So. The Kiama Business Network awards just happened, and I did not win.
This might be embarrassing to admit, but I wrote a speech in case I won. Not because I thought Luckies would win, but I like to be prepared. My ADHD brain does much better with notes and prep. That said, the process was you submitted an application and then interviewed - and the interview went really well. It was with two local business women and they really 'got' what Luckies was about (I prepped for that too!).
The award for Excellence in Micro Business went to Bee Inspired, and it was completely, unarguably deserved. Rach is a neighhour of mine and once taught my eldest to bee keep - suit and all. She's built a business around educating people about the importance of maintaining pollination for our food sources. Bees are basically holding the entire food system together on their tiny striped backs and nobody's told you properly until Rach came along, at least not locally and so passionately. Bee Inspired went on to win Business of the Year too. Well done Rach!!
Here's the thing about not winning: the night doesn't stop being fun. If anything it gets better, because the pressure's off and you can just be there.
And "just being there" turned into full daggy-dancing mode the second the DJ started, because it was the same DJ who played my 40th. Dan is amazing, such a knack for reading a room, and completely abandoned any "networking event poise" and got as many people as I could caucous onto that DF. Genuinely one of the best nights I've had all year. I think someone saw my undies in that mini. No regrets. Also check out my school assembly finalist certificate face. Classic!
I will say — I learned something about my new Marcs knit that night. It is a lovely top. It is not built for two hours of enthusiastic dancing under function-room lighting. Which, if you're a regular around here, you'll know is basically the entire reason merino ended up lining every pair of Luckies in the first place — it's the one fabric that actually knows what to do with sweat instead of just holding onto it and staying damp all night. My knit did not get that memo. Lesson relearned the hard way, on a dancefloor, in front of my entire local business community. Ah well. Don't remember ever claiming I was classy.
So — no trophy this year. But a proper night out, a very deserved winner, an old friend of a DJ, and a strong case study for why I bang on about fabric choices as much as I do. I'll take it.
Massive congratulations again to Bee Inspired, and to every small business owner in that room putting themselves out there. It's a weird, vulnerable thing to do and I have a lot of respect for everyone who showed up.
Bek x