DIANE Christie used to work three weeks away from home in a hotel in Shetland.

After eight years, she felt enough was enough and she could ignore her heart no longer so when she was offered redundancy, Diane, 45, grabbed the opportunity with both hands and ran back to Saltcoats.

Little did she know that lockdown would come into play.

But determined Diane decided that it was now or never for her to open her own deli so, despite lockdown number two on the way, Di’s Deli opened in Saltcoats town centre in September.

“I used to work in a coffee shop in the town for years before I moved to my new job as a receptionist in Shetland,” explained Diane.

“I was working three weeks away and after eight years I decided it was the right time to take redundancy and finally follow my dream of having my own place.

“I knew there was a chance of a second lockdown but to be honest, I had taken redundancy and thought it was now or never for me.”

And just as the deli was going well, the lockdown restrictions were tightened and it was announced that customers could not enter the takeaway.

But Diane was determined to stay open and has made adjustments to make sure her regulars can pop along for their favourite Dirty Fries.

She said: “We are just taking each day at a time. We have joined Food Hub and we have a great small team, I’m glad I made the decision to go for it.

“I have drafted in some of my old colleagues who are on furlough from their other jobs and it’s great being together again.

“It sounds silly to say we are having fun, especially at times like these but to get up in the morning and look forward to going to work is terrific.

“And the customers have been so supportive, I have to say the Dirty Fries are our most popular order so much so we have even added donner meat to them to spice them up.

“Some people thought I was off my head taking on a business during these uncertain times but if this pandemic has taught us anything it is that life is short so follow your dreams.”