Will you still hold my hand when it's roughened from working?
*long boring post as it's a recollection of my first day being back at work, emo part quite far below (and short)*
Woke up early so that I could take my time in preparing. After washing up I polished my shoes quickly, showered and went to the market for breakfast (minced meat noodles), didn't even wax my hair cuz it looked alright to me. On the bus and MRT to Simei I listened to music using my Muvo TX FM (which I've had for like over 5 years and it still works fine), the minimum volume's 1 and it was kinda loud.
After reaching Simei I looked around for familiar faces so as to not miss the company bus to Laguna National Country club. Upon reaching, I waited for the slow security guard to fill in the part-time forms and greeted William, the restaurant manager. When I went to get the uniform, the auntie recognised me and I briefly explained that I was back in sch so I couldn't work before heading to the changing room. Inside, I exchanged looks with 2 guys wearing the same uniform and proceeded to change. Had to ask Bernard, 1 of the captains how to tie the apron as I had forgotten completely.
Once upstairs at Lakes' Cafe, I said hi to staff whom I had worked with when I was working last year like Debbie, Swee Kean, Sze Yun and Fiona, the 2 guys from earlier were also there. Fiona told me that the 2 guys were from Myanmar and Phillipines and that they had been working for 1-2 months already. After a briefing by William, Bernard explained to me what was new since I had left such as the buffet and new menu. Glad that Jocelyn (another captain, an intimidating 1) was not around today, I chatted with the rest before the crowd came in and served drinks. Fortunately the pace was constant and manageable, unlike weekends where we'd usually get spammed with orders to oblivion.
There was a commotion about the visible tornado/hurricane/twister in the distance where the seas are. I so wanted to take a picture with my handphone but I couldn't. William even said that they had appeared for a few times already. After it disappeared it rained and Swee Kean joked that my re-appearance had caused it.
Lunch hours were quickly over and I kept myself busy by taking over Swee Kean's position as bartender (as she had to go to Range Cafe) to wash the glasses, make drinks etc, then I refilled the fridge and wiped the tables and chairs etc until it was time to makan at 4.15. By then I was already very tired and humourously thought that I might not be able to last through the night. I walked down with the Myanmar guy and chatted a little with him. After filling up my stomach with just enough resources (as the black pants which used to fit nicely now felt tight) I went back upstairs with Swee Kean's meal. Fiona then brought me to Range Cafe where Swee Kean was to pass her her meal. On our way back we commented that the cars around were expensive ones like BMW, Mercz and Lexus, it's a country club after all.
I was still nursing the headache I had, probably from the loud music earlier and from the fact that I had not worked (long hours of standing and walking) for a long time even after taking panadol from Bernard. Fortunately, he let me be the bartender and I was thankful that I didn't have to walk so much while stretching my legs behind the bar. Although I knew what the bartender had to do as I used to always serve drinks, I had never actually taken up the position until tonight. There was a constant stream of orders until I got spammed with jugs of beverages. Running out of watermelon for watermelon juice, I asked Bernard to ask the fierce dessert chef (a woman) to cut more. She always had a straight face last time, and she was still the same. After re-emphasising that she wasn't gonna cut anymore after it was finished I continued making the drinks.
The barrel of Carlsberg ran out and Fiona replaced it for me (as I dunno how to attach the connector to it). I noticed that the new Carlsberg took a while to flow and knew something was wrong. True enough even after 2 half-jugs of foam there was still a lot of foam, which wasn't supposed to happen and it couldn't be served like that. Bernard helped me again by using another way to fill the jug up (unexplainable in words).
By 7.30 the crowd was almost gone and by 8 the bar was almost ready to be closed after washing the 2 blenders, washing and returning all the glasses, wiping the surfaces, taking out the ice, refilling the hot water, returning milk and milk jars to the fridge etc. Fiona had told me what to do and cleaned the coffee machine etc.
