On Sunday 9th April I won the SHE Award for Outstanding Culinary Skills, then straight into hosting our company annual event, and now I’m sitting at Heathrow about to board a flight to Punjab to spend time with my darling husband, who has been waiting for me to join him since February, and it’s only now I’ve had a minute to stop and take it all in.

Thank you so much SHE Awards for even considering me for this award. Standing there alongside Sunia Imran @sunias_kitchen, who received the Highly Commended award, made it even more special, sharing that moment with another incredible woman being recognised.

It wasn’t just about food. As a Punjabi woman heading into my 60’s, I spend my weekdays in Boardrooms working as a Chief of Staff, making decisions and holding my own, and then I come straight back into family life, caring for elders and showing up for everyone, and I know so many women are doing exactly the same while still pushing forward in their own way – writing books, hosting podcasts and much, much more!!

I didn’t walk into that room on my own. Baljit was right there with me, my sons’ mother-in-law who I now co-host a podcast with, along with my eldest daughter-in-law Shelley and my youngest daughter Ekta, all there supporting me, cheering me all the way there and all the way back, and as soon as my other children and their partners found out I’d won, our family WhatsApp group just went mad, which says everything about what this moment meant to all of us.

The podcast has become something really honest for us, just two women from different upbringings who are now family, talking about the things we were never really given the space to talk about before, love and arranged marriage, identity, expectations and everything in between. Our next episode on the Extended Punjabi Family is out now, so do go and have a listen – available on all platforms.

And in many ways, this community here feels like my extended family too. I appreciate every single one of you who took the time to nominate me, support me and back me along the way.

Thank you!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

My award winning outfit which was hugely complimented by @black_thread.co

See you soon! 🥰😘