A dad from Oldham who quit his comfortable career and bought a trailer to sell breakfast butties has become the talk of the town since he set up shop by a popular pub earlier this month.
Sy-Frys fast food trailer, which sits outside the Northgate pub on Sholver Green, opened just four weeks ago and has already made its mark on residents, serving up delicious homecooked and locally sourced breakfast sandwiches and hot drinks, come rain, shine or snow.
The man behind the van, Simon Walsh, quit his successful 22-year-long career and £65,000 a year salary in optics to take the plunge as, despite making "very good money", he said the rat race of life had started to wear him down and eat into his home life.
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The 41-year-old said he had the idea to launch Sy-Frys years ago as he loves barbecuing and his cooking was often complimented by family and friends.
Then, in June, he said his wife "thought I was going a bit crazy" as he quit his job, enjoyed the six-week holidays with his children and bought a trailer.
The father-of-three took some time to recharge but said he's been much happier ever since he sparked up the grill.
Simon continued: "It's defining what happiness is, more than anything.
"It is a bold, mad, crazy new adventure.
"It sounds really corny but I feel far more satisfied in what I'm doing now in this short period of time than I probably have done for maybe the last 10 or 15 years - not that I didn't like what I was doing and not that I wasn't good at it, but a massive factor was just disconnecting from the matrix.
"I get to take my kids to school. I pick them up every day. I've been to all the assemblies. That's what's important.
"I feel like a massive weight has been lifted off me.
"I didn't want to be 51 thinking, why did I never do this 10 years ago?
"I needed to make the change because the money wasn't motivating me and it's like, what's better, money or happiness?"
Shopping and supporting local is another passion for Simon as everything he cooks up is from the area.
His eggs come from Booths Garden Centre, the bread from the Muffin Man in Lees and the meat from Windsor Meats, also in Lees.
He said: "Shopping local is about going into the people's pockets where we live.
"We all need to start somewhere and it's about being proud of having things that are good quality and where you live - like I rave about The Kings Arms, it's one of the best restaurants and I love that it's near.
"It gives you something to shout about and in fairness, there isn't a lot to shout about around here.
"The chippy and the Chinese closed down nearby, it's like there are just less things, so it's nice that there's something like this around.
"I don't pre-cook anything, it's all fresh like I was making it in your kitchen and I think that is what is making a big difference."
Inspiration then struck during a visit at Lees' favourite Village Service Station on St John Street, which recently won an award for its efforts to support the community, after a friendly employee filled up the petrol in Simon's car.
In the spirit of good customer service, Simon said he's now offering to bring out orders to people in the comfort of their car in the car park.
Customers can also enjoy tucking into Sy-Frys at the picnic spots and benches around the pub - and while they wait, can talk to Simon as he said a good natter with customers has become the biggest reward out of the venture so far.
He continued: "I'm not reinventing the wheel, everyone knows how to make a butty, but if you make it with nice ingredients, you make it with a bit of love, and everyone gets a bit of waffle off me.
"It's been a rollercoaster with quite a lot of money invested and lots of risk, but I'm really enjoying it.
"I put myself in this location for the community more than anything else."
Residents in the area have quickly caught on to Simon's hot breakfast deals and have flooded social media with their personal recommendations.
Customers have said Simon's butties are "proper" and "delicious" with "so thick" spam, while others said their dinner break was "cracking" and is "just what we need up here".
Another happy customer wrote: "Top guy, immaculate food truck and the food was bang on and great value, too."
Nigel Stockley gave Simon a personal shout-out after a charity event was held at the pub.
Mr Stockley said: "Outside there was a strange machine churning away producing food.
"Apart from keeping us fed and watered all day, Sy gave his profits back to Coffee for Craig, which meant he worked for nothing.
"If you need feeding or just a cuppa or a chat, he's the man to see and he can chat till the cows come home."
As for what the future holds, Simon is focussing on breakfasts for now, however, community input for the menu is always welcome.
On the menu at Sy-Frys are breakfast baps for £3, with bacon, sausage, spam, eggs, mushroom, and cheese available, while tea and coffee cost £1.50 and cans and chocolate bars cost £1.20.
Simon also said he might expand in the new year by looking to cater events and functions, like birthdays and charity events, and possibly even big occasions like Glastonbury further down the line.
He also has an idea to develop an ice cream truck into a mini essentials one-stop shop, due to the lack of accessible and nearby stores for his neighbours and customers.
He added: "It's small steps, everything I'm making is going directly back into the business. I'm literally barely crawling at the moment.
"I'm wary that this could quite easily not work out.
"It's going to take some serious time, but the friends and family support and the local community have been absolutely fantastic.
"I feel overwhelmed, actually, with all this recognition. I feel respected which is nice because you've got to earn that.
"It's just been really lovely and nice."
Sy-Frys can be found outside the Northgate pub, Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 2pm every day.
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