Then exactly at 8.30 where we would not be accepting orders anymore, 2 Japanese ladies and 4/5 children came in. Bernard decided to accept them anyway and the Philippines guy took their orders. I rushed to serve their drinks and helped Fiona in serving the food. The kitchen floor was wet as the cleaners was washing it and we were careful so as to not tripping. I carried the tray to the door and she took it from there.
A guy arrived and joined the Japanese group, maybe he's the husband of the 2 ladies? Anyway the children were all playing Nintendo DS and I told Fiona that they cost over S$200 each. He asked whether the golf course would be open tomorrow and Fiona explained that it would be closed as they had to do maintenance. The guy footed the bill with a voucher (taken out from a booklet of vouchers) and another S$50 note. Then he stood up and went all the way to the fridge to order takeaway drinks but I told him that the cashier was closed already and we were unable to accede to his request.
At 8.55 we were almost ready to leave and the Philippines guy had already left. Suddenly Bernard, Fiona, 1 of the 2 cashiers and the Myanmar guy were stacking up chairs. I went to help immediately and found out that they were washing the floors the next day. After finally finishing we all quickly went down to change to catch the company bus back to Simei.
I couldn't help but listen to Secondhand Serenade's songs on the journey home (which was loud) and mimed along. It got me thinking.
Why did I choose to work when I could have chosen to remain at home to play Need for Speed or DotA? Was the tiredness (and headache) worth the S$5.50 an hour?
In the end, I realise that there are people without jobs and I should be thankful that I can work to earn some money during this holidays. Not like I need to when I have enough savings at home to buy the things I wanna buy - Razer mousepad, Creative 2.1 speakers and a new chair from IKEA. I also realise that this is nothing compared to what I would be facing in National Service (NS), it would be much much tougher, even if I were to be excused from the physically-demanding platoon.
Sze Yun's hands had roughened from the constant contact with water while she was bartender last year. Today my hands were wet most of the time too as I had to frequently wash the glasses. Think I'll bring my own pair of gloves to wear when I'm bartender.
"Will you still hold my hand when it's roughened from working?"
Woke up early so that I could take my time in preparing. After washing up I polished my shoes quickly, showered and went to the market for breakfast (minced meat noodles), didn't even wax my hair cuz it looked alright to me. On the bus and MRT to Simei I listened to music using my Muvo TX FM (which I've had for like over 5 years and it still works fine), the minimum volume's 1 and it was kinda loud.
After reaching Simei I looked around for familiar faces so as to not miss the company bus to Laguna National Country club. Upon reaching, I waited for the slow security guard to fill in the part-time forms and greeted William, the restaurant manager. When I went to get the uniform, the auntie recognised me and I briefly explained that I was back in sch so I couldn't work before heading to the changing room. Inside, I exchanged looks with 2 guys wearing the same uniform and proceeded to change. Had to ask Bernard, 1 of the captains how to tie the apron as I had forgotten completely.
Once upstairs at Lakes' Cafe, I said hi to staff whom I had worked with when I was working last year like Debbie, Swee Kean, Sze Yun and Fiona, the 2 guys from earlier were also there. Fiona told me that the 2 guys were from Myanmar and Phillipines and that they had been working for 1-2 months already. After a briefing by William, Bernard explained to me what was new since I had left such as the buffet and new menu. Glad that Jocelyn (another captain, an intimidating 1) was not around today, I chatted with the rest before the crowd came in and served drinks. Fortunately the pace was constant and manageable, unlike weekends where we'd usually get spammed with orders to oblivion.
There was a commotion about the visible tornado/hurricane/twister in the distance where the seas are. I so wanted to take a picture with my handphone but I couldn't. William even said that they had appeared for a few times already. After it disappeared it rained and Swee Kean joked that my re-appearance had caused it.
