Indie Ices

A little bit of history about indie ices

Indie ices was formed by myself in March 2009. We started out with 2 Kulfi products both traditional Indian recipes and have over the year expanded to different Kulfi flavours, Lassi, Sorbets and Lolly ices.

We have come a long way since I first started to develop the idea in Dec 2008 but our aim has always been and always will be, not only to say we produce quality product but to actually deliver high quality, superb tasting, consistent quality products that offer value for money and hopefully are delivered with great customer service.

With 6 Great Taste Awards we believe we are well on our way with that goal.

 

THIS PAGE WAS INITIALLY SET UP TO SHOW SOME DETAIL OF MAJOR EVENTS I EXPERIENCED DURING  MY FIRST FEW YEARS STARTING UP. ITS JUST KEPT AS A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.  BEING INDIE I LINKED THE EVENTS TO SONGS AND VIDEOS I LIKED. I NO LONGER LINK THESE SONGS TO VIDEOS BUT I AM SURE YOU CAN FIND TITLES AND ARTISTS IN YOU TUBE SHOULD YOU EVER WISH.

 

May 7th 2010 "Crash" The primitives

AN ENTRY FROM LAST YEAR - BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND.

I mentioned that i had an invite to appear on BBC Breakfast show who were doing an outside broadcast from Leeds Kirkgate market, they had heard about my election range of Kulfi and thought it may go well as a little item. They phoned on the previous Friday and said if it was sunny they would like me to come down and talk to them live. They had one proviso they would only call me to come over if it was sunny.

Of course it being May in England every day i checked the weather it was forecasting rain.

The big day came. I had my mobile on from 7am. Reception is poor in our area of Leeds so i would wander around the house holding the mobile high trying to get a reception whilst checking the clouds to see if they had cleared. I was so keen to get this interview.

I had watched the TV from 6am and saw the presenter Suzzana Reid being introduced by David Dimbleby at Kirkgate market. She was talking to two traders, one of whoms mobile rang whilst he was talking to her. It wasn't good TV. I was sure my story would be more colourful. You will also remember Dimbleby had been broadcasting since 10pm the previous night during which the most amazing election unfolded before our eyes. No one had enough votes to hold a majority and it looked like a hung parliament was inevitable.  9.30 came and no call. We had no rain but it was dark clouds. I had dropped the children off so i was free and i took a big step for me, i decided to hop on the bus (with my hat / apron / rosettes and new Coalition Kulfi) and take the bull by the horns to see if i could talk them into interviewing me. Lack of sunshine was not going to block this big opportunity.  

It was a quick bus journey 20mins. During it i formulated what i would say. I would say the Coalition Kulfi was a mix of the most popular flavours from my election range. A large proportion of Pineapple (from conservative blue cheese and pineapple flavour) some Mango ( from Liberal Democrat flavour) and some rose petals clinging on the side ( from Labour flavour). I had planned to say it was good for the constitution and it would have a short shelf life. I was really please with my sound bites and kept practicing them to myself. It was food satire at its best - i thought.

I arrived at the Market and saw some guys with cameras; I wandered over to the team who were around in a huddle. I tried to introduce myself. I didn't realize but i was nervous and found it hard to actually say anything. I think i eventually managed to say i made ice cream and had brought a Coalition Kulfi ice cream with me.

Well, all hell broke. People were asking questions wanting to see my product. Someone spoke in his phone saying the ice cream guy is here. A lady called over Suzzana Reid and introduced me to the presenter i had seen many times on Breakfast TV. I offered her a taste which she politely refused, she said it was too early. I laughed, possibly for the last time that day. A guy came over and put a microphone on me. He slipped it in my pocket and said ready to go to some smart earnest guy who seemed to be in charge. Suzzanna checked my name again, a lady got on the phone and spoke to BBC graphics and spelt my name out. Another lady said we should be up in 10 mins. I turned my phone off. I wasn't going to be caught out on live TV, i thought. The earnest man was telling me how to get my products out of the bag. Then he said, we will ask you to hold one in your hand about this high. I held it but i could believe it, i was shaking, wildly, i couldn't hold it still.  Goodness i had held 1000 tubs of ice cream whilst selling or offering tasting to customers and was always so steady. The earnest man said, great but don't shake when the camera is on you. My god i thought, its all so quick, i wasn't ready, It was too quick, (don't you usually sit in a make up chair and chat over wine, before someone says 10mins love!). Suzzana was talking in the mic whilst looking in the camera. she was running through her intro. A lady pushed me to stand in a spot and Suzzana, turned and spoke to me.  I can't really remember the question. 3 that's THREE cameras suddenly pointed at me. I knew it wasn't live but i went blank. I couldn't form a coherent answer. Suzzana who was very sweet said don't worry they are not on. She asked another question. I tried to hold the product up without shaking. During the course of the answer Suzzana had her face looking at me and i swear she winced 3 times whilst i answered. The answers were so poor, disjointed, stuttered; hopeless, it was or would be car crash TV. She asked me 1 last question and seriously rolled her eyes. She turned to camera and gave a quip. She was full of talent and grace, i was full of, not much actually.

Thankfully we were doing a dry run, but it was sorry, i was dreadful. I never mentioned my sound bites, i could hardly remember the names of my products. I stood silently thinking i have to be better. No one spoke to me they all were busy getting themselves right. I had frozen like a rabbit in headlights. I had felt so confident on the 2 previous radio interviews. What had happened?

Some people ran through where i should stand and how i should hold product when we go live all in an effort to be better. Suzzana said i think i will ask you just about the new product nothing else, is that ok. I was happy with all the BBC guys suggestions i just had to get my thinking right.

We waited and waited apparently for the Manchester Hub to call us. I stayed in the same spot for 2 hours whilst chatting to different members of the team. Greg Mulholland turned up. He was a MP for Leeds West. An area were Headingly Market is. I could talk to him, normally i would have but i was so deflated i just couldn't anyway i was running through my answers and trying to keep calm. For 2 hours we waited to be called, so much was happening post election, big names talking about what had happened last night, what would happen over the next few days. They never did call Leeds Market, or the earnest producer or Suzzana or myself to discuss my new Coalition Kulfi. I blamed myself thinking if i had been quicker, smarter, funnier or even just normal they may have gone with us. I slipped away around 11.45 to pick up my daughter.

What a morning, so near yet so far from my 1st TV interview, so far from introducing the world to Indie ices, so near to car crash TV.

When we got home i tuned in to Breakfast TV. Just as Dimbleby introduced Paxman who went live to Leeds Kirkgate market to speak to Greg Mulholland. It could have been me but thankfully it wasn't. Again i thought what i had written on my previous blog You can't always get what you want - but you get what you need. My daughter got to enjoy the Coalition Kulfi. 

 

May 2nd 2011 "It's a fine day" Jane

As you all know we have had a run of three day weeks with excess of bank holidays and a surprisingly warm spell for April. Whereas, most usual ice cream men would be rubbing their hands with glee about the chances to be out and about and sell product. I have had little opportunity to get out on the trike during this glorious spell. I have been spending time with the family. Whilst I have enjoyed this fun time in London, Manchester, Harewood or Roundhay Park with family and relatives, I was down for a couple of days as often spending time with the kids involves visiting and buying ice cream from the likes of a MR WHIPPY van. Standing in the sunshine in long queues giving my hard earned to Mr powered milk & additives would get anyone who was in the business of selling ice cream down, I believe, as you know you are missing out on such trade. Goodness knows with the outgoing the business has had I could have done with some of these good trading days.

I also seemed to miss out on one of the biggest events in Leeds Independant  Foodie scence - Good Food Friday, why, how, I don't know, can't say. It seemed most local indie food companies where present at this fine event and I had a fair amount of twitter asking why I wasn't. I couldn't really explain why I hadn't picked up on this but seems it could be one of a few a shall miss during the summer. Thank God for Prashad keeping me busy at nights. Yes it's been tough but thankfully I did have one successful day with my local PTA. They invited me to their Royal Wedding Celebration Picnic and yes I finally managed to dust down the cobwebs of the trike and turn up in the April sunshine with product. As ever it was well received. A couple of teenagers bought product and came back to say it was really good. Not something you would expect a teenage boy to do - so really pleased to get this feedback. Also my son seemed to enjoy the ride back home on the trike at the end of a fine day.

I have always loved this song, apparently it was written by the singers boyfriend in a house in Hulme, which is very close to one of the areas we spend time in Manchester. Of course you may know the techno version better. I could have chosen the song Price Tag by Jessie J, that I also really enjoy at the moment. It kind of sums up alot of my feeling about work life balance where "Its not about the money, money,money....." also the video is a bit more upbeat.

So k ching k ching & enjoy the sun, who knows if the summer will bring us rain, more sun or indie ice?

 

March 19th 2011 "Winters Over" Serious drinking

 A couple of happy boys with painted faces and indie ices products.

Thank God the winters over- I suspect that's a shout you here (around these warm spring days) not only from many ice cream business but also from the general public. It's an obvious statement but quite apparent from the numbers who turned out last Saturday to celebrate the Oakwood Farmers' Market 3rd birthday. We had started the week with quite cold / foggy weather and we ended it with nice sunshine. We believe at the Market this break out of sunshine helped bring out people to shop but it could have been the publicity we put out about the market and its free face painter / cake and music. Whatever caused the turnout it was a great day for me to celebrate both the Markets 3rd birthday and indie ices 2nd birthday.

I have said it before but I will say it again, I would not have started indie ices if I had not had the opportunity to sell at this monthly event. It was also in the first year of helping out at the market that I spotted the chance to start this little business so I more than most have a great debt to Oakwood Market and wanted the sun to shine and people to come and enjoy our local treasure.

I had had another busy week with kids / home and work stuff so as ever I got down to the market feeling rushed and ill prepared for sales. (It didn't help that the front brake / wheel now scrapes against the spokes meaning I had to push the trike the whole way) I had even forgotten to bring two of the three award winning products, yes people asked for Champagne and Almond & Pistachio kulfi and I hadn't brought them. Not a great move if you looking to get lots of sales but actually the day wasn't all about sales. I gave away quite a few products partly because I had advertised the market via Eventbright and had offered free ice cream to those who came. Thankfully this offer was taken up by a fair few twitter followers so I had the opportunity to say hello to some nice folk but also I wished to try to thank certain people who popped over to say Happy birthday. Again perhaps a simple thank you may have sufficed in purely business terms but I always remember Ben & Jerry's telling the story that they used to have whole days were they gave away free ice cream and it never seemed to harm B&J long term plan. Of course we have bills to pay but hopefully a few lollys here and there will add to our bank of Sharma (wife's surname in case in don't know) Karma.

Regulars and new starters to indie ices did buy products so I didn't go home empty handed. I got lots of great comments on my products both at the market and on twitter which always makes the day feel worthwhile even if it doesn't pay the bills. One of the products that seemed to get really good feedback was Cardamom Kulfi. One of the early tasters (a seven foot giant of a man as I recall) just tasted it, threw his head back and was left speechless for a while until he said that it was absolutely delicious. The product feedback for this was some of the best I have had which was interesting as the day before I had wondered if I should enter this product in the National Great Taste Awards for 2011. I had decided not too. This decision changed on getting the great feedback at the market so I rushed home (as quickly as I could with a broken trike) to enter it. I happily paid the extra late entry fee and wait to see if it can add Gold to the range, if the foodie folk of the market are anything to go by it might get my first 3 star Gold. We will have to see and if does get any stars then I am in debt to those who enjoyed the product and whose comments convinced me it was worthy of entering the awards. Also I would be a true believer in Karma as it would be a great payback for giving out a few free kulfi samples.

