Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a baker in Vaassen is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded. So, I wake up at the crack of dawn, right? Like, 4 AM. The birds aren’t even awake yet. I stumble outta bed, tripping over my cat, Muffin. Yeah, I named my cat after a pastry. Don’t judge me!
So, I get to the bakery on Deventerweg, and it’s already a mess. Flour everywhere, like a snowstorm hit. I’m like, “Great, just what I need.” I start mixing dough for my famous appeltaart. You know, the one that makes people weep with joy? Yeah, that one. But then, bam! The mixer breaks. Just my luck, right? I’m standing there, staring at this hunk of metal like it just insulted my mother.
I’m fuming. I mean, who breaks a mixer at 5 AM? I grab a whisk and start mixing by hand. My arms are burning, but I’m determined. I’m sweating like a pig, and I’m pretty sure I’m gonna have a heart attack. But then, I hear a knock on the door. It’s Mrs. Jansen from the corner of Hoofdstraat. She’s like, “I need my bread!” I’m like, “Lady, I’m not a miracle worker!” But I can’t say no.
So, I throw some dough together, and she’s all smiles. I mean, who can resist fresh bread, right? I hand it to her, and she’s like, “Oh, it smells divine!” I’m thinking, “Yeah, lady, that’s the smell of my sweat.” But whatever, I’m happy she’s happy.
Then, outta nowhere, my buddy Tom shows up. He’s got this wild idea to do a pop-up bakery at the market on Marktplein. I’m like, “Dude, it’s a Tuesday!” But he’s all hyped up, and I can’t resist his enthusiasm. So, we load up the van with pastries, and off we go.
The market is buzzing. I mean, people everywhere! I set up our little stall, and it’s chaos. I’m trying to keep up with orders, and Tom’s chatting up every customer like he’s running for mayor. I’m like, “Bro, focus!” But he’s in his element, and I can’t help but laugh.
Then, this kid comes up, maybe 10 years old, and he’s staring at our éclairs like they’re the Holy Grail. I’m like, “You want one, buddy?” He nods, wide-eyed. I hand it to him, and he takes a bite. His face lights up like it’s Christmas morning. I swear, that moment made my day.
But then, disaster strikes. A pigeon swoops down and lands right on our table. I’m like, “Get outta here, you feathered fiend!” I wave my arms, and the kid starts laughing. I’m flailing around like a madman, and Tom’s just standing there, cracking up. The pigeon finally flies off, but not before knocking over a whole tray of croissants. I’m ready to cry.
After the market, we head back to the bakery, and I’m exhausted. I mean, I’ve been on my feet for hours. But then, I see a group of kids playing on the playground near the bakery on Kerkstraat. They’re laughing and having a blast, and it hits me. This is why I do what I do.
I whip up a batch of cookies and take them outside. I’m like, “Hey, kids! Who wants cookies?” They come running like I’m handing out gold bars. Their smiles make all the chaos worth it.
Finally, I close up shop and head home. I’m beat, but I can’t stop smiling. Vaassen, with its little streets and friendly faces, it’s my home. Sure, it’s crazy, and some days I wanna pull my hair out, but it’s also full of moments that make it all worthwhile.
So, yeah, that was my day. Just another wild ride in the life of a baker in Vaassen. Can’t wait to do it all again tomorrow!