View 42 - An eating in the dark experience

The 25th of February was a pretty normal day to start with. Except for the fact that the nights and days before I quite struggled to fall asleep because my head was just wide awake and this state lasted until Tuesday morning. I tried to catch some sleep before having to work at 14:30 but still wasn’t able to. Sure enough as soon as I got to View my eyes became sleepy and tired. Good thing my body is familiar with perfect timing.

As always our tour groups came in early and stormed the bar to all get their drinks at the same time. On that Tuesday I didn’t spend as much time in the bar as I usually do and when the lights in the henty room turned off I was just grabbing an old man’s empty plate. We laughed about the weirdo who turned off the light switch and I carried arms full of plates into the kitchen where on light was turned off as well. The moment when I started wondering was back in the bar when the eftpos machine was blank. And then the power went out.

It wasn’t a big drama. This probably happened between 7-7:30 when it was light enough outside to see everything. The kitchen worked on their back up power and everything was fine. Concerning the till we just had to manually write down orders so they could be put through later and write down credit card details. Ten or fifteen minutes later the power was back and a huge sigh of relief and applause went through the restaurant. Well done, maintenance men. Except a few minutes later the lights flickered again and this time I was in the kitchen. Andrew let out a big moan because every time the power went out his dish washer wouldn’t work.

“Great! Now, when the power comes back the whole cycle is starting again.” We did our best to stack the dishes in a very space saving manner. The short power outs kept continuing. Every once in a while the lights went out and then turned back on. Just until we fully lost electricity. And then the craziness began. 

First I couldn’t understand why we kept letting people into the restaurant. Usually we don’t take anyone in after 7:30. But then I realized, no other restaurant could provide food because they all cooked to order. We, on the other hand, provided a buffet! So we reset tables and let people in while the sun was steadily sinking. Glass trays started covering the bar because our bar dish washer obviously didn’t work either. Soon I was buried behind a wall of dirty glass every time I served a customer in the dim light until it got to the point when I had to search blindly for beer glasses in the fridge, because at least the beer tap still worked. Naturally.

Soon maintenance showed up again and provided us with candles. We stuck them on each table, a few in the bar and a few on the buffet so our customers, who were now coming up from the other restaurants, could see what they were loading their plates with. Luckily these customers also brought up Hamer’s staff to help us out. Soon the kitchen became my favorite spot because the back up lighting though not very bright was much more comfortable for the eyes. Andrew and Yuno had started hand washing all the dishes and they weren’t going too badly. My favorite moment was when I turned around to the desk and saw my friend David standing their with his mate. I was supposed to meet them later on and hadn’t expected to see them up at View at all.

“We hear this is the only place in town where you can have a meal.”, David greeted me with a large grin and I smiled back and took them to their table. From that moment on I had an oasis in our restaurant. I was sweating and stressed, tripped over my own feet a few times but every time I saw David and Aaron they smiled and winked at me and I noticeably relaxed.

Soon we came to turns with the fact that we would have to hand wash glasses, too. And so Kana and I took that task on. To be honest I feel like we were faster than the dish washer. Usually you need to rinse them, stick them in there, wait a minute for them to wash, wait another minute till they aren’t glowingly hot anymore etc. And you do it by yourself! Like this I was rocking my pink gloves, washing every glass. Kana rinsed them and put them in glass racks. Once they were full she packed them away, drying the wine glasses and while she did that I rinsed the foamy glasses and so on. Quick as nothing! At some point we switched with Nadja and Monty though, because they didn’t know how to set up the breakfast buffet for the next morning. I smashed my head on the glass heaving up the heavy cereal containers and Dee gave me our big flash light so I wouldn’t blindly kill myself. Very soon I had to hand that over though because I heard a long, frustrated screamy groan from the kitchen. It let me know that our two hour back up power had run out. The chefs were long gone of course. But poor Andrew and Yuno were still stuck in the kitchen on the dishes. There went the big flash light.

Probably about a half hour or twenty minutes before we had everything set up all the lights turned on all of a sudden. This obviously made it easier to get all the little things done and so we swept everything away. My tiredness had long left me. That is a definite reason why I prefer busy nights. On those you don’t notice how time passes you by and you have no time to be tired.

Surprisingly we were all done by 22:45. So much better than what I had expected and only fifteen minutes later than our usual finishing up times. I hope todays 7-8 hours will pass just as quickly.

