KIRSTY’SUP BEFORETHE SONSRISE
WEDNESDAY Weather presenter Kirsty McCabe on how getting organised helps her family cope with her early starts
SCOTS weather presenter Kirsty McCabe is busy juggling life as a mum of two while often getting up for work before the sun rises.
Kirsty is up at 3.30am when she has a presenting shift at Sky News weather – and that means sneaking out the house without waking the family.
She’s married to Renato Marchio, 42, and the couple live in Surrey with their two sons Ethan, six and Logan, four.
Luckily, Renato works from home so can be there for the boys – although Kirsty will often get everything ready for them before she goes to bed.
“I will usually lay out the kids’ clothes for the day and any bags and have everything organised the night before,” she said.
She says being a mum puts life in perspective. But it also means plenty of organisation – especially as she works shifts, presenting with producing.
“Like most working parents, you have to be organised so that you can give as much as you can to both sides of your life,” she said.
Qualified meteorologist Kirsty, 41, from Ayrshire, said it was important for her to continue her career after she had kids. “It’s nice to feel you’re still you. You have your own identity,” she added.
“I also think working mums make really good employees because when they’re at work they work hard.
“They have deadlines, they have to get back by set times and they can be really efficient and good at multi-tasking.”
Before moving into presenting, Kirsty achieved a first class honours degree in geophysics from Edinburgh University and was an intern at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland.
Kilmarnock-born Kirsty has just been named as the world’s first hotel meteorologist in residence. She’s teamed up with the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, which has launched a Silver Lining Package for guests in their 12 premier suites.
The rooms in the five-star hotel respond to conditions outside, with light therapy lamps provided for dull afternoons and a hair stylist on hand if it’s windy.
At least Kirsty has an idea of what the weather is going to be like when she goes out – which is handy when she takes her kids out, although she admitted: “I’m usually over-prepared with waterproofs and sunhats.”
Kirsty is regularly on Sky News weather and worked for BBC Scotland, GMTV and Daybreak – but she’s not often recognised when out and about.
“People always ask me for directions,” she said. “I must look vaguely familiar or friendly enough that clearly I’m a walking street map.” ● www.marriottcountyhall.com
Working mums have deadlines, can be really efficent and are good at multi-tasking