I tend to talk about my work a lot. I do love my work, and in my experience it is hard to find people who love working in hospitality, are committed to the industry and think of it as a ‘real career’ rather than as a job to do while looking for something else. This weekend however was full of more challenges and surprises than most!

Friday night was a huge night at work, a group of travelling gourmet critics booked out most of the restaurant. We were so busy that I started to turn people away at the door (just for clarity here I’ll explain that I started out in the industry doing kitchen work, but now I tend to do more front of house operations)! We took the orders and then I rushed into the kitchen to help chef. We kicked arse. One table of the travelling gourmet critics said that it was the best rating that they had ever given.

Saturday was equally as busy. I opened and was supposed to finish at 1pm. However, half way through the day another staff member called in sick having injured his wrist so I did an open to close.

Sunday of course was Mother’s day and we did a special mother’s day high tea. This took up most of the restaurant, but we still managed to turn all the tables at least once. At times we were so busy that we were unable to seat people and once again had to turn people away at the door. There I am, doing my silver service thing, hair neatly parted, bow tie on straight, white cotton gloves, a vest, black long pants (100% merino wool, mmm, feels sexy) and this kid vomits on me. Three times. He also vomited along the entire length of the restaurant. Thankfully I was able to change.

While I’m having a gripe, I must point out that uni group assignments can potentially suck. Nine weeks and none of them showed up to any of the meetings, only tutorials. The Weds before its due we finally manage to all get together, I show them my part, they tell me they haven’t started.

We meet again the next day: the girl has plagurized an irrelevant text extensively on the wrong topic; one of the guys has simply taken my analysis and replaced the name. I sigh and decide that I’m just going to do the entire group assignment myself so I don’t get kicked out for their plagurism.

We meet Friday morning and I proudly show the few that do show up my work. It’s not good enough for them, they decide that they need to plonk their plagurized work into the assignment somewhere. They also decide to change the format from the way the tutor has asked to something that will save them four cents when it comes time to print because it uses two less pages.

At this point I’m about I’m about to lose it and re-enact something from Kill Bill but I manage to stop myself and go outside. At this point I’m wondering if I should take up smoking again, I decide against it and return to the group. They complain that I shouldn’t leave them at such an important time and that I should be contributing more.

I do lose it. Right there, in the middle of the library. In my head I point at the girl, “you stupid bitch, plagurizing an irrelevant internet webpage on the wrong topic isn’t exactly contributing,” I point to the African guy, “and you, you arrogant fuck knuckle, I’m not surprised your ancestors sold each other into slavery.” The library continues with quiet chatter, unaware of the scene in my head and I start to feel guilty about my thoughts.

I had to edit this post, after I clicked on ‘publish’ I went and re-read it. Then I noticed that the random link led me to here

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Written by Adrian on 13.05.07 at 7:35 pm.