I am kicking back enjoying the simple things

After seven hard years in the kitchen at La Becasse, working approximately 80 hours per week, I'm enjoying a little relaxation. I've been able to do some of the things that I simply couldn't do when I ran the restaurant.

For instance, I've been able to experience a wide variety of other restaurants. I know that sounds strange but a lot of restaurants are shut on the same days which limits your choices.

Now that's changed, so I've been able to enjoy a number of great meals out.

But you can't keep a chef from the kitchen and last week I had the privilege of cooking with one of the region's best.

John Williams runs The Pound, at Leebotwood, near Shrewsbury, and once a year he organises a gourmet night, when he cooks eight courses for guests.

John has an exceptional pedigree: he was the chef and owner at Shrewsbury's only Michelin started restaurant, Sol, some years ago. He's also one of a very small number of Master Chefs of Great Britain. He has cooked for a long time at the highest level.

I've always been a fan of The Pound and I eat there regularly. John knew I'd got a little spare time and invited me to help him in the kitchen. We were clear about who was in charge – I was in John's kitchen and we were cooking his food – and I really enjoyed working under him.

It was good to put a chef's jacket on and work alongside such a fantastic chef. We were serving eight courses to 25 guests – that's 200 plates of food – and every plate had to be perfect.

There were a number of dishes that stood out, have given me some inspiration and I'm itching to get back into a kitchen again soon.

* Will Holland is a multi-award-winning Shropshire chef who formerly ran Ludlow's La Becasse Restaurant, on Corve Street and is famed for his appearances on James Martin's Saturday Kitchen and BBC TV's Great British Menu.