My oh my that was an exciting day that started quite boringly. I can’t believe by the service we delivered the man from table six had the balls to ask for a discount because it was dark and the food was cold. Hey you dick head. Half our buffet IS cold. Maybe you should have tried the hot foods because they were still warm when I ate them a half hour later than you. Idiot. Most complimented us on coping very well though and rightly so. Without us they wouldn’t have had dinner at all ;)

Today is a little less exciting. I am baking a cake because Courtney turned 18 this week and I went for my first bike ride in 4 months. Other than that... I just want to have a day off again. And my last day off was Wednesday.

Small things (and some big things, too!)

I know you haven’t heard of me in a while but I have been working on this blogpost for a few days... or weeks? Every day I discover things I like, learn or feel. Wether it’s at work or while hanging around or while being out and about and exploring. Usually I think about these things at work though and then a grab a little piece of paper and scribble them down. Therefore, this blog post is written true to reality in an exaggerated manner.

• The following text is rated M and is to be read only by mature audiences. It contains coarse language and sexual references. - 

• Also, please do not expect a chronological, alphabetical or any other kind of order. -

New work shirts are nicer but not that nice.

My feet stink after work.

Reon makes my day.

I had a house warming party before my day off on the last thursday in January. I baked a Hefezopf (braided bun) and brownies, which accordingly to Jake where a cake and no brownies - smart ass - and invited anyone I knew, but mainly people from work. 

speaking of baking, have you ever seen this much bread dough in one place?

So many more people came, than I anticipated: Courtney from work spontaneously came with, five chefs, one of our kitchen hands, our two favorite Americans, Katie a friend of Nadja’s and Sarah who I hadn’t even seen until then. 

We fit surprisingly well into my little “room”.

I pushed my bed away from the wall to in front of the door and found out that it’s super fun to run and jump onto it.

Justin is such a lovely guy. At work I asked him to come to my party and told him I didn’t have much to cater with. If he had anything at home he would be free to bring it. So there is Justin, showing up with a half baked huge date cookie. Sooo sweet of him to whip it up.

Nico has become my favorite chef although he actually is a baker. He bakes olive bread when he is drunk and I hope that one day he will make me one. Oh, and he complemented my Hefezopf!

I am a huge failure at sand boarding.

InvASIAN!

Instant noodles are the shit. They taste sooooo good and are sooooo quick. 

Jake will do anything to tease and annoy me. But he also gives nice hugs.

Work hurts my ankles and working with a head ache is the worst because it kills your concentration. 

LONG LIVE PANADOL!

Don’t even attempt to eat more than one of those chocolate tarts. They are too rich.

There is a small passage way behind the wine racks at View. We keep our cutlery there and enter and leave the kitchen. It’s heaven because you can dance and pull faces without anyone knowing.

F* you is a very common expression of affection.

F* you is also a very common expression of f* you.

I like when Steven works. He is funny.

Junichi has the funniest laugh ever. Just like in an anime.

Our kitchen is real crappy.

If you are awake past 1:30 in the morning and get a little bored it’s worth to have a stroll down to the bakery and check in with busy bee Nico.

Working in the bar of our restaurant is really hectic and confusing and I sometimes wish people were more tolerant.

Some customers are incredibly nice and tolerant. They are always good for a chat and one guy comes back every night and is only served by me because I know which wines him and his wife order every time and he himself can’t remember them.

When you get into your house and your kitchen is flooded... well, there is only one word for that.

Speaking some sentences in a foreign languages, even the slightest, most boring phrase, will instantly win your customer’s hearts. Watashino samurai des!

My phone was stolen.

presenting: Catherine, me, Danielle from the USA and Tom who happens to cycle Tasmania.

presenting: le coucho

Every night at our pub is the same. People drink, smoke outside, play pool and chat. Every night except Saturday, 1st February. All of a sudden there is karaoke, loud music, a huge crowd and you dance and sweat like your in the nicest club of whole Tasmania. This occasion also proved perfect to take a fully clothed jump from the wharf into the jet black water. Where are the photos already? It was amazing though. The jetty was way higher than we thought, but it was one ton of fun!

This obviously wasn't taken at night. But it was jetty jumping.

My phone has been returned. Although I couldn’t manage to shed a tear at all the night before when Mel told me they had found my purse in the street (where someone must have dropped it after realizing I had no money in it) I burst out into happy tears.

