I ditched court drama for cooking on Insta
Ex-solicitor on how her love of food helped create a new online career after baby No2
When Caroline McAllister returned to work just six weeks after having her first baby, she soon realised that juggling her career as boss of her own criminal defence law firm and being a new mum was harder than she could ever have imagined.
She stepped back from her law work after giving birth to her second baby but struggled mentally and emotionally to find her role as a stay-at-home mum.
Caroline found comfort in the kitchen, often making cakes and treats in the middle of the night when her daughters refused to sleep.
Now five years on from giving up her career in law, the mumof-three shares recipes and baking tips with an audience of thousands of followers on her Ultimate Feeder Instagram page.
She hopes her cooking and baking will give comfort to others.
Caroline, 39, of West Lothian, said: “I started cooking almost as a type of therapy when I was going through a huge transition period in my life.
“I lost my mum when I was 17 and I think I really needed her when I became a mum myself, dropping round with food and comfort as I know many mums do.
“Cooking became my comfort, and I gave away a lot of what I made to friends and other parents I met on play-dates or anywhere else.
“I became a bit of a feeder to other people who could do with a bit of comfort food or good nutrition.
“Now I’m sharing what I make with a much bigger audience and I hope it’s giving comfort to them all.”
Caroline, who believes she inherited her love of cooking from her dad, George Kwek, never imagined she would ever want to give up her career in law.
But everything changed when she became a mum to daughter Erica, now seven.
Caroline, who is married to husband Scott and gave birth to son Leo in October, said: “My dad used to run several Chinese takeaway and delivery restaurants, and at weekends I would often help out but I never dreamed that one day cooking would be my thing.
“Growing up I’d watched Ally McBeal and always wanted to
stand up in court, arguing on behalf of my clients.
“For a long time, I loved being a criminal defence lawyer even setting up my own firm but everything changed when I became a mum.
“There would be times where I’d be lying in bed breastfeeding my daughter in my middle of the night and I’d get a call from the police saying they had one of my clients in their cells for an attempted murder and off I’d go.
“I’d be in cells trying to get my clients out when I just wanted to be home with my baby.
“I felt like the worst mum ever.”
Caroline, who ran her own business close to Edinburgh Sheriff Court, gave up her work when she gave birth to her second daughter, Phoebe, now five.
She said: “After Phoebe was born, we were living in a wee flat, I had two babies under two.
“They wouldn’t sleep and preferred to be up all night screaming – and I was really struggling.
“At the same time, I was trying to transition from being a lawyer to being a stay-at-home mum and I felt as if I’d lost my purpose or role in life.
“I was cracking up.
“Everyone needs something that’s just for them – so that’s when I started baking and cooking in the middle of the night since I was up with the girls anyway.”
Caroline moved to a house in the countryside designed by her architect husband where a large open-plan kitchen was at the heart of the home.
She started taking photos of her baking and cooking, which she posted online.
Eventually, she set up her Ultimate Feeder Instagram page where she shares images of the dishes she makes, the ingredients she used and tips on how to make them with thousands of followers.
She said: “I can’t believe how much it has taken off.
“I’ve been in the queue at my local supermarket and had someone come up to me and ask if I’m the Ultimate Feeder, or been spotted elsewhere.
“The meals I make are all quick and easy, and usually they are made from whatever ingredients I have lying around – I use up lots of leftovers.
“I’ve had so much positive feedback from so many people and feel so lucky to be able to live the life I now do.”
Bathgate councillors are unhappy that there is no plan to extended Bathgate Academy despite the number of new homes planned.
At this month’s meeting of the Bathgate Local area Committee, three of the town’s four representatives led by chair, Councillor Harry Cartmill, tabled questions of the future of high school education in the town. Questions arose in presentation of aspects of the new Local Development Plan which highlights new housing and infrastructure development planned for Bathgate.
The report specified on Bathgate Academy: “Extension is not considered feasible and not being progressed, alternative catchment review solution to be identified.”
Councillor Cartmill said: “I’m disappointed that there will be no extension to Bathgate Academy. Could we have that question put to the relevant officers and get a written answer? It‘s a key question.”
The councillor pointed out that there was vacant land behind the school - around an acre - which could be used.
He said: “I don’t understand why we couldn’t build there rather than have the upheaval of another catchment review.”
He added that an alternative catchment review could see pupils bussed outwith town for secondary education.
Councillor Willie Boyle said: “Without another secondary education Bathgate that means transporting children outwith Bathgate and I’m greatly concerned about this. I would like more information.”
Councillor John McGinty added his own questions.
He said: “First, when do we forecast the pupil intake numbers for the Bathgate Academy will exceed capacity? The second is, what is the current anticipated timescale for the review? Presumably offcers have a timescale in mind. The third question is to clarify at an early stage whether it would be review of the existing academy catchment or whether it would be a review of the current primary school feeder catchments to push pupils that would have gone to Bathgate Academy to other schools?”
Police are working in partnership with council officers and community groups to spread the word about scammers to some of the most vulnerable in communities.
Sgt Iain Wells told a meeting of Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley Local Area Committee that a strategy of prevention and intervention was being put together by police to tackle the surge in online and telephone scams that has developed on the back of the covid pandemic.
He added: “We will be looking to utilise the council regeneration teams and community councils to get that information out to their contacts and networks in communities and to protect vulnerable people.”
Sgt Wells said that everyone was at risk from mobile phones scams and cyber fraud. “Scammers nationally and locally are on the increase and we are seeing a significant increase in online fraud and cyber crime,” he added.
West Lothian Council’s Trading Standards team have joined the fight against scammers. In a social media presentation they said: “Coronavirus means more of us are shopping online and relying on the internet and telephone services.
“Unfortunately this means that fraudsters are changing tactics and are trying to exploit us whether online or by phone. Reports of fraud to Police Scotland is, as a result, continuing to rise and is now one of the most commonly reported crimes in Scotland.
“Police, West Lothian Trading Standards and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have teamed together to produce crime prevention information packs that were put together by West Lothian’s Police Scotland Youth Volunteers.
“These packs are kindly being distributed by West Lothian Foodbank. I’m sure there are many within West Lothian who are extremely grateful for the work West Lothian Foodbank has and are doing, particularly during the course of the pandemic. We are no different, therefore we are pleased to support West Lothian Foodbank through our ‘Community Partnership Fund’ to assist them in continuing the great work they offer to people when it matters.”