His relentless precision and dedication to his work made him respected and sometimes even a little feared by the caterers. But when he hung up his badge 30 years ago, he never for a moment thought of sitting idly by. Instead, he found a new passion - baking princess doughnuts, which became his way of expressing his love for life and people.
Every morning, when the sun is still lazily peeking out from behind the hills and the mists are slowly leaving the valleys, Milan is already cooking the basic dough for the princesses. His hands, which once checked the cleanliness of the kitchen surfaces, are now patiently and happily shaping the perfect sweet morsels with a light cream. His kitchen always smells of butter and vanilla. The sounds of stirring and the tiny crackle of the oven create a pleasant melody for his morning ritual, giving him a sense of fulfilment.
"It's going to smell like sweet treats again!" she says to herself with a smile as she carefully shapes the dough and injects the rich vanilla cream into it.
After taking the freshly baked profiteroles out of the oven, she cools them carefully, fills them with cream and then puts them in a nice wicker basket covered with a clean linen napkin and sets off on her second favourite activity - hiking. His paths take him through the many Slovenian mountains, from the friendly hills to the mighty peaks, where the air is fresh and the heart beats to the rhythm of nature.
Wearing hiking boots, with a cap on his head and a trusty wooden stick in his hand, he strides along mountain paths he knows like the back of his hand. Every step is familiar, every path reminds him of past adventures. His path is often crossed by hikers - experienced mountaineers, young hikers and families with children. When he meets a tired hiker, he gives them a prince's doughnut and a few encouraging words with a friendly smile.
"For a little energy and a lot of joy!" he says, handing over a fragrant treat he has prepared with all his heart.
Some say they are so good that you should try them at least once in your life. Others swear that Milanese Princes doughnuts give them the strength to tackle even the steepest climb.
"Milan, how do you manage to make them so soft and delicious?" a young hiker asks him.
Milan smiles and winks, "The secret is simple - love and patience!"
People ask him for recipes, some even ask him to bake princess doughnuts for special occasions. Milan always smiles and says that princess doughnuts are made with love and that it is this ingredient that makes them unique.
Sometimes you can take a longer break on one of the peaks. Sit on a bench or a rock, then take a thermos of hot tea from your rucksack and enjoy the magnificent view. In that moment, he feels fulfilled - his life is now made up of simple pleasures that give him meaning.
"What more could I want? Fresh air, good people and my princess doughnuts!" he says to himself, leaning back and enjoying the moment.
For Milan, life after retirement is sweet - because of the little sweet bites that bring moments of happiness.
Zala Krupljan, 12. 2. 2025
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