My day in cups of tea
We spoke to leatherworker Jess Laird about her day in cuppas, and how tea always tastes better in a favourite mug
First cuppa of the day, how do you drink it?
My husband Neil brings me tea in the morning. It’s drunk in bed with a chapter of whatever I’m reading. And then on to a big breakfast and beverage? Definitely – sourdough toast, marmalade, and a coffee. Time for work. How's the commute? We live in a rural village in Essex. My workshop is ten steps from the house and I commute past our chickens
– it's my favourite part of the day! And what is it that you do?
I’m a leatherworker. After a decade of teaching and living in Africa for a few years, we came back to the UK and I started to dabble in leatherwork. A lot of practise later, I opened Red Bike Leatherworks. What do you love most about it? It’s both ends of the process: the first cuts into new leather; and stepping back to admire a finished piece.
Elevenses! Is there a preferred mug?
Standard breakfast tea with a dash of milk please, in a mug made by my friend Gabby, who's a ceramic artist. Now back to work?
After I've got the morning admin out of the way, I'll take a break. I’m a podcast and audiobook fanatic!
For more energetic breaks, running keeps me sane. Running must work up an appetite. What's for lunch? It's hard to beat a boiled egg with fresh bread.
Back to work, is your afternoon routine different? Generally, in the afternoon I crack on with processing orders and drawing up plans for any custom work.
And when do you finish work for the day?
I stop for the school pick up. After the kids are fed, I’ll pop back to the workshop to tidy up, sharpen tools and finish any loose ends. Then, at about 9pm, I'll have my last hot drink of the day curled up in front of the telly.