I sometimes wonder why Tasmanian air is the cleanest in the world because I might have counted three people who don’t smoke in Strahan. The weed consummation here is through the roof. Oh, and cigarettes as well of course.

On this account, I sometimes play with the idea to become a “smoker” too, so I can take two minute breaks all the time without anyone complaining.

Two good songs very worth listening: Free by Rudimental and Hard out Here by Lily Allen. For the second one also watch the music video ;)

If you have a had a warmish day in Strahan, the water won’t be too cold at night.

I love my new MAAAAAAAAATTTEEEEEE (mate) bracelet.

I also love my new bikini. It makes me look less fat. Because it's one size bigger.

View’s pavlova is a beast! Side note: It is not entirely self made, but the chef’s won’t let that shine through when asked out to give away their secret to a lady at table 16.

We make our money on the wines because the dinner of course always is a standard price and well, we buy our wine bottles for about four dollars, but sell the cheapest one for 28.

I really hate when people say “them.” As in “Where are them plates?” or “I hate them glasses.” Guh, so ugly.

I get told everyday how “exceedingly well” I speak English and that I have a linguistic talent. People are also starting to state I have a great Australian accent. It apparently is shifting towards Ozzie. These compliments make me very happy.

Working the tills and bar orders makes me feel very professional, because one waitress who has been working there for two months already can’t do them. (She is absolutely lovely but it still makes me feel great :)

A quiet night is definitely more fun than a busy one.

When I start at 4:30 I get much hungrier than when I start at 6:00.

After jumping off the jetty one needs to be very careful climbing up the steel ladder. I cut open my knee quite badly.

I love this photo of Nadja. It looks old to me.

Oh, there is more in language annoying me: “Where was you?” and “Yous are good friends, are you?”. I mean, common. Yous??

In Strahan I am known under three names. Authorities and a few Aussies call me Shirin. All the Asians and a few locals call me Emma. And all customers call me Samantha because I don’t have my name badge yet.

When working at View pretty sunsets are a regular asset. But I have discovered something even better. When you hustle through your back gate to get to work a few minutes before 6:30 in the morning feeling really scruffy and grumpy because you woke up 15 minutes ago, a rosy pink veil behind the line of trees can work wonders.

I am not boney! If you think I am boney then well, something isn’t right with you.

Nadja has gotten me addicted to chocolate. It is so bad. Not even funny anymore.

Yesterday a lady poured coffee over my fingers and it wasn’t too bad, but to prevent the burn from becoming bad I cooled my hand and then I had to fill out an injury form about all the details in case it should still become bad.

4W driving is nothing for me. Yesterday at night we went places no car should ever go at speeds no car should drive roads that are smaller than the car. I sometimes felt like in a roller coaster and Reon hit his head but not all too badly.

This wasn't with Jake and Reon but the other day when I went with Shaunnah. Where at home would you be able to drive on a road like this?

It also feels stunning to be driving in a car just half a meter away from the waters edge right on the beach.

Before I started work everyone told me how scary Dee is and that she blows up upon the slightest mistakes. I don’t see her this way though. She has been nothing but nice to me and however often I was frightened out of my pants that she was going to get mad at me she never was! Therefore I don’t care about what people say, until Dee would actually do something to me. I enjoy having a positive working environment.

One night I went up to a lookout with a friend and I was blown away by the beauty of the sky. I have never seen such a marvelous sky. I could see the milky way! Waaah, I just cannot get over it :)

A moth lived on our fly screen for a while. When she first came there she scared us because when flying she sounds like a small bird! But after sitting there for a while I grew quite fond of her.

The other day two couples were sitting at table one and they asked me wether I could sing for their anniversary. I said that I am probably not allowed to but then I asked Dee and she was like “If you want to, sure.” So I sang one stanza and the chorus of Bruno Mars’ Count on Me for them and I was hellish nervous and when I stopped I realized the whole restaurant had stopped moving and was now clapping for me. I haven’t sung for people in such a long time that it was a really strange feeling to do it at work. One of those ladies later walked up to me and snuck a 50 dollar tip into my apron and upon asking Dee wether to put it into the tip jar she said I should keep it as it had been my work. Apparently we also got lots of tips from other people. What meant most to me was the look on my co-worker Shaunnah’s face. I don’t know why, but it just touched me.

