06/08/2026
Why we’re walking away from Crows Nest.
For the first time in my life, I had to admit defeat.
I know everyone loves an underdog story with a neat little turnaround, but I’m not here to fake a positive spin. I failed. My ambition was bigger than my stomach, I bit off way more than I could chew, and my strength completely gave out.
Financial strain hit us hard—losing my car and having to replace it immediately threw us deep in the red.
Trying to renovate a space that huge was way too expensive, and forcing a kitchen build-out through endless council delays became a money pit I couldn’t sustain.
On top of that, I was trying to force Pocket Rocketz to be a daytime, morning-coffee brand in a car wash spot. But that’s just not what this brand is, and I refused to compromise on quality or sell average coffee just to survive.
The truth is, I tried to do this alone. I’m a chef, not a barista, and without a business partner, I fantasised way too much about being able to carry it all on my back. Between juggling Crows Nest, Norwest delays, caterings, events, and acting, the weight broke me.
It took a massive toll on my mental health to the point where I couldn’t get out of bed, bled into my personal life, and triggered a deep identity crisis.
I stopped asking for help, locked myself in, and hit an absolute wall. Even superheroes have limits.
So I’m walking away to preserve my mental health and whatever I have left.
I’m sorry for the false hope with Crows Nest, but sometimes you have to quit a situation before it completely destroys you.
It’s okay to fall face first and not instantly get back up.
This isn’t a permanent goodbye…we’re pivoting back to fixing Norwest, getting that running, and hitting the road for festivals, events, and caterings.
Live to fight another day. Third time lucky, maybe.