 

 

 

March 2011"Happy Birthday" Altered Images

Well it has been a while since my last blog but what better time and more apt song to return with. It was the first single I bought btw.

Today, I am presenting my Knobbly Pops at Culture Vultures 2nd birthday party, my little girl has her 4th birthday party on Sunday, my wife has her party on Tuesday swiftly followed by indie ices 2nd birthday on 19th March which is shared with Oakwood Farmers Market 3rd birthday party. So many new begginings in Spring its great. Well it would be great ,but for waking up last night around 1am and then proceeding to worry about all of them for the next 3 hours.

So tonight when I hand out my products to those celebrating #jellywobble please forgive the tired expression and sleepy sales pitch it's all down to not really knowing how best to present my products to you and tossing and turning for hours wondering how to make my side of the bargin work.  At the last 'gig' I did it seemed very random the way I handed out samples, so I wanted it to be better when i do it tonight. Sadly I won't have my Trike with me, which is often my safety crutch at events and I can't believe I left it to decide what to do until the early hours the night before.

Thankfully I am giving myself more time to prepare to add Ice Cream Cones to my range of products this summer. In case you wish to pop over to see me I have recently offered tickets for a "If you lick it, you buy it" event via Eventbrite. (An idea I was considering endlessly last night) Its the first time I have tried such a listing and you do wonder if anyone will take notice. Another brainwave late last night is I should offer my regulars a newsletter with their products, I must have read it in one of the many marketing books I have read since last selling, still it seemed original in the wee wee hours.

I have decided, some of my best ideas come in the early hours including flavours (two great ideas came last night) so whilst I can't say I enjoy getting out of bed the next day it does give me a story to tell when people ask where and when do you get your ideas.

I am looking forward to meeting folk tonight,  I am hoping my stand doesn't look like a wobbled jelly but with hours to go and not much done other than ideas, we will see. (I am still not sure where I am going?) but still it will be great to offer my little pops in way of support for the Great Yorkshire behemoth Culture Vultures (I am not sure they will let me in after that but it is meant in the best possible way).

 Happy Birthday to us

December 1st  "Stop giving me choices" The Hoosiers

I first heard this song driving to Leeds Thomas Danby to drop some samples off for tasting. I believe they had a team of people who were to taste 400 samples to decide which was Yorkshire's best product, I couldn't imagine a day of tasting the whole range of Yorkshire products supplied from beer to cheese and not forgetting my Apple & Rosemary Yoghurt, I actually felt it would be quite a nightmare job, when i was informed my product didn't win I felt less sorry for the poor judging panel.

But I am now asking you to decide for me which of my new label designs should become the new logo for indie ices for 2011.

Click here to open the pdf with the label designs.

Snow is falling all around and well, so have ice cream sales, so for me its a great time to work on this logo. I produced the original design  but for this new version I enlisted Katie (fantasy parade on twitter) My niece and 1st year student in art in Manchester. Available at reasonable rates and a grade A student to boot.

So this is my indie ice logo factor where you decide the winner. Well actually you will help me and Katie decide but your help is much appreciated as outside talent and eyes can but help us make a better choice as to what will work next year.

Oh and the reason for the change, I had a meeting with someone who reviewed what i had achieved so far and where i could improve. The lady felt that the label / image of pastel stripes and bubblegum feel was confusing for a product that was Indian / Indian fusion. She felt public may be put off by this confusion. On reviewing some Indian food lines, I could see how their logo and colours related to the product and its companies roots. So with the new logo choices I have tried to incorporate Indian Mendhi design with bubblegum colours and a more traditional red/ gold. I suppose by asking you to choose which logo /label you like best I am hoping to use the power of a crowd to prevent future confusion.

GO ON YOU DECIDE, I have given alot of choices but let me know what you think via twitter (indieices / email tattersallmike@yahoo.co.uk or ExpLeeds forum discussion (http://expleeds.ning.com/forum/topic/new?target=http%3A%2F%2Fexpleeds.ning.com%2Fforum).  Does anything grab you in particular?

 Oh thanks for your help. If possible i shall try to arrange for a free 500g tub of one of my products a person who has helped my choice. (picked at random).

 November 18th "Common People" Pulp

Well its been a while but i am back blogging. I will back fill those events that have occurred since the last post and let you know my take on them from an ice cream business point of view.

For those not aware and reading this for the first time i try to link indie music i like or music that i like, to a particular theme i am blogging about. This post was easy to choose a song but difficult to choose which video.

Well to get to the point of the post, I have launched a new Kulfi in honour of the Engagement of Prince William and commoner Kate (not sure of her surname). Not much of a royalist really and may even be disowned by sisters (who were former card holding members of Socialist Workers Party) for such a treacherous celebration but I couldn't resist.

I was inspired to create a new flavour for what is likely to be the biggest event of next year. I thought of a number of options of Pear ( William variety of course). I had never used it as an ingredient before but knew it work well with almond. Having already got a great almond recipe i just mixed it all up and wow it works. A classy yet restrained flavour, with the cardamon adding a wonderful floral note. Indeed some may say (thought not in my family) this description also works well for the lovely? couple.

I had to get a press release out. My mojo was back, well kind of. I actually sent it to a limited number of outlets. The Daily Mirror phoned back wanting to know more. The lady said it was fun and that she would write something on it. Now i have not purchased The Daily Mirror since Paul Foot was writing in it, so i rushed out next morning to see if this little story was headline news on this red top. (This could be bigger blog story then the 'crash' blog when i nearly got onto Breakfast TV (see below). I could see the Headline - Royal Pair celebrate with Pear ice cream! well i thought i could see a potential headline sadly it appears Daily Mirror couldn't come up with one either. So i will have to keep looking in the Mirror over the next few days to check if indie ices gets national coverage. Watch this space or rather read the mirror and let me know if you see us. 

 

September 17th "Rat Trap" Boomtown Rats

One of the first things I got around to do, when i was deciding to set up indie ices was to register with the local Enviromental Health Dept. It 's a must, and with years of experience in food factories laising with Enviromental Health it was one thing I wanted to get right. Even with all my experience it was quite daunting when Colleen (local EHO) rang to say she wanted to audit my kitchen. She was going to do the 'scores on the doors' audit and although i was confident, it was nerve racking waiting for the visit. We went through all the bits and pieces she needed and I can seriously say it was a highlight of my year and a half in business when she said she was to give to 5 Stars ( maxiumum possible score). Now i know this may make alot of you think wow he must have had a dull start up, but i think its more my technical bent coming to the fore. I have got many businesses through audits from Tesco through to British Standards and some of them have prospered very well out of it, but this one, this audit was for me and my business and i really couldn't be happier to get the 5 Stars. I smugly walk into shops now and see them display their scores and think wow they have 4 stars and I have FIVE, its sad i know.

Why Rat Trap, Well I didn't want any song by the great 80's group 5 star and I have quite a few stories about rats (and cats) in food companies kitchens I have known all very guesome and if you meet me I will happily spill the beans but not here. Also I love the song.

 

 July 29th "Heros" David Bowie

   

Phillip Shannon called me after i registered as a member of the Regional Food Group, Deliciously Yorkshire. He was a local photographer. He had done work for a number of Food Companys and the Regional Food Group and had looked at my website and noticed i had no photos of products. I was a bit offended, what about my World Cup photos, my Election Range both featuring many artistic photos of my tubs and props, no seriously I laboured hard in the snow of winter to get those shots you will find on my home page. Phillip met me again at a Farmers Market and finally using his North East charm managed to pop over to ice house to talk about photos and PRICES.  We had just won the Gold Stars so his timing was good. He also brought some photos over that indicated the look he wanted to go for. It was very similar to photos me and Rajni had pulled out. He talked about making the product the hero, i liked the sales speak and thought we could work well. I liked the idea of the products being the hero. We came to a price and timescale for photos we both were happy with and booked the day. The day came, the kids were on holiday but a local friend, kindly took them out for a few hours- thanks Emma. It gave us time to work on the shots, the angles, the colours and the plates and bowls. Well i say we worked on it, i just followed Phillips ideas and experience. Oh and i did a mountain of washing up. But i am so pleased with the images we got. For me they are brilliant and really show the products as hero's, it was money well spent. I recommend Phillip to any business who needs to step up a level because I believe these pics can help me do that. www.phillipshannonphotography.com.

July 17th "umbrella"Rihanna

Market Day. Rain was forcast but we manage to set up in bright sunshine. I was actually boiling in my winter coat. But the sun didn't last, percipitation came, and the crowds didn't. But enough of the downbeat stuff, I actually had 7 customers buying the products between 9am and 10am. Normally i moan that it a real hard sell at that time of day, they were all regulars, who had bought before, so it was a good start despite the rain. I didn't moan. In fact today i had 3 people come, saying others had told them i had a nice product. I know its only 3 people but it kept me happy. I was also happy to share my umbrella with my Dad and the kids and Rajni. They didn't last too long, I think it was too cold. For the 1st time ever my daughter didn't ask for a nobbly bobbly- little miss sunshine indeed rejecting my products! She went straight for the strawberries and never looked at the ices. I know it was just too cold for her. My son as ever helps me out by passing sticks to people who buy. It nice he wants to be involved but i have to chase him off from doing this as he's a typical 6 year boy who's hands become grubby as soon as he leaves the house and its not a great image giving lolly sticks with grubby hands. Overall it was a slow day, but i was happy to tell anyone who would listen of my news from Yesterday. Watch out Yorkshire i think its time i moved on from Farmers Markets.

July 16th "Champagne supernova" Oasis

Finally we win a Gold star for Champagne Kulfi and we win 2 Gold Stars for Almond and Pistachio Kulfi. It has been an anxious wait to receive this news. I thought we should be in the running for an award but was getting a bit concerned when i had not heard any news. I was expecting an email from the Guild of Fine Food this week, but no contact. Then yesterday i looked on their website and found they are publishing results today. I looked on some competitors websites and one had mentioned they had won an award. I couldn't understand it, how had i not been told. I had faith it was a good product but maybe i hadn't won. It was a nervous wait but finally someone phoned me to say the results were up.

The Almond & Pistachio had 2 Gold stars, better than the mango last year. Also Campagne Kulfi had picked up a Gold Star. As far as i can tell only two other ice cream producers in Yorkshire had picked up awards, both just 1 Gold each. No other Kulfi manufacturer had entered. Does this mean I am Yorkshire Finest Award Winning Indian ice cream - I THINK SO. 

July 14th "be happy, dont worry"Bobby McFerrin

Well 1 year ago today i received an email to tell me we had won a gold star for our Mango Kulfi. I started to worry, i hadn't heard from Bob and the Guild of Fine Food yet and they said the results would be published mid July. Yes i was worried, i was frowning i was sure my Almond & Pistachio was a contender but no news. I kept checking my emails but no update. The urge to ring them was mighty but i couldn't they wouldn't let just one small producer know. I shall have to wait.

