when the kitchen is hotter than the temperature you need to stop at, it’s a problem. I ended up having to get up really early in the morning, coming into the kitchen at 4 a.m., just to beat the sun.’