One of the real perks of this job is being able to spend time getting to know our Champions a little better – and brunch with Megan Carter was a case in point.
Those of you who are avid followers of Business South activity will know Megan’s name from the many events where she has spoken and she has always been a great supporter.
But like most business relationships, the chat has often been fleeting so it was great to spend an hour or so conversing about everything from devolution and what it could mean for our region to Royal Navy gossip and more.
The venue for our meet-up was nothing short of magnificent on a bright, autumnal morning. Super swishy vessels worth many millions were bobbing in the marina in the foreground, with the natural beauty of Swanwick Marina and Bursledon providing the perfect backdrop.
The Ideal Collection restaurant group is a Business South Champion and it was delight to sample the menu at their waterfront location at Swanwick.
With our order quickly made, it didn’t take long before we were delving into the depths of devolution. Megan’s passion for local government has held her in good stead when it comes to demystifying what devolution is all about and we both agreed the outcome of the election on May 7th could be transformational for the region.
Our smoothies arrived in double quick time – Megan opted for Berry Creek, a concoction consisting of strawberry, raspberry, blueberry and banana, while I was tempted by Verde Cruz, a refreshing mix of cucumber, ginger, mint, mango and kale.
Megan encouraged me to go on a trip down memory lane, recalling how I once edited and wrote the Royal Navy magazine for Portsmouth Naval Base known as Shoreside. Before we knew it we were swapping anecdotes about the senior service – me as an observer and chronicler of life at the naval base and Megan as the wife of a serving officer.
Eggs Benedict was Megan’s choice and the poached egg, glazed ham and hollandaise sauce perched atop a toasted muffin was as pretty as a picture.
While my avocado on focaccia with Isle of Wight tomatoes and pickled red onion was a visual and culinary delight. It wasn’t long before there were clean plates all round and before we knew it the time had come to return to the workplace.
It was third time lucky for our meet-up and we both agreed it was worth persevering to make it a reality. We’ve known each other for some time but it was great to take the time to find out more – and I’m sure that’s the case with many business relationships.
Business Lunch (Brunch or even Afternoon Tea if you prefer) is a regular feature and if you would like to take part contact kate@businesssouth.org