I wasn't sitting and waiting you understand, i am selling at Oakwood Farmers Market this week and i had sold all my stock last weekend so i was busy trying to get product ready. Fitting making product in amonst other jobs is always tough. Tonight at around 7.30pm i put the kids to bed and got to work, mixing a new batch. I have a new blender, its my 3rd this year. What happens is the ice cream freezes and i need to blend it to ensure ice crystals don't form, not adding any air to the product means it freezes hard and it takes a good mixer to blend it up. So i am on my 3rd blender this year and it stops blending. it just stops dead, kerputt, no sound, no movement. So i am in a bit of a rush and i know it was stupid but i put the tip of my finger around the blade to see what happening, why is it not moving. Its blocked with ice cream, hard solid ice cream, when this normally happens i have a special kitchen tool to unblock it, this time i am worried its late, i have lots to do. so i try to unblock it with my finger. My hand slips .. onto the on switch. I am not sure what happens next. i hear the motor run and feel the blade and hear it against the tip of my finger. thud, thud, I pull my finger away and press tight were it was hit. My finger is cold from the ice cream. I can't believe what has just happened, no blood is around and its not hurting, i am shocked but keep calm whilst holding up my finger. I eventually check after squeezing it tight, a little line of blood infuses along the base of my nail of the finger closest to my thumb. I wrap tissue around it and sit down with my finger in the air.

My wife was watching Dragons Den, for a whole 10mins she does not notice my injury, i am sitting with tissue around my finger and with it held in the air and she never noticed. I was so hurt ... she hadn't seen my injury.

She was viewing the TV, a story was developing on Dragons Den about a young girl from Preston who was showing the Dragons her business idea. Heathly ice cream, well frozen, dessert in small tubs like ours. This girls got a potential order from Tesco, dragons waiting on her every breath and slays them with her idea, which no doubt will become a big story in frozen food and supermarkets over the next year.

I am not sure what was the biggest dissapointment of the day, not hearing from The Great taste team, Splicing my finger or the girl with the great new frozen product. Still i actually went to bed happy, i didn't need to go to casulty to sew my finger on. Luckily the new blade was blunt blade not sharp, it hit my nail not my skin and had not caused any major damage. I was so glad i can still high five with my son, nothing else seemed to matter.

July 11th "one day like this" Elbow

"Its looking like a beautiful day" Finally I am ready to sell and it's hot. 24oC, it's a bit cloudy. It is for once looking like a beautiful day, so indeed i wake up around 6am to get ready to sell. I threw the curtains open wide as the song says and within a minute of sitting down with my coffee a magpie flutters into the window and sits on the ledge. Now i have a thing about this bird so the great start to the day is shattered slightly. I swear another minute later I have a black cat running around on the lawn, is it good to have one pass in front of you? i can't remember but as omens go two combined and rare events spook me at the start of this beautiful day.

Eventually time comes to get to the PTA fair, and i arrive in good time and set up. It's a bit of a slow start and having an ice cream van pull up along side of the gates doesn't help me. I even went to have a word with him. Never  an easy job as he is free to stop where he wants but really its a bit seedy to try to plug into this event, isn't it?

Then the crowds came, people bought the products, the ice cream van drove away, people who bought the 1st Kulfis came back for more, (always a good omen, that the day is going well), my family turn up and enjoy themselves in the beach ( yes the PTA team built a beach on the field) and with the goodies from mine and other peoples stalls, lots of old faces who have had the product before, some new faces who never knew i did this alongside looking after the children. Some familiar faces from school try the products for the 1st time after never being in the right place to try before, some new faces who have heard of me in the paper or radio, some even recognise me as being a dad at the school, lots of really positive feedback, people saying its the best ice cream they have tasted. This gets said alot over different events and fills me with enthusiasm about my little business especially on days when sales are slow. Eventually after 4 hours the freezer is almost empty, i didn't come with it full today, as i just wasn't exepecting such a turnout, but still a nice amount of money is raised for PTA after costs are taken out. And i can say it was a beautiful day, but i need one or more of this kind of day a year to make the bank happy.

July 10th -"echo beach" - Martha and the muffins

Hurrayyyy I can't believe i have managed to segway?? this song into my food blog. I have loved this for many years (coming from Southport, it reminds me of nights on the beach and time linked to being young).

The reason i have managed to link the song is that my son's PTA is having the annual school fair and the theme is BEACH PARTY. The plan is to have a beach with sand!, donkeys and I have been invited along to sell my goodies. I have been watching the weather all week hoping for hot sun, but yet again it forecast clouds and maybe rain. Still it should be fun.

July 5th "Tiny Children" - Teardrop Explodes

For a few weeks now, i had been booked to pop into my son's school to show his class (and the other year one class) how to make ice lollies. I had been so busy over the last week that i only really managed to decide what to make that day when i woke up around 6am worried about the demonstration. I was nervous about dealing with the children and how they would react to me. I took along some frozen blackberries and watermelon with some lemon and lime. Also the teacher had some oranges she had kept.

The first session of kids came to my demonstration area ( A very small not very high childs table) and we ran through some basic flavours, water , sugar solution, lemon and lime, all was going ok until i knocked the sugar solution over myself. I carried on as if nothing was wrong but i was soaking and then through the next two demos tried hard not to stick to the floor. The kids seemed to be impressed with tasting the flavours, with my whizzing of the fruit and with mixing the final mix. The ice lollies will be given out during the school sports day and i must say look really nice, very strong purple ices with no added sugar - i was trying to teach them about eating less sugar. I think i may have a new line. I hope they go down well.

I have a postscript to this which is Sports Day was cancelled due to rain, my son's class had the ice lollys anyway. Sadly when my son came out he said that they weren't very nice. I must admit i was not to keen on the mix, but to here him say some of the class didn't like them was a bit gutting. So i think this new line will get dumped, possibly with some of the ices the kids didn't eat.

June 28th "Catch" The Cure

As i have mentioned in the news section. I was trying to find my website on bing, I noticed a little blog called Life, the universe and food by a lady calling herself Gastro Grrl, she had waxed lyrical about indie ices, Rose and Raspberry, i didn't even pay her too. I remember a couple at the fair who were, just over visting but it suprised me to see her nice comments. As the song says I never even caught her name. But thanks GastroGrrl. Why not take a look.

June 26th "Wonderful World" - Sam Cooke

I have been invited back to the Gledhow School Fair. Its really local to me and was possibly the event i enjoyed the most last year. So i was looking forward to turning up. Weather had picked up for the event. As usual the PTA had decked out the fields with bunting and the place had a real fun spirit to it with the Bouncy castle, Music and numerous stalls selling everything from Cakes to throw a sponge a the teacher.

I again enjoyed the day. Met with lots of regulars who knew me from the farmers market, I also introduced people, who had known me via toddler groups with my daughter, to indie ices. The sun got hotter and the crowds grew, even my children came along. It was n't all about sell, sell, sell for me at this event as its just great fun meeting parents and kids from the local area and watching them have fun in a safe and special enviroment. It was really pleasing watching my 6yr old run off and win on a stall where he had to hit a target with some balls. The World Cup Kulfi was going down very well. Overall another great event from the hardworking Gledhow PTA team. This is the kind of event and weather that leaves me happy as i push the Trike home.

 June 19th - "Here comes the sun" - Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel

Two big events today 1st  Oakwood Farmers Market then off to Fun Day  for the friends of Gledhow Valley Woods. We are just two days off the Summer Solstice so i feel its ok to put the song up as a marker for the start of summer. Sadly the Sun didn't come, we had a little bit of rain at the Farmers Market and mostly grey cloud at the 2nd event. It was all a little bit depressing really. I had dreams of selling out at the market and rushing back home to top up the freezer before riding of to FGVWoods event. It was all quite tight in terms of finishing one event and reaching the other even without the need to top up the freezer. In the end all the preparation of building extra stock the week before was not required.

I must say the atmosphere was great at the woods event, lots of people came but for the first time ever i was in direct opposition to an ice cream van. At the start i kept looking over to them and they seemed to be busy, but that soon died for them and i felt my sales were probably more than theirs in the end. I seemed to have more people.

As ever i received lots of nice feedback and interest from those who had not seen me before and i had some regulars who i am sure had purchased product at the Farmers Market. It was also the first time i was selling the World Cup Kulfi and that got alot of great feedback.

June 11th - THE START OF OUR 2ND MAJOR MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE SUMMER - OH AND THE WORLD CUP KICKS OFF.- "Big rock candy mountain" Motorcycle Boy

We launched the new range of Kulfi flavours to help celebrate the World Cup on St Georges Day. This section of my  little blog is really just a chance for me to promote some football related music you may not have heard before

For England we had produced Rocky Road  Kulfi and i felt this song was appropiate to launch this flavour. We have gone for Chocolate Kulfi with Chocolate pieces, marshmellow and Cashew Nuts. We feel its a winner.

 For USA we have produced Cookies and Cream . Yes Oreo cookies and Vanilla based Kulfi. I could have other flavours but this stood out. And felt that this song was an American Anthem worthy to note down "Kasey Keller" by Barcelona. 

Kasey Keller was a Goalkeeper for USA some time back now. Apparently he had a great game once against Brazil and this band made this song up about it. I just love it, the fact that such a talented band loved him and his work so much they decided to make a song about his performance.You can even see the performance on the football clip.

For France we have produced an Irish Cream Kulfi (to try to recitfy the injustice that FIFA did not correct) Its one of our standard lines. The song is  "French Disco"  by Steroeolab. A Too Pure record label classic. I used to play football with one of the owners of this label. I say i used to play, i would stand around watching Paul be the midfield of the team.

For Brazil we produced a NUTS flavour (for those that don't know, Nuts is what you shout when you slip the ball through the oppositions open legs) "Mas Que Nadia"by Tamba Trio . This i think was the campaign of Nike back in 1998. The song always takes me back in time to then. I actually was going to go for Brazil nuts but whimped out at the last minute and this is really just our Almond & Pistachio in disguise.

We also produced a Wine and Black forest fruit sorbet for Germany. This was after a berating from a German lady who was not happy we had not represented her country. I did produce a melon and chilli flavour sorbet to represent Argentina but really no one liked it. It sounded good on paper but actually flattered to deceive. A real let down.

The winning flavour, as it was the best of all was Clementine, Star anise and Vanilla. It went down really well with all who tasted it. It was only a small pot but it packed a punch, was classy out outshone all the other flavours.

We hope you like both the flavours and the music  and celebrate the World Cup.

May "Seventeen"Ladytron

A lady called Georgia phoned me one sunny Sunday afternoon, to ask if she and a photographer could come and interview me for the Jamie Oliver Mag.

The day came and again we had sunshine, something i have not been used to. I wasn't selling today but i was looking after my little girl. Matt the photographer wasn't sure he could take a good picture of the trike in our small garden. He asked if their was a park nearby. Of course Roundhay Park is only 10 mins away but i had no chance of getting me the trike and my 3 year old over to the park and to get back for my 2nd appointment of the day. ( I had offered to help out putting toys out for the local mums and tots playgroup and couldn't let them down) So i took everyone to a local wooded area. My girl was on my knee and was well behaved. But it was really hard work even though we only went a couple of streets from home. Matt even pushed us at one point. Georgia asked me questions and recorded the answers but I didn't really shine or stun with my replys, whether i hadn't prepared well enough or whether i was to concerned riding with my daughter om my knee, i am not sure.

