June 2023

The Human Spirit

June, 2023

IT DOES NOT RAIN… IT POURS!:

Recently, I phoned a friend of mine who I was in University with a few decades ago (Of course I was only 2 then... ha ha). We talked for about 20 minutes which for men, is AN ETERNITY!!!, and after our conversation, I was humbled, puzzled, and amazed by the remarkable resilience of the human spirit.

My friend ‘S’ moved to America after our first degree course. He settled in and was doing quite well. Then about 7 years ago, his life took a different turn. He was unable to work any more because he had kidney failure. He lost his home about 5 years ago, shortly after his divorce.

He is awaiting a kidney transplant and has been in a nursing home for the past 4 years. His first son died suddenly 2 years ago. His other 2 young adult children are staying with his ex and he speaks with them often. However, although he reaches out and wants to say ‘hello’ to his ex when speaking with the children, she bluntly refuses, and has not spoken to him for 5 years! (He is not looking to get back with her or anything of the sort, he just feels it is the polite and reasonable thing to do) He is on dialysis 3 days a week, with each session lasting about 3 hours, followed by several hours of weakness and tiredness.

It is fair to say that things are not exactly rosy for S, but he is not bitter but graciously gets on and is full of appreciation for the day to day things. My phone call to him was a few weeks late, after he had called me a few times, yet, whenever we speak he is keen to find out how I am doing, the family, the business… We usually chat away like everything was great. He is not in denial, but he is looking forward to living life again, and hopeful that he will pull through. He is always talking about stopping over in the UK to come and see me and some other friends. Each time, I come away feeling enriched and grateful for all that I have, whilst wondering how I would act if I was in his position.

YOUR ACTIONS MATTER:

When we were talking, S told me that he usually takes a walk to his local Takeaway shop to stock up on his weekly food to add some flavour and variety to the usual food they serve him. This is one of the highlights of his week. I also recalled one occasion when a customer came to buy food on his way to visit a relative in hospital who was diagnosed with a terminal disease. He told me that the patient loved our food, and this was a special treat for him. Now, when I started Jerk Station, I had no stated purpose of bringing joy and happiness to people in hospital, bringing sunshine to someone’s day, giving someone a reason to carry on. But, that is the case, having heard several back stories from some of our customers, I am eternally grateful.

However, I am absolutely convinced we are not unique in doing this. Whatever your role may be, wherever you may find yourself, do you know that your actions could make a huge difference to someone’s day? Of course, not everybody will appreciate what you do, but even if it’s just one person, it is worth it. Give it your very best, ALWAYS!

‘’WHATEVER YOU DO, WHATEVER YOUR TASK MAY BE, WORK FROM THE SOUL, PUT IN YOUR VERY BEST EFFORT’’

The Bible (Colossians 3.23)

See you next month …..

When does summer start in the UK?

There are a couple of ways of calculating when the season starts, depending on whether you mean the astronomical summer and the meteorological summer.

The meteorological summer is defined as June, July and August, so begins on Thursday, June 1 and ends on August 31.

Around this time we will enjoy the most daylight of the calendar year, as the sun reaches its most northern point in the sky at noon, local time.

So, BBQ weather is here, I hope, so get

Jerk Station to deliver your food so you can

concentrate on your family and friends.

Caribbean &

African Food

Select Here for link to get your 10% OFF voucher

Rum Punch

Classic Caribbean cocktail combines sweet and sour flavours for a fruity weekend tipple

Tasty Plantain

When delivered just pop onto the BBQ to get that extra delicious smokey taste.

Jerk Chicken

Great to eat just as it is delivered but again if you want to put on extra jerk sauce, go ahead, give it that extra bang with Austine’s homemade Jerk Sauce!

Add a bottle to your order - ask for details.

If you want to give the Caribbean feel to your BBQ then ingredients that are common in most Carribean Islands' dishes are rice, plantains, beans, pimento seeds, thyme, coriander, scotch bonnet, bell peppers, chickpeas, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, coconut, and any of various meats that are locally available like beef, poultry, pork or fish.