Logged off: Chris Wright, Innes England
Chris Wright, associate director at commercial property agents Innes England, on how he winds down at the weekend.
How do you relax at the weekend?
After a busy week at work it’s nice to spend time with my wife and two young children, William, four, and Eleanor, two. Saturday often starts with a cooked breakfast, followed by a family activity. Both my kids are quite outdoorsy so if the weather is nice we tend to enjoy a day at the park or cycling around Carsington Water. I’m also quite proud of my garden so during the better months I enjoy inviting friends and family over for a barbecue on Sundays. I enjoy the cooking and entertaining part, but not so much the cleaning up afterwards.
How many hours do you work at the weekend on average?
Having a good work/life balance is very important to me so I try to avoid working at the weekend. For me, weekends are a time to relax, enjoy life and recharge. It is important to work smart so during the week I will do what it takes to get the job done. Being a property agent I thrive on doing deals for clients and this means I don’t work core office hours. I take calls well into the weekday evenings and will often be in the office before 8am to make the most of a quiet hour or so before the phones start ringing.
What is your favourite?
– Holiday destination? I have been fairly fortunate to visit some amazing places. Earlier this year I was in Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. It was a holiday of the best weather, food, wine and scenery. There was so much to see and do, including climbing up Table Mountain, wine tasting on horseback and cage diving with great white sharks.
– Book? Freakonomics – I find it fascinating how the field of economics can be applied to daily life. I do prefer non-fiction books, especially on British history.
– Album? The first album I ever bought was Led Zeppelin’s IV and I still play it to this day.
– TV programme? I cannot stand reality TV and recoil at the likes of The Only Way is Essex or Made in Chelsea. I am a bit of a history geek so if I get a quiet night in by myself, I enjoy a bit of Tony Robinson, Alice Roberts or Neil Oliver.
– Food? I do like a good rib of beef; rare with plenty of Stilton and hollandaise sauce.
– Website or app? I love eBay – it’s good for keeping the house free of the wife’s clutter.
How do you usually spend your Sunday evenings?
My favourite Sunday evenings are those spent watching a film and eating takeaway pizza with my family.