Sadly this venue was no better, they took some photos of me and the products but i felt they didn't get the money shot they had come such a long way for.

Georgia suggested Matt take a photo of my girl who was eating an ice. Normally my little one has a very winnable way about her, she is very photogenic (from mums side) and usually full of fun. Today was not a normal day. She refused to crack a smile or even to look at the camera.

So we will have to see if i get in the August edition. I got the impression they had a number of interviews and photos and would pick the best for the feature on Leeds. Fingers crossed i will let you know.

I chose this song because for some reason i thought Jamie's new restaurant in Leeds was called 17. Its actually 15 but Ladytron didn't do a song about the age so we will have to stick with this classic.

May 27th "Push It"Salt n Pepa

It was a happy feeling I had leaving the gate of ice house, exhausted but happy as I left with the trike at 5.30pm. Sometimes I have called the trike a beauty, sometimes a beast, tonight sadly it was for sure going to be a beast. I was tonight attending Magic Marks Marvelous Magic Show on behalf of my sons school PTA. Venues for selling don't get any closer to ice house than this school. I swear I believe I could stand in the back garden and with a decent throw I could have hit the school with one of my tubs of kulfi, its that close. So I was happy to push the beast for all of 1 minute to the show.

For tonights show I was providing ices and popcorn. Way back when the PTA team talked of holding this show someone mentioned buying some local yummy ice cream that the organisers had used for the same show last year. It clicked with me that we really should be using my yummy ice cream. To try to sweeten this change I also offered to make the popcorn for the event. How hard could it be to make 250 bags (the capacity of the school hall) of popcorn. It actually turned out to be a nightmare to make just 80 bags which was all the 4.5 kilos of raw corn i purchased, stretched to. But it wasn't this process that woke me in a cold sweat for the three days following the event., no, that nightmare resulted whilst the show was on and I am coming to that bit shortly.

It was 9.30 am,  I had 4.5 kilos of corn to be popped, bagged and delivered to the school. It took 6 hours to do the job. but despite 3 burnt pans i felt satisfaction in a job well done. The 80 bags were neatly stacked in boxes on the Freezer of the trike and the salt and sugar and shakers where stored in my little wicker basket on the front of the bike.

I arrived early at the hall. But the set up wasn't as I expected I was stuck right next to the door. It was really tight and I had no space to sell from quickly. I would have to try to serve 150 portions of ice cream (someone else had the job of selling the popcorn) in 15mins. This would be a very big ask. People started to arrive. It all became a bit hectic. My wife arrived with the kids to help out. I asked her to fill the salt and sugar shakers whilst I gave out flyers. She filled the shakers and unknown to me placed the half full salt bag back in the basket of the Trike. Yes what happened later was all her fault.

The show started and Mark was very good, lots of jokes and quick tricks. I counted 100 kids, as I did I noticed all of them were open mouthed in awe of him, the attention only broken by laughing - sadly the very same could have been said about the adults in relation to me later on.

I was unhappy being at the side of the show, and realised I had a problem. I would never be able to sell to all the kids in the 15 minute break. Later my wife who watched from the front of the show said she could tell I was not happy as I was frantically chewing gum like an expectant manager at the side of a tense game. Their was nothing for it, I would have to move the Trike outside before the interval. I couldn't wait for the interval and then set up, time was too tight. How was i going to get the trike out the hall whilst Magic Mark's show was in full swing. I had to sneak the Trike out without people noticing. It shouldn't  be hard I was right at the front doors. I had a helper ready to hold the doors open. I was an expert at lugging the beast around. I am not sure how but over the year I had developed a knack of picking it up and man handling through gaps on its two back wheels. It was a skill and I was confident it was doable and i could get the Trike out mid show without being spotted.

Then an opportunity arose. Magic Mark was looking for a volunteer for his next trick. He needed a tall girl to levitate. I went for it. I pushed the bike towards the exit.  I though a rush a push and i would be out without anyone spotting me. I didn't look back, I was focused on my 5 yard dash. STOP. I had to take down the umbrella or it would clatter the door. Good planning by me, I spotted it and calmly took it down, no disasters tonight, not on my watch.

A rush and push again and I would be out, NOOO, I was stuck, The lack of ability to open the door fully along with my poor approach angle had conspired to get me stuck, half in half out. I couldn't go back, Mark had started his trick. I couldn't stick, it would be too much of a distraction to his show. I had to twist, twist the beast, lift it, back a bit, side a bit, turn it, push it, twist it and I was finally out. It wasn't smooth and stealth like as I had wanted but I was out and I don't think it caused too much of a distraction, did it? I looked inside the hall to the audience of adults who were open mouthed and had watched in awe prior to their laughing at me fate. I had, unbeknown to me left a layer of white salt covering the hall floor near the door entrance.  It must have tipped out a bit when I was moving the Trike. My wife later told me she just watched a plume of salt erupting from the basket and couldn't believe how it billowed out the more I shook and twisted the front end.

You know the scene in the Simpsons where Homer falls to the fall shouting Doh whilst looking up to the heavens, well I had that moment.

In fact I had this feeling constantly for 3 days following the show. I had no intention of becoming a sideshow to Magic Mark but I had, perhaps no one saw it I thought but to a man everyone I asked told me their view on the episode.  I never went back in during the 2nd half, I was too embarrassed. I couldn't face Magic Mark.

We managed to sell to all the kids without delaying the interval, thanks to my helpers. We managed to raise a nice amount for the school fund. I have now managed to completely change my view of this old skool classic song from being one with slight sexual meaning to one that will always conjure up Magic Marks show and how I got myself in a fix.

May 25th "Paperback Writer" The Beatles

In an effort to increase the knowledge of this little site on the world wide web i have decided to try to get listed on some blogs and try to become friends with other foodie blog writers. I have therefore joined 2 blog sites at present and tried to comment on other peoples blogs. I am finding this a time consuming process which really isn't the core of the business but it is interesting process and i am getting to communicate with some knowledgable and fun people. I have put 1 blog up so far on the uk food bloggers association.  Its only had 1 comment, which is a bit poor really. Still a nice comment from Kris. Also placing it resulted in an offer from a TV lady asking if i wanted to feature on Britians Best Dish. Well not really feature more apply to see if i could be a contestant. I just couldn't see standing over a pot of milk gently simming for 3hrs being good tv , so i declined. I also joined the Foodie Blogroll, it sounds too much like bogroll for me to really think its a seroius site, it has also generated a request, this time from petit chef.com. They emailed me to say they loved my blog. Wonderful i felt someone was really getting what i do. They also said they loved the recipes YUM YUM.  This worried me, i don't do recipes on my blog or site. They asked if i would like to join their site about french food? This is the thing about foodie blogs they are great sites, wonderful reviews of meals or restaurants often with stunning photos of the meals. I struggle to get my meal on the table at night never mind take a great photo of it and then upload it to the web. Where do these guys find the time? I am not sure what i do here is a foodie blog. Perhaps i should join an indie music blog or business blog. I did wonder about putting this whole thing of staring business down in a book and when i did I had to add this song for the item. I remember this being the introduction to a program that reviewed the arts on Sunday night TV. Sir Melvin of Bragg hosted it i think. I remember when the song came on, we had to go to bed, it generated a sunday night sinking feeling knowing school was coming up next. I still listen to the song and get the same feeling, but still love the song.

May 14th "Dirty Back Road" B52'S

I have discovered i have been invited to indie ices, 1st ever summer 3 day festival. Indeed i'm so excited, was almost going to be the song for this blog.

Karen from  The Limetree festival  has offered me a pitch. Karen was very patient with me whilst i tried to figure out how i could get myself, trike and stock up to North Yorkshire. I don't have a van and the festival is 36 miles away from Roundhay. Not very far but seeing as it took me  2 hours to cycle back 5 miles from Headingly, i wasn't sure i could commit to taking my trike all the way up to Ripon. It sounds like it could be a great festival and as she has no one else selling ice cream, i could do well if the sun shines. Lots of logistics to work out but i am looking forward to taking the "ices on tour". I may print some tour T shirts . more to follow on that maybe. The selector are playing one of the nights, a band i have featured before below on the blog, so if nothing else i can relive the great days of scar.

I chose this song as i see it as i great driving song and after all, i am going to need a good tune or two to keep me going along the country roads out from Leeds and upto the site. I also love the girls dancing in this video, I think i may try to copy it whilst standing at my trike and selling at the festival. If you read this and come along to the festival and join in this dance - i'll give you a free B52 Kulfi. I haven't made it yet or decided on a recipe but i'll definately be taking it to the festival.

May 7th "Crash" The primitives

I mentioned that i had an invite to appear on BBC Breakfast show who were doing an outside broadcast from Leeds Kirkgate market, they had heard about my election range of Kulfi and thought it may go well as a little item. They phoned on the previous Friday and said if it was sunny they would like me to come down and talk to them live. They had one proviso they would only call me to come over if it was sunny.

Of course it being May in England every day i checked the weather it was forecasting rain.

The big day came. I had my mobile on from 7am. Reception is poor in our area of Leeds so i would wander around the house holding the mobile high trying to get a reception whilst checking the clouds to see if they had cleared. I was so keen to get this interview.

I had watched the TV from 6am and saw the presenter Suzzana Reid being introduced by David Dimbleby at Kirkgate market. She was talking to two traders, one of whom mobile rang whilst he was talking to her. It wasn't good TV. I was sure my story would be more colourful. You will also remember Dimbleby was had been broadcasting since 10pm the previous night during which the most amazing election unfolded before our eyes. No one had enough votes to hold a majority and it looked like a hung parliament was inevitable. By 9.30 came and no call. We had no rain but it was dark clouds. I had dropped the children off so i was free and i took a big step for me, i decided to hop on the bus (with my hat / apron / rosettes and new Coalition Kulfi) and take the bull by the horns to see if i could talk them into interviewing me. Lack of sunshine was not going to block this big opportunity.  

It was a quick bus journey 20mins. During it i formulated what i would say. I would say the Coalition Kulfi was a mix of the most popular flavours from my election range. A large proportion of Pineapple (from conservative blue cheese and pineapple flavour) some Mango ( from Liberal Democrat flavour) and some rose petals clinging on the side ( from Labour flavour). I had planned to say it was good for the constitution and it would have a short shelf life. I was really please with my sound bites and kept practicing them to myself. It was food satire at its best - i thought.

I arrived at the Market and saw some guys with cameras; I wandered over to the team who were around in a huddle. I tried to introduce myself. I didn't realize but i was nervous and found it hard to actually say anything. I think i eventually managed to say i made ice cream and had brought i Coalition Kulfi ice cream with me.