Lunch hours were quickly over and I kept myself busy by taking over Swee Kean's position as bartender (as she had to go to Range Cafe) to wash the glasses, make drinks etc, then I refilled the fridge and wiped the tables and chairs etc until it was time to makan at 4.15. By then I was already very tired and humourously thought that I might not be able to last through the night. I walked down with the Myanmar guy and chatted a little with him. After filling up my stomach with just enough resources (as the black pants which used to fit nicely now felt tight) I went back upstairs with Swee Kean's meal. Fiona then brought me to Range Cafe where Swee Kean was to pass her her meal. On our way back we commented that the cars around were expensive ones like BMW, Mercz and Lexus, it's a country club after all.
I was still nursing the headache I had, probably from the loud music earlier and from the fact that I had not worked (long hours of standing and walking) for a long time even after taking panadol from Bernard. Fortunately, he let me be the bartender and I was thankful that I didn't have to walk so much while stretching my legs behind the bar. Although I knew what the bartender had to do as I used to always serve drinks, I had never actually taken up the position until tonight. There was a constant stream of orders until I got spammed with jugs of beverages. Running out of watermelon for watermelon juice, I asked Bernard to ask the fierce dessert chef (a woman) to cut more. She always had a straight face last time, and she was still the same. After re-emphasising that she wasn't gonna cut anymore after it was finished I continued making the drinks.
The barrel of Carlsberg ran out and Fiona replaced it for me (as I dunno how to attach the connector to it). I noticed that the new Carlsberg took a while to flow and knew something was wrong. True enough even after 2 half-jugs of foam there was still a lot of foam, which wasn't supposed to happen and it couldn't be served like that. Bernard helped me again by using another way to fill the jug up (unexplainable in words).
By 7.30 the crowd was almost gone and by 8 the bar was almost ready to be closed after washing the 2 blenders, washing and returning all the glasses, wiping the surfaces, taking out the ice, refilling the hot water, returning milk and milk jars to the fridge etc. Fiona had told me what to do and cleaned the coffee machine etc.
Then exactly at 8.30 where we would not be accepting orders anymore, 2 Japanese ladies and 4/5 children came in. Bernard decided to accept them anyway and the Philippines guy took their orders. I rushed to serve their drinks and helped Fiona in serving the food. The kitchen floor was wet as the cleaners was washing it and we were careful so as to not tripping. I carried the tray to the door and she took it from there.
A guy arrived and joined the Japanese group, maybe he's the husband of the 2 ladies? Anyway the children were all playing Nintendo DS and I told Fiona that they cost over S$200 each. He asked whether the golf course would be open tomorrow and Fiona explained that it would be closed as they had to do maintenance. The guy footed the bill with a voucher (taken out from a booklet of vouchers) and another S$50 note. Then he stood up and went all the way to the fridge to order takeaway drinks but I told him that the cashier was closed already and we were unable to accede to his request.
At 8.55 we were almost ready to leave and the Philippines guy had already left. Suddenly Bernard, Fiona, 1 of the 2 cashiers and the Myanmar guy were stacking up chairs. I went to help immediately and found out that they were washing the floors the next day. After finally finishing we all quickly went down to change to catch the company bus back to Simei.
I couldn't help but listen to Secondhand Serenade's songs on the journey home (which was loud) and mimed along. It got me thinking.
Why did I choose to work when I could have chosen to remain at home to play Need for Speed or DotA? Was the tiredness (and headache) worth the S$5.50 an hour?
In the end, I realise that there are people without jobs and I should be thankful that I can work to earn some money during this holidays. Not like I need to when I have enough savings at home to buy the things I wanna buy - Razer mousepad, Creative 2.1 speakers and a new chair from IKEA. I also realise that this is nothing compared to what I would be facing in National Service (NS), it would be much much tougher, even if I were to be excused from the physically-demanding platoon.
Sze Yun's hands had roughened from the constant contact with water while she was bartender last year. Today my hands were wet most of the time too as I had to frequently wash the glasses. Think I'll bring my own pair of gloves to wear when I'm bartender.
"Will you still hold my hand when it's roughened from working?"