Potato gratin is my every day dinner and often enough fish cakes, but I have gotten sick of them.

I went fishing! And we caught a fish! And I was allowed to have it for dinner!!! UAHHHH :)

The sentence used most at work - well, there are a few actually like “May I help you, sir/ma’am?”, “I will just tell you a few things on our buffet tonight...”, “Can I grab this plate for you?”. But used mostly by every one collectively is: “See ya.”

I don’t see why work shouldn’t be fun. Who decided the word work had to be connected to boredom and frustration? Labour is different. I see how labour is negative, after all it’s connected to ‘physical labour’, ‘being in labour’. It sounds painful and unpleasant. Or duty. That one sounds responsible, it is an obligation if moral or legal. But work? It is just something you do to attain a goal, like making money or pleasing customers. It does not have to be horrible. So do I quietly sing when I can? Yeah. Do I sway while polishing cutlery? Yeah. Do I joke with customers? Yeah! Because I don’t see a reason not to.

Six hours are long but they could be much longer. They could be eight hours.

This is what I look at everyday when working. The View is nicer at night or when it's sunny but I always find it spectacular. Oh and to the right you see the city center.

Are you seriously complaining about unset breakfast tables? REALLY?! I worked six hours last night and came back in this morning after five hours of sleep facing a twelve hour day with only two hours off in between. Do you really want to complain about me not setting your table for breakfast when this is our order? You joking me you dick head? 

If I could take Shaunnah everywhere with me for the rest of my life I would become a coffee drinker. She has made me the first one I actually enjoyed. (Sorry, Papa. Your espressos are always grand.)

Did you know how much delight small things bring you? I never knew I could find this much joy in seeing customers leave a restaurant. Or how pleasing it is when the linen you fold into fancy napkins actually is quadratic and foldable.

Today, 12 February, I had my first 15 hour break. It should have been a half hour but I am getting the rest tomorrow. I like fifteen hour breaks, though fifteen minutes are long when you are just sitting there. But we are legally required to take the full half hour and it’s alright if you have your phone with you. At the end of my twelve hour day I would have liked to have the other 15 minutes.

I love learning new things every day. How to set the tables, how to seat people, how to set the buffet for breakfast, how to work breakfasts, how to make drinks, how to restock the fridge, how to make coffees... Small things and some big things, too.

Skipper

The Curse

Honesty is an important quality. To be honest this is not a blog post. It’s just a filler because my other blog post, well, it’s taking a while. I meant to put it up ages ago but as soon as you read it you will know why or how I kept working on it. So yes, it already was a very time consuming blog post, but then I also turned sick on top of all of it. Since Sunday I felt very nauseous but it was still alright. I went to the longest running play in Australia, called the Ship That Never Was, and made a new friend there. His name is David and he is an actor in the play as well as a tour guide on the boat. I can’t make out wether he is 50 or 8 years old but time will show his true amount of wrinkles.

Monday was horrible. During my breakfast shift I felt incredibly sick, then spent six hours on the couch in pain until Dee said I can’t be off and have to go in anyway. I therefore worked for two and a half more hours. Tuesday I was off in the morning and went to the doctors. Before beginning of February the surgery was only open twice a week but now there is a general doctor in town five days a week! And he has become my favorite doctor of all time. His name is Oswell and he is black and that already is a bonus. After all the cool doctors in movies and shows are always black, that’s just how it is. He has a very calm voice and an interesting life too! He always gets sent to different little cities and sometimes, they are so small that he is the only doctor in town and when there is any sort of problem it’s him who has to take care of it. Sometimes he said he worries about taking too long of a shower in case someone has a heart attack and he needs to revive them. To me that sounds quite stressful. 

Anyhow, Oswell suggested I probably ate something wrong and that it would leave by itself. It didn’t though and after I almost fainted at work on Thursday I made another appointment and had a longer talk with him. His diagnose: I did eat something wrong which upset my stomach. The reason my symptoms kept getting worse or less and kept changing from nausea to cramps to lightheadedness was because I seem to suffer from stress and anxiety. He prescribed a strong anti acid and a tablet against nausea and lightheadedness and advised me not to worry. This is always easier said than done, especially when I don’t know what I am worrying about exactly!

So, this has been my week and I hope it will clear up a little this weekend. Below you will find out what I look like when I am not majorly stressed or anxious.

Your Skipper.