Well, all hell broke. People were asking questions wanting to see my product. Someone spoke in his phone saying the ice cream guy is here. A lady called over Suzzana Reid and introduced me, to the presenter i had seen many times on Breakfast TV. I offered her a taste which she politely refused, she said it was too early. I laughed, possibly for the last time that day. A guy came over and put a microphone on me. He slipped it in my pocket and said ready to go to some smart earnest guy who seemed to be in charge. Suzzanna checked my name again, a lady got on the phone and spoke to BBC graphics and spelt my name out. Another lady said we should be up in 10 mins. I turned my phone off. I wasn't going to be caught out on live TV, i thought. The earnest man was telling me how to get my products out of the bag. Then he said, we will ask you to hold one in your hand about this high. I held it but i could believe it, i was shaking, wildly, i couldn't hold it still.  Goodness i had held 1000 tubs of ice cream whilst selling or offering tasting to customers and was always so steady. The earnest man said great but don't shake when the camera is on you. My god i thought, its all so quick, i wasn't ready, It was too quick, (don't you usually sit in a make up chair and chat over wine, before someone says 10mins love!). Suzzane was talking in the mic whilst looking in the camera. she was running through her intro. A lady pushed me to stand in a spot and Suzzana, turned and spoke to me.  I can't really remember the question. 3 that's THREE cameras suddenly pointed at me. I knew it wasn't live but i went blank. I couldn't form a coherent answer. Suzzana who was very sweet said don't worry they are not on. She asked another question. I tried to hold the product up without shaking. During the course of the answer Suzzana had her face looking at me and i swear she winced 3 times whilst i answered. The answers were so poor, disjointed, stuttered; hopeless it was or would be car crash TV. She asked me 1 last question and seriously rolled her eyes. She turned to camera and gave a quip.

Thankfully we were doing a dry run, but it was sorry, i was dreadful. I never mentioned my sound bites, i could hardly remember the names of my products. I stood silently thinking i have to be better. No one spoke to me they all were to busy getting themselves right. I had frozen like a rabbit in headlights. I had felt so confident on the 2 previous radio interviews. What had happened?

Some people ran through where i should stand and how i should hold product when we go live all in an effort to be better. Suzzana said i think i will ask you just about the new product nothing else, is that ok. I was happy with all the BBC guys suggestions i just had to get my thinking right.

We waited and waited apparently for the Manchester Hub to call us. I stayed in the same spot for 2 hours whilst chatting to different members of the team. Greg Mulholland turned up. He was a MP for Leeds West. An area were Headingly Market is. I could talk to him, normally i would have but i was so deflated i just couldn't anyway i was running through my answers and trying to keep calm. For 2 hours we waited to be called, so much was happening post election, big names talking about what had happened last night, what would happen over the next few days. They never did call Leeds Market, or the earnest producer or Suzzana or myself to discuss my new Coalition Kulfi. I blamed myself thinking if i had been quicker, smarter, funnier or even just normal they may have gone with us. I slipped away around 11.45 to pick up my daughter.

What a morning, so near yet so far from my 1st TV interview, so far from introducing the world to Indie ices, so near to car crash TV.

When we got home i tuned in to Breakfast TV. Just as Dimbleby introduced Paxman who went live to Leeds Kirkgate market to speak to Greg Mulholland. It could have been me but thankfully it wasn't. Again i thought what i had written on my previous blog You can't always get what you want - but you get what you need. My daughter got to enjoy the Coalition Kulfi. 

May 7th "You can't always get what you want" Rolling Stones

Well my 1st big marketing campaign is all over.

Since the election my indie ice party poll campaign has had one regional article in the Yorkshire Post (see press section - its a really good article). I had one regional radio show appearance. I have had articles published in Fine Food World and Yorkshire Regional Food Group magazine. I had an email from Lord Steel and an email from PR guru Dan Janal (more later). I have had a great number of voters in my on line survey. I have had some kind words both on email and in person from people who connected with the campaign AND I had an invite to appear on BBC breakfast's live outside broadcast from Leeds Kirkgate market. (more later)

But i suppose i had a feeling throughout the campaign that i would either get the story in a national newspaper or be invited over to local TV news studio. Neither came about which concerned and deflated me as i had hoped this story might have brought lots of this kind of publicity.

I was listening to this song and it actually brought it all into perspective "You get what you need" maybe for my first ever effort at creative publicity i actually got what i needed and i should be happy with responses i have had from people buying my products and commenting on the idea.  I have had a blast having my photo taken for the post, and turning up ON AIR at BBC Leeds and had my ego pumped with comments people have given.

Thanks for all who got involved.

OH WAIT, WHATS THIS - A HUNG PARLIMENT MEANS WE MAY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ELECTION PROCESS AGAIN?

May 6th "Blue" Fine Young Cannibals

Well it's over votes were cast via the on line survey and via sales at the different events i attended. Roughly 1000 votes were cast via both methods and yes The Conservative Flavour - Blue Cheese & Pineapple gained the majority of votes as you will have seen in the news page.

May 3rd "On My Radio" The Selector

I was invited to Radio Leeds to speak to Bob Warmsley at 11am today. It was Bank Holiday so my wife was off work and it meant unlike the last time that i appeared on this station, today i would not have both the kids on my lap whilst doing a live interview. It was also at the studio not an outside broadcast. This made it all a bit more intimidating. On reflection i really enjoyed the whole experience. Watching the Red ON AIR light was fascinating! having seen it so many times on TV and film i couldn't quite believe such a little feature was mesmerizing me so.

Bob was really friendly and talked a bit whilst we waited for the record to finish. I was really their to talk about being a stay at home dad, and was hoping to turn the conversation around to indie ices. Bob did this for me and gave me a great oppurtunity to plug the Gold Star for the mango flavour. I also managed to get a mention for the pineapple and blue cheese flavour Kulfi. Bob's face was a picture when i mentioned this flavour, it was definately left field for him and it was funny seeing his reaction. I wish i had taken samples and a picture.

I have requested a copy of the show. Its only on iplayer for 7 days so if they send the copy i will try to preserve it here on the blog.

May 1st "Everything's gone green" New Order

A late surge of postal votes on the website results do to a bit of publicity at a local "green" event. It helped that the sun shone and that i was heavliy sampling the almond & pistachio flavour, in a bit of vote rigging of my own.

April 27th "A Good Year For the Roses" Elvis Costello

Well we were selling in the sunshine this weekend and we had a surge for the red rose flavour. People who had previously bought it coming back for more. This is i am sure cold comfort for Mr Brown with this many issues he faces at present but we are pleased to announce that the indie ice party poll that has seen numerous leaders through the campaign now has the Red Rose and Berry flavour out in front.

April 23rd "The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme"Colourbox

St George's Day was the day we planned to launch indie ices 2nd major range of the summer. What better day to launch our new flavour to celebrate the England Team than today. The new flavour is to be "Rocky Road". Being a lifetime England fan who has experienced many years of hurt and virtually giving up on us getting to this World Cup prior to Fabio entering the scene Rocky Road appeared the best choice.

Also our packaging will feature the St George's cross that appears to be present on many food items. I think someone must have leaked our idea to the Mars camp.

More news will follow.

April 17th "reward" The teardrop explodes

About 12 days ago, i had a reporter (Howard Williamson) and a photographer from the YEP come along report and photo myself / bike and the story of the Election Kulfi. I know this because Howard said the story would get in the paper on page 3, the very next day - my birthday. I bought the YEP the next day and to my horror on page 3 was a story about a panto dame who had retired! I was gutted. Howard had phoned me to warn me that they couldn't find space for my article as he had planned, but it would be in sometime soon.

Thankfully if appeared in its full glory on the 17th. It was agreat article Howard had constructed. Also my wife thought the photo was the best i had, had taken. So overall it was well worth the wait. You can read the full article in the Press section.

April 17th "Blue" Eiffel 65

We had sun for day at the Oakwood Farmers Market ( but the poll was definatly Blue) and we had many people getting involved with the ice cream party poll.

A quick check of stock sold at the Market had the Blue flavour - (Conservative Blue cheese and Pineapple) storming to the top of the polls.

Lots of you got involved with the fun but it was especially pleasing to me to see the Conservative Candidate for Leeds North East - Mattew Lobley. He came over to the battle bike and with the help of a large number of his supporters, who were walking around with him they virtually cleared my stock of Blue Cheese and Pineapple Kulfi. They stood around for a while eating the Kulfi and the most pleasing of things to me was that they really enjoyed the taste. Some of the younger voters with them seemed a bit horrified they would have to eat blue cheese ice cream but happily they were won over by the flavour. As ever Mattew offered support for the Kulfi as he has done at a number of markets. In the interest of fairness i must say Fabian Hamilton also said hello at the market, but did not purchase any particular flavour although he has at other markets through the year. And finally Aquila Choudry has also offered support to my campaign via email.

April 16th " Yellow" Coldplay

Lord David Steel wishes for the electorate to get behind him are coming true. It's seems the publicity around his entering the ice cream debate ( Perhaps added to Mr Cleggs performance in the 1st ever live TV debate ) has caused a steep increase in the Mango Kulfi flavour popularity. This has resulted in it heading the polls prior to the Oakwood Farmers Market tomorrow. We hope supporters will come out in large numbers to the market, buy and vote which flavour they wish to win the ice cream party poll.

April 7th "lunatics" Fun boy three

Early indications from our ice cream party poll have The Monster Raving Loony Party steaming into the 1st place.

The flavours of local Yorkshire Rhubarb with Fruitcake have obviously caught your imagination in the voting. Come on activists of the other partys go out and vote whilst you prepare for dessert.

April 6th 2010 "Venceremos"  "We will win" Working Week

Well election fever is high with the launch of our new range of ice cream.

Prior to launch i sent a few flyers to prominent political people and had a number of responses wishing me luck with the campaign.

One such reply was from LORD DAVID STEEL. He commented that he felt it was a splendid idea! and that he was backing the Mango Flavour as it was his favourite. He also hoped that many of you would also follow this choice as he wished to win.

It was a great boost to get an email from such a political heavyweight.

April 1st 2010 "A New England" Billy Bragg  ps this is not an april fool

I have been working for a while on a range of politically motivated kulfi to sell from the date the election is announced to the election day. I am planning to put a couple of surveys out both on facebook and this site for those of you who can't get to taste and vote in Leeds. We have had alot of cloak and dagger stuff here at ice house keeping the range secret so no competitors whip the idea. With the election day potentially being within the week its time to let the world know about which flavours we have picked for each party. We have no particular political view so we will let the public decide if politics is just a matter of taste in our ice cream party poll.

 Conservative Party -Blue Cheese and Pineapple

Labour Party - Red Rose and Berry

Liberal Party -  Mango Kulfi

Green Party - Almond & Pistachio Kulfi ( no green colouring thought)

Monster Raving Loony Party - Rhubarb and Fruitcake Kulfi.

We have also got a vanilla Kulfi that we can put in a glass of pop for the floating voater.

 

More updates to follow

March 20th 2010 " Why does it always rain on me" Travis

Oh yes, it rained alot when i turned up to the Oakwood Market. Some of the traders said the market had not had a drop of rain until i decided to turn up and sell ice cream, and i do agree. If this continues they may be paying me to stay away. Did i dream last night that the weathermen think it's going to be a hot summer again, i know they said it last year and we all know what happened but are they really expecting it to be hot again?

Its hard to make salesof Kulfi ice cream in this kind of weather. I was hoping for bright sunshine we had on the previous few days of the week. I lost count of the number of people who said comments along the line of you'll never sell in this weather. Happily alot of my previous customers did turn up and bought, i hope it was out of craving for the product than for pity for me in my straw boater, rain coat and drowned rat appearance.  We had a photographer taking pictures of the market for some magazine, he took a couple of me but it was really hard to smile so it's unlikely they will see the light of day. If they do I will put them up for you all to have a laugh.

Still on reflection sales were not so bad, it was great to see people wanting the product in the rain and we had the joys of the steel band  playing great music.

