There are many reasons to have children. They make you laugh, they love you, you love them, they might look after you one day when you’re old and incapacitated and they are generally jolly lovely to have around.

But one reason not to have them is their ability to embarrass you. When my BF Iona was here a few weeks ago we went for lunch at the Shangri-La hotel. At one point I spotted the chef. “He’s cute,” I said to Iona. Unfortunately Olivia overheard me.
“The chef taught us cooking today,” she told me a few days later as I collected her from the Shangri-La summer camp. “I told him you thought he was cute. He wants to meet you.”

Of course I ignored her and thought no more of it. After all I would never see him again.

Or so I thought….this afternoon I show up to interview a kitchen artist (basically someone who makes food look nice) who works at the Shangri-La. And there is the chef. No matter I think, after I get over my initial shock. He doesn’t know who I am after all.

At the end of the interview a friend shows up with Leo.The chef looks at Leo, then at me.

“I know you, don’t I?” he says to Leo. “Is this your mum?” I can almost hear his brain adding things up. Leo nods.

The he looks at me. “And I know your sisters too….”

Busted….I make my excuses and leave.

Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2009