March 20th 2010 "Thank You" Pale Fountains

Thank You to all who entered my competition "Vanilla" The competition was for you to come up with a new flavour for me to sell at Oakwood Farmers Market during the summer and for you to share in the profits of the line. We were hoping here at the Ice House that this maverick offer, were you share in the profits of you idea, would get the good people of Roundhay and Chapel Allerton interested but we were overwhelmed with the responses. Again Thank You for getting involved. In the end it was really hard to pick the winner. But before we do a special mention should go to the following people and their ideas.

Darryl for his spiced Carrot & Cranberry,  Adam for the Watermelon Sorbet both nearly won and in fact i like them so much i am going to run with them with the owners permission at a Headingly market in the summer for 1 month each and again offering a share of the profits.

A special mention must go to Katie aka Catwomen Perkins whose Ugly Beauty idea was genius marketing but sadly i couldn't get it to taste right.

The winner was Ruth. The idea was a simple enough one,- Coffee, White Chocolate & Cinnamon. I felt it worked well and may even work with a shot of expresso, which may in turn tempt people who get to the market around 9am but aren't just ready for Kulfi at that time of day.

A special song (from back in the early 80's from a band from my hometown - Liverpool),  to go with many great ideas, thanks for getting into the spirit of it.

March 19th 2010 "Now I'm back"  Hope Sandoval & Jesus and Mary Chain

I've been away and now i am back so they sing and its true.

I am back at Oakwood Farmers Market to celebrate their 2nd birthday & my 1st.

I will have a free tot of champagne for the adults, well champagne sorbet. I shall announce the winner of the create a new flavour competition I have been running and will be launching a new vanilla flavour along with new rhubarb flavour Kulfi.  

March 18th "Flashes and cables"- centro-matic

I had a visit today from a professional photographer Tom Arber. He was taking my picture for an up and coming edition of Leeds Guide (more of later this month in the news section).

I had seen his images of Chefs before in the guide and i liked the style of the photos. He was a nice guy and the process was over with little pain. I can't say it was enjoyable as i would do anything to avoid my photo being taken really. I glanced at his website and i highly recommend visiting it or using him as his pictures of weddings are breathtaking, very emotional and intimate. www.tomarber.co.uk

March 2010 "Winters Over" - Serious Drinking

I would bet this is the 1st time many of you have ever heard this, if this is not the case when you see me selling over the summer, talk to me about this song (and i will give you a free ice cream) as i have always loved it but now selling ice cream it seems an ideal song to end the Winter with. Shame its not Serious Ice Cream Eating.

Feb 14th 2010 "This is not a Love Song" - PIL

We have not been resting with our feet up here at Ice House, we have been working hard on some new flavours and Valentines Day is the ideal launch for our new range of Products.

Do have a look at the products page to see the new flavours we have brought out.

Feb 2010 "Ceremony"- New Order

To celebrate our 1st Birthday we plan to have a major ceremony, (it is the season of awards after all)

 We plan to reveal the winner of the "i like you" competition that we have been running since Jan.

We also plan to give away a free glass of Champagne - well Champagne Sorbet.

This is the best musicalversion i could find for the song, but the others have trademark missed notes, forgotton lyrics and sad faces - all brilliant.

I used to own this Fact 56 Video until it was stolen from an Old House in Manchester. Still well worth watching again.

PS do came along for the 1st Birthday Ceremony.

 Feb 2010 "London Calling" - The Clash

Yes London is calling indie ices. We have been invited to sell Kulfi at the Baishakhi Mela in Banglatown Brick Lane in May.

It's a great honour to be invited, I am still not sure how they found out about us. It's unlikely i will be able to get down to sell as i really want to keep my products local for now and i am not sure when i would need to set off on my Tricycle to get to London in May.

Jan 2010  "I like you"- Dandy Warhols

"1st Birthday Celebrations - Be part of Indie Ices Business"

Thefirst 100 customers who have read this just need to email me and say 'vanilla' in order for them to have an opportunity to become part of the business. I will ask all 100 to give me an idea for a new indie ice product flavour that I will produce and sell at OakwoodFarmers Market during 3 summer months June, July, August being most likely. They will then share with me 50 / 50 the profits (expected 30p each - depending on ingredients) on all sales of this product at these markets. It's an opportunity to be creative ( the more inventive the better ) and possibly share in the success of your own idea. In addition, your fav picture can be put on the label. It could be your kids, your pets, you, anything that's legal really. Ultimately it's down to me to pick which recipe / flavour I feel out of the hundred received, works best. I will try to justify this decision when made and promise no funny business. Their can be only one winner at this stage, just one Indie ice King /Queen/Prince /Princess. I believe it's a truly unique and maverick offer that I hope the whole of Leeds takes up on.

The ultimate winner will be King of their own product for 100 days (approx 3 markets) after this no profits will be shared even if I keep the line on.

This offer was 1st open to customers in Roundhay only but has been extended to include other areas of Leeds.

I hope its clear email me if you have any questions. Good Luck.

Winner to be announced on indie ices 1st Birthday on 20th March 2010 at Oakwood Farmers Market.

December 25th "Haunted"The Pogues

I was trying to think of a Pogues duet that would be apt here at Christmas, I just couldn't think of one to fit! Then i saw the painting / leaflet advertising the Oakwood Farmers Market 2010 and decided on the little ditty.

The painting that you can see on the Where To Buy page was designed by Nick Claiden, It lists all the dates the market will run in 2010, but and the reason i chose the song Haunted is because within the vibrant scene of the market Nick painted she has placed a chost image. Can you spot it? It is a theme a number of her recent pictures have.

This version of Haunted features Cait O'riordan, The Pogues did a vesion with Sinead O'connor as well later in their career but for me this was the better version.

November 15th "Wonderwall" Oasis

Hey indie ices are opening up to the world.

We have a note written on our Wall on my Facebook Page. Its a comment about the Kulfi being Yummy, Thanks Sarah. Its no wonder though as we are related.

November 12^th 'Use somebody'- Kings of Leon

'100 days of Reign'

To understand what's below you need to have had a flyer delivered to you inviting you to take part, have seen the advert in About My Area newsletter or website.

Sales have been non existent since The Age of Stupid screening. That's not been a big problem as I have been developing new products both for the restaurant I am on trial with and for my own range for launch at Christmas.

I always knew the industry generally had a dip in the Autumn / Winter period. I imagined I would have restaurant business to keep me busy, but I made a decision not to try to push this avenue yet.

So we sit at home in the rain and wonder how to get the good folk of Leeds to eat indie ices product in their own home.

Then the cunning plan develops, to send product to people's houses in the area Free. And if they recommend me to a family / friend they will get 50p money back from their family / friends (within 2 miles of Roundhay only - hey I won't deliver to London for you!) 1^st purchase of a £4.99 large tub of any flavour. (Indeed if they recommended me to three family / friends they have enough money to buy another small pot £1.50) Go on use somebody! recommend me to your brother, sister, mum, dad and get money back from their purchase.

Its win / win, the customers will get to taste samples of my product and hopefully recommend me to friends (they will also make money), whilst I get to spread the good word about indie ices to those who never visit the Farmers Market. And possibly make sales when people taste how good the product is.

In Marketing terms I think it's called reducing the risk of the customers purchase. They will get 12 samples (some new recipes / some old) over the next 3 months (approx 100 days) worth rrp £15. For me it's the opportunity to make some sales when otherwise I wouldn't have.

I also have a chance to deliver free, direct to customers homes which avoids the issue of people not wanting to eat ice cream in the street when it's cold. The customer gets the chance to enjoy it in the warmth of their own home.

I am excited to have an opportunity to allow new customers the chance to findout about us. I dream of a groundswell of local support for the product, where Roundhayindie ices outsell all our multinationalcompetitors via word of mouthrecommendations. There are brands of ice cream in the states that do this withjust localbacking. Its how Starbucks started in a small town in America withgreat local following and then, did I say I was excited.

Why 100 days of Reign? It's because the initial samples will go out over 100 days of weather that usually prohibits sale of my products.

November 4^th 'Eat it' - Weird al Yankovic

Back when I started in March I wanted to concentrate on selling in Farmers Markets through the summer. I thought that during the winter I would work at trying to get some local restaurants to take my products. So in March I picked two local restaurants that I wanted to work with. (One was one I had visited with the family one New Year past, my brother, who lives in London, had felt it was the best food of it's kind he had tasted, and this was high praise considering the ones he had visited in London).  Neither restaurant replied but I was too busy too chase them.

Fortunately I bumped into the owner of one of the restaurants at the Chapel Allerton Festival, he remembered my letter and said he was interested in samples but had been busy winning his own accolades (noted in the Good Food Guide being just one) I provided samples for them on the Saturday andagain on the Sunday, as the staff had eaten them all on the Saturday. They paid for bothsets of samples which was most unusual. We talked about me doing a bespoke range just for them, after a couple of attempts at new products we came up witha range for them to try out with their customers. So my 1^st delivery was made today. Fingers crossed people will Eat It and like it and buy more.

One week on and I am too nervous to ring and ask how it's performing. We will just have to see. But I do know, I am really pleased to have had the opportunity to work with them in fact I can't believe of the two restaurants I targeted I actually got one. I am not looking at working with any other restaurants until I know I have got this order secure and maintain consistent deliveries on time when they want it. I know in practical theoretical business terms I should push on with new customers but this one new customer feels too important. In fact it's a stepping stone to a new supply line and I will take my time to ensure delivery and product is right before I consider jeopardizing it with other customers demands. I am still learning the process and if its take me time to get it right and be confident before expanding then so be it. I just hope it can continue and that the customers just eat it, love it and buy more. If its successful I will tell you the name of the company.

October 14^th  "No surprises"- Radiohead

 

St Andrews Church in Roundhaywas showing the film, Age of Stupid in collaboration with REAP. It's a drama-documentary-animation hybrid from the director of 'McLibel' and the Producer of 'One Day in September'. It centers Pete Postlethwaite's character who is an old man living in the devastated world of 2055, watching 'archive' footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change while we had the chance?

It's truly a memorable film.

I was asked by REAP if I wanted to sell my ice creams at the showing. I was glad to turn up and be present. Both for REAP and St Andrews (who had, for many years, held weekly toddler groups that were a friendly place to go for myself and both the children). I offered a donation from money raised which was split 3 ways. It was I believe the coldest night of the year, so thanks to all who purchased the product and turned up for the performance.

Below I have attached a link to both the age of stupid website which has lots of interesting facts about the environment and news about the film

http://www.ageofstupid.net/news/11_of_last_20_Stupid_shares_snapped_up_on_first_morning

and details about a Dutch website Strawberry earth. I came across it as the designer of my website Helen has also designed this one which is an online magazine with lots of good stuff about the environment. Do check it out its worth it. It's also provided the trailer for the film.

http://strawberryearth.com/the-age-of-stupid/

If this is all too heavy then watch this wonderful parody of the Radiohead song and keep laughing hopefully.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA4jOgMYaS0

October 2009 "Whirring"- The Joy Formidable

Wow, my face is large in the Yorkshire Post, (See it in all its glory on press page).

Yes the proof, we won the readers award. We get quite a big write up as well. Can't be bad. That nice lady Samantha, from Audrey likes to bake steals the show and video though. Where's my clip of picking up the award! Where's my speech? Still they Joy from this article is Formidable ( i think)

End of September 2009 "Password to your shell account" - Barcelona

Well I have finally dumped my old website the indieices.com one. It was set up very cheaply but really didn't look right andpeople couldn't really access it. So I am very happy to have worked with Helen from Mouse will play http://www.mousewillplay.co.uk/ who did a great deal on price anda great job on producing the look of the new website you are viewing now. I can seriously recommend her work for anyone thinking of producing a new site. The process was really quick as I had an idea of what I wanted and Helen using her design skills and knowledge transferred that into what you see.

I don't have to say this because she has the passwords to this website accounts, I mean it.

Sept 26th "King" - UB40

    

Well the awards ceremony was held at the Guildhall in York. We found it in good time and arrived quite early. We had been placed on table 2 at the front, right in front. I could see the trophies on the awards table, 7, stainless steel Knifes based on a circular wooden stand. With Certificates turned face down presumably with winners names on them. They looked very intimidating. As was this historic venue.

I found a very warm welcome on our table. Jackie a lady who I had met at the tasting Day on Monday was on our table. She said she had a winner on her table last year andhad known Micheal Hjork the main driving force of the festival, for 20 years now.

She was a larger than life character who had achieved her own success in the food world by having won things in Olive magazine where her recipes had beaten the likes of Gordon Ramsey. I do remember her tasting my product and her giving me a thumbs up. She also pointed out that our table was next to the Judges Table and pointed out Christine Austin and Grace Mulligan who were part of the judging panel for the main awards. I again recognized Mrs. Mulligan whose vote I had courted on Monday. I remember her as when I offered her a sample she politely declined saying 9 o'clock in the morning was too early for her to taste ice cream. I could do little at the time but laugh and agree with her as it had also been a very cold morning as well. Who would have believed it, she was a judge from the main competition.

We also had two people from Club Hill Farm Shop on our table, Annette and Paul, they were lovely people who had been Highly commended for their Rare Breed Saddleback Pork. They were up for the winners of the Butchers and Meat section. We joked about how close we were to the presentation of the awards and I said it's such a short walk at least we can't trip up. (Oh how little I know)

Oakwood Farmers Market had three other stalls up for an award, Swillingtons, Whiteleys and Church View Eggs.

The meal was exceptional. It was cooked by Michael and his team. 4 courses Rabbit, Trout, Shearing Lamb and delicious dessert served with Heather Honey ice cream. I really haven't done it justice in the description. It was a local meal fit for the Kings and Aldermen who would have frequented this venue many years earlier.

The awards were announced and the Readers Award was to be given last. Finally I remember our name being announced as winners by Peter Charlton the editor of the Yorkshire Post. My wife was so shocked, I had felt confident I had performed well on the Monday but wasn't sure and joyfully jumped up and walked over to receive my prize and have my picture taken for the Yorkshire Post. I then managed to trip up on my wife's handbag and scatter business cards all over the 1 foot of space between our table and the presentation. Such a small walk and I messed it up!

We drove home very tired but happy we had won.

Sept 25th 2009 "Come out 2nite"- Kenickie

    

Well the day had come; it was the day of the night of the York Festival of Foods Awards. Rajni andI had bothhad a busy week but as we drove over to York we were both excited by what the event may hold.

My father had come over from Liverpool to babysit for us and both the children had gone to bed by the time we had set off.

I felt it was fitting that we should bothbe able to go out to this event. It was important that we both celebrated being in the running. I think Rajni felt guilty about getting my father to travel over on a Friday to babysit andthat she really would have been happy for me to attend on my own. But we managed to get out on time and set off in anticipation of a good night.

Sept 23rd 2009 "Darshan"- Jassi Sidhu

    

Way back at the first market in March, Kim the owner of Oakwood Health Food Shop came to see me. She tasted some Kulfi and mentioned she had her son's wedding coming up could I supply some Mango Kulfi.

Later in the summer I think she took 10 kilos of Kulfi to her son's wedding. She had a good day I believe and she said everyone said the Kulfiwas DELICIOUS. She mentioned she would like to run with some product in her shop.

Finally today we have product in the shop for people to try or buy. Pop in to her shop not far from the Oakwood Clock and try it for yourselves.

Sept 21st 2009 " My Suitor" - Berntholer

    

Well it was Monday 21st September. Weather forecast was good and I decided I would take the train to York with my cool box and give out samples all day to try to win the Yorkshire Post readers award. I hadn't qualified for the finals of the other Categories of awards held by the York Festival of Food Committee but they had invited me to this tasting day.

As I got to the event I wasn't even sure what I needed to do to get people to vote for me. I hadn't taken my Trike so I set up a table (with very little of the usual professionaldisplay material you would expect at such an event) andeventually foundout I had to ask Readers of the Yorkshire Post or generalpublic who attended the York Festival of Food that day to complete a scoring sheet when they had tasted my Kulfi. 11 other companies were also vying to win the Readers award and as the day progressed I could tell some were taking it much more seriously than others.

I had no option but to compete. This is where I tried to win the affections of all who passed my stand. I gave out samples and explained my history, with the aid some well chosen photo's of my children eating Kulfi and articles that had appeared in the press.

I spoke to lots of visitors, mainly women, and seemed to be doing well with scores although some kept the scoring sheets close to their chests, some said mine was the best they tasted, some said the competition was tough and all products were great.

I worked hard and pushed myself to keep going, but again it was the story of the summer, it rained. This was about 3 'o' clock and I was disappointed as the crowds virtually stopped coming to eat Kulfi Ice cream from then until I left. Some of my competitors had left by the time I closed my stall. All I could do was wait and see how I performed.

Sept 2009 "Thankfully living in Yorkshire it doesn't apply" - Dexy's Midnight Runners

    

Well the song from Dexy'ssays Living in Yorkshire it doesn't apply but actually we are up for an award with the Yorkshire Post - and it's a regional award only open to Food Producers in Yorkshire.

To be precise we have been invited to the York Festival of Food where they are having a day long ballot for a Readers Award Trophy.

We are up against some established producers in Yorkshire: Yorvale, World Top Brewery, Bracken Hill Foods, Wharfe Valley Farm and Whiteley Farm shop - The Lettuce ladies who are opposite my pitch at Oakwood Farmers Market. The Awards are announced Friday 25th. Fingers crossed.

September 2009 "This Charming Man" - The Smiths

    

The Festival in Chapel Allerton was a big event. Weather was good and I was looking forward to it. The crowds came but they passed by me. I was not really selling, I was waiting for people to come to me. The event wasn't working, I wasn't working well. This was potentially my last event of the year and I was sinking.

A Charming Man - Ian from Perfectly Persevered came up to me and asked how I was doing. He had his stall at the other end of the festival. I said what my concerns were and with a quick re-positioning of the Trike and a few well chosen tips on the art of selling he went off. He said he would walk back in a few minutes to see how it was. When Ian passed again it was 3 deep at the Trike.

Ian has helped me develop the business with lots of nuggets of advice. Whenever I was really stuck I would ask for his help and he has given good advice from Jan 2009 onwards. We work together on the OakwoodCommittee but he doesn't have to spend his time giving advice. I am really pleased he has as he has got me through and over a couple of sticky problems. No pun intended as he sells the most delicious Jams and preserves.

August 2009 "Regret" - New Order

Regrets I have a few, but just one to mention.

Andrew an assistant producer called from Market Kitchen a program on the Good Food Chanel on Sky. He wondered if I could supply some Kulfi for a show they were doing on Indian Desserts. Shilpa Shetty would taste them. He heard we had won a Gold from the Guild of Fine Foods.

It was a difficult time for me financially and I wasn't sure if I could afford the money for the ticket! That was my excuse. I said I'll think about it. I phoned them back the next day and was told they didn't need my product. I have been kicking myself ever since. Why didn't I go straight down? I think I would pay £1000 to Shilpa to recommend my product now but I missed the chance for the sake of a £100 ticket. I won't miss such a trick again.

August 8th "500 miles" Proclaimers

I had emailed Headingly Farmers Market to ask them if I could I have a pitch. The first time in June went really well once I got there. I had made the decision to hire a van to get me to the market. I couldn't see any other way of doing it. £40 cost to get to the market andget driven back seemed worthit to attendmy 1st event outside Roundhay.

This market was my 2nd appearance. Unfortunately the guys that took me 1st time couldn't fit me in today, so at last minute I booked a new man and his van. He was late and when he arrived didn't have a tail lift. He then with a little help proceeded to pick it up Trike, product and freezer and throw it into the back of his van. It was hard work despite his strength we nearly lost it at one point and the Trike suffered for the cause. The front wheel axle? It did a 480 degree turn and I was sure it was damaged for ever.

Sadly, despite the crowds flocking to the cricket match, the crowd at the market was low, I was preoccupied with my bike rather than selling and what with the cost of repair to the bike and fee to the van driver this turned out to be a very poor venture.

I decided next month I had no option but to cylce, I did and surprisingly it only took me 45 mins to get to the market. It actually took me over 2 hours to cycle home andat one point I encountered such a steep hill both me and my Trike seemed to move backwards rather than forwards up this incline. Overall I believe walking 500 miles andback again would have been completed more quickly than my cycle home from a localmarket. Still I will do it again unless I findfunds to find a trailer.

August " Transmission" - Joy Division

    

A week long celebration at Millennium square in Leeds ends today Friday 7th August. The Ashes start today at Headingly and BBC radio and TV have been at the square celebrating the event. I had been invited to talk to Graham Liver about my business live on Radio Leeds.

The sun was shining but not many people had come when I arrived. I had to take a taxi as it was too far to cycle andalso I had both the children in tow. I had no option but to bring them along and have them sit on my knee whilst Graham tasted the products live on radio whilst asking questions to me. It's quite scary not knowing what you will be asked and what you will answer. Also what the kids may say live on Radio. Graham did a great interview considering he had never met me, his questions were spot on and probing, if you can probe Kulfi production. We left and I felt pleased the guys loved the product, the kids were great and I didn't mess up. Sadly the interview has been lost in the BBC vaults.

August 2009 "Boys don't cry" - The Cure

I attended a Green Fair at St Matthews. It was a long day. It rained from 9 until 4. Not many people came. It was for a really good cause and really nice people but financially it was a flop. It was hard getting the bike back up Harrogate Road almost as full as when I had come down in the pouring rain earlier in the day.

Boys don't cry - well I nearly did.

I believe it was for a good cause and I may try to get involved with the organization of the event next time.

Actually August has been a wet month. Perhaps next year we should relocate to the South of France.

July 2009 "Fools Gold" - The Stone Roses

    

I probably should call this heading GOLD by Spandau Ballet. - No never a link to this. Or Maybe YELLOW By Coldplay, a song my wife walked down the aisle to. No we won Gold so it's this. Certainly not fools Gold, over 5000 different specialty products are entered by companies across the UK. It's a real coup to win something.

Yes we have been told we have Won a Gold star in the Great Taste Awards. You can read more in an article which you can find elsewhere on News page.

We only started in March; I think we entered for the award in April. It's such a remarkable achievement.

July 7th 2009 "Magnificent seven" - The Stranglers

    

It was the 2nd Birthday of Seven. The arts venue in Chapel Allerton. I had one other pitch at this location when they had SouthAsian Arts Festival performance on one night.

This time it was their 2nd birthday celebration, they had lots of things planned music, performance and video. It was a cold, slightly wet night and it was really a night for drinking than Kulfi eating. I left early, nice people but wrong night and wrong product. I cycled back up the road and passed Arti'sIndian restaurant. One of the waiters watched me walk past with my Trike and rushed out to buy some Kulfi. I was happy to sell something to be honest. Maybe one day I may approach them for a bigger order.

June 2009 "Holes "- Mercury Rev

 

This is actually a bit of a postscript to the Feb entry. I hadn't needed to spend too much money on the Trike when I bought it. I just put new wheels on it and did some work on the brakes. It wasn't me who did the work it was actually some friendly blokes at Edinburgh bike shop. Generally it appeared to me in my hunt for a Trike that Bicycle repair guys are very friendly bunch who were always willing to help and will go that extra mile to make you happy. It was no different at Edinburgh bike shop. The blokes liked the Trike when I took it in. It drew many envious comments and a number of the guys really admired the workmanship that went it the Trike.

Unfortunately I had to visit them one day due to my new tires having quite a major puncture. Early one morning around 6.30am I had set off to OakwoodFarmers Market with a full freezer of stock, hoping for a busy day. When turning a corner just 2 minsfrom the house I went over one of the many holes adorning the roads around Roundhay. Bang tire popped, I had to push the Trike all the way to the Market and to the bike repair shop the next day. Holes, on our poorly kept highways sadly trying to ruin my lovely Goddess. In song terms I think holes knocks the socks off Goddess.

June 2009 "Schools Out" - Alice Cooper

    

I sent out five letters to local schools seeing if I could get a pitch at a Summer School Fair. All five got back to me keen to have my bike and local home made Indian ice cream at their event. I could only make Moor Allerton and Gledhow Primary School Fair. Both were great fun andreally worth doing.

I particularly remember a father ( a big man) of a child a Moor Allerton buying my new Kulfi on a stick for his little boy. I gave the boy the Kulfi, took the money and watched them walk away. 1 meter, 2, meters, 5 meters the father tasted the lolly from his son's hand turned and walked back, smiling and saying how it reminded him of how Kulfi was back home. I'll never forget this totalstranger giving me such positive feedback. He could have just walked on. It's this kind of reaction I have had all summer.

May 2009 "One" - U2

I managed to get a pitch a St Gemma's Vintage Fair. It was my first event away from the safety of my friends at the Farmers Market. I felt very alone, on my own, outside the building from 10 - 4 Saturday and Sunday. It was, as they say, a tough gig. All went well as people responded to my product well but they were slow days. It was an event close to my heart for personal reasons and one I was happy to have attended and look forward to the next event.

April 2009 "April Skies" - Jesus and Mary Chain

    

2nd pitch at Oakwood Farmers Market. I said from the start that the 1st market wasn't the most important; it was the 2nd that mattered. Would people come back and buy again after tasting it the first time.

Oakwood Farmers Market had run for 13 markets through the summer and winter of 2008/9 and for this April one it rained and was generally cold anddark. The first time we had suffered with the weather. But people came back to me. I started selling to repeat customers. It felt like I had a fan base. Takings weren't great but I put that down to the weather. It was always going to be hard to sell if it rained. What was important was I had repeat business and was getting lots of positive feedback.

March 21st 2009 "Birthday" - Sugarcubes

 

Being a committee member for Oakwood Farmers Market helps you get a pitch there, but it was not a guarantee. I was very nervous when I asked the committee if I could sell Kulfi at the market. I gave them samples andthey loved it. I wanted to be at their 1st Birthday market which ran on March 21st mainly because we were doing a lot of publicity aroundit, what with having music and a face painter and it being a big celebration for all of us involved in the market. I had my Trike ready, made my product and cycled down. It was a great success on all fronts. I made the dream work.

Feb 2009 "Build" - The Housemartins

 

The last piece of the Jigsaw arrives. I had not planned to have it but speaking to the local EHO she suggested that I needed a separate Freezer for the Kulfi. Costs to buy new ones were way out of my league so I decide on a secondhand one from a supplier in Halifax off ebay. I read a number of stories about secondhand freezers being a waste of money andending up costing you twice as much in the long run but I have no option. It's takes a lot of discussion withthe seller before I am convinced to buy it. But he seems to know his stuff; he's local and has promised to come out free of charge if it breaks down.

I buy a monster Foster commercialfreezer. It just slots into the garage just about, at one point I think it's going to be too tall, but what with the Trike, all the packaging 2000 pots, 2000 lids and 10,000 sticks all sitting in about 6 huge boxes it appears to Rajni that I am building a little factory in her garden shed. It doesn't go down well and pressure is put on the business to perform, now all this money is spent and we have lost space for the garden table to be stored.

End of Feb 2009 "Paper Plains" BoomBoomBoom Take your money - MIA

 

Costing, how on earth do I work out what to charge, what people will pay, what makes the business viable and profitable?

Numbers are not my strong point, in 15 years of working in the Food Industry I never really paid attention to the accountants or looked at profitability of the numerous lines I was involved with. I was always too busy making them safe to eat and ensuring we never had complaints. I wish I had paid more attention.

I know I don't want to be running a business that just takes your money. I need to give something extra to my products. Be it flavour, taste, size of portion or even just free samples to taste.

We are so close to launch, yet still so far from where I need to be.

We took a night of and went to see Slumdog, what a film, and soundtrack and song.

Febuary 10^th 2009 "Goddess on the highway" - Mercury Rev

 

I had been scouring the internet and local and nationalbike shops for a tricycle for over 2 months. I had even looked internationally at both Dutch andAfrican made tricycles but had never found one I felt would work at a price that I could afford.

Finally I spotted a beauty (a beast of a Trike actually) on ebay. It was a British made, by Pashley a name revered in the bike world. I cautiously watched as the days ticked down to its final day. No one had bid on the Trike that was based in an old metal factory in the Midlands. It had been used well for many years transporting metalpieces around the site! I had decided this was the bike for me. I finally made my bid and was so relieved when time ticked down andI won the goddess withno other bids being made by anyone else. I felt I got it for a steal anddidn't compete for it with anyone, amazing. If I had failed in my ebaybid I am not sure the business would have been able to fund the other bike and indie ices may not have happened in 2009. Actually I had only one other alternative and that bike although new and British made was almost 3 times the final price I paid for my ebaypurchase. It was a crucial and worrying time getting the bid in at the right price. It was a joy to get the beast delivered and it has had many favorable comments during my subsequent markets. Money well spent.

Jan 2009 "Ice Ice Baby" - Vanilla Ice

Lots of work to be done but one pressing item is what to call the new company? After a number of efforts and designs I land on indie ices with the pastel stripes. I think it works.

Indie as we are an Independent ice cream company in a world of Big Multinationals.

Indie as the original recipe and products are Indian.

Indie because when I was growing up it was the type of music I was into.

Recently I lost my iPod with a lifetime of music on it. So to try to make the blog page more interesting I decided to try to recreate it. With links to songs I liked. Hope you do. Only 1000 songs left. Oh also vanilla ice was never on my iPod but one day I hope I will bring out a range of lollys called ice ice babies.

Jan 2009 "Brown eyed girl" - Van Morrison

 

We pop over to Manchester to see Rajni's parents.

I have ingredients to make Kulfi my way in their Kitchen. I have basically adapted their recipe to make it suitable for producing on a larger scale. One main change I have made is to take out the fresh mango pieces they had in their recipe. I just can't see me being able to buy, chop and source consistent mango to add to my product and make it profitable. I make the product and with some suggestions from Rajni's mum manage to produce a product for Freezing. Rajni's dad taste's it and says he thinks I have a winner there, high praise indeed.

Another reason we popped over was to do some photography for the business. Rajni's dad takes pictures of weddings and agrees to take some pictures of the children eating the Kulfi which at some date I hope I may use in promotionalmaterial. Both Maya and Kishan photo well and enjoyed their payment of a lolly each. The brown eyed girl and boy photos taken here become a feature on the side of the bike and can even be seen on the homepage. Both children say they the same when they see them in any context, it's Maya, it's Kishan. I think as they grow older they may start to claim they were underpaid and ask for backdated image rights.

Dec 2008 "Working on a Dream" - Bruce Springsteen

Dec 2008 I decided to try to make indie ices work. I had over the years of being a house husband had a number of business ideas but none of them got past an ideas stage. This one was different, I felt I could make it work, the product was great, the Technicalside was covered withmy background and through being a volunteer at Oakwood Farmers Market I was sure I had a pitch to sell at.

Rajni had seen and heard me talk endlessly about ventures that didn't take off. This time I had to make it work or else she would really think I was just full of hot air. A couple of books I was reading at the time inspired me to make this one, this idea the one that would work.

• Sweet Dreams The story of Green & Blacks
• Anyone Can Do It - Building Coffee Republic from our Kitchen Table

Also a Bruce Springsteen song was around over the first few months of 2009. It helped me focus on making the dream a reality.

Nov 2008 "Waiting for my man"- Velvet Underground

 

Luckily for me the National Ice Cream exhibition is being held in Harrogate. I talk to a couple of the people on stands and mention I am looking at starting a new venture. Obviously the stall holders are keen on new business andsome are ready to discuss the industry with me. I don't stay long at the exhibition. I tried to talk to the ICA technicalteam to ask them some questions but they don't talk to non members. I looked around at lots of fancy ice cream stands and vehicles, wondering where Kulfi fits in. I watched from afar as a panel of Judges taste ice cream for the annual awards. I wondered who are these industry experts? I feel such an amateur.

One particular man I meet is Ray from ParkersPackaging. A few months later he visits my home with some packaging samples and enjoyed the Kulfi sample I gave him, saying I should enter it in the National Ice Cream Awards. He is the 1st person outside the family to taste the product. He liked it, maybe I am not such an amateur. I particularly like Ray's samples and his approach. As he has paper tubs 100g and 500g and lids. Andthe firm is based not far from my hometown. I want my products to be presented in paper tubs with paper lids mainly as the Oakwood Farmers Market is ran by REAP, Roundhay EnvironmentalAction Project who are very concerned withwhat I consider to be green issues such as how we can be better custodians of the world we live in. I decide I will go with Ray's product if and when I ever get going.

Jun 2008 "Start" - The Jam

It wasn't until the 2nd time that Rajni'sparents had offered me some of their home made Kulfi that I registered it was home made. I think for some reason when I 1st had it, I just thought they were pulling my leg. I don't know why, they made the most delicious savoury vegetarian food and the home made rice pudding was to die for. Roti and Naan and various fresh vegetable drinks are all also made in the kitchen, all tasting streets above anything I have tasted in Restaurants. Why I felt this was shop bought I don't know. They don't lie, they had nothing to prove or hide. I suppose it was because the process was so hard. 3 hours to simmer milk ensuring it doesn't boil, then the whole rapid freezing process to ensure it's not icy. Even though I would often wake up at 7am Rajni's Mum and Dad would be hard at work in the Kitchen for the day's meal, I still thought this effort was a step further than surely they would go. But no, I tasted the Kulfi the 2nd time andfell in love with it. Some 5 years after I had actually married Rajni and10 years from when I had fallen in love with her. Talk about a close family secret. It had taken a long time to get to taste this product and then to ask about how they made it.

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