Girls Room

[MarMar]

Worked yesterday, and had a lady complimenting us for the "cutest cups eva", and I happily told her they were from IKEA. I have no trouble doing this, as I don't see us as a place that tries desperately to be all posh and classy; quite the opposite, in fact. We've had several people walking in and explaiming that it's so cosy, that upstairs is like walking into a private home, and this (lesbian?) who said it looked exactly like her grammaw's living room, who died, and... then, she nearly burst into tears. I like those customers. They prove that we have done something right, which is so cool, you just wouldn't believe it. Like, S commented that the psychologist across the street never came in to eat or do anything while the previous owner ran the shop, but, now, she comes at least once a week.

But, on the other end, there are customers who are able to ruin your whole day and all your good moods. We had one of those today. Saturdays are very hectic, so you will get your food, but with room for only one cook, it might take a little while. Anyway, this group arrived with a mixture of Norwegia, French and Americans. They went upstairs and came back down to make an order. T was helping me with coffee and orders in exchange for me helping him with the washing up in between the rush of customers. He took their order, and while I was busy with something else, I just picke up the word "hamburger", and didn't think much more of it. Then, I served one of the other people in the group - a middle-aged man who wanted one cheesecake, one coke and a ciabbat with chicken salad. I told him that the ciabatta would take a little while due to many food orders etc, while doing so, got him his coke and a glass before punching the numbers and take his money for it. After I had placed the glass on top of the bottle, I pushed it to the edge of the counter etc, and he just turned and went upstairs without even looking at the bottle, leaving me a little speechless. In fact, it pissed me off quite a bit, as all the tables downstairs were taken, as well as those upstairs. He was fully aware of the fact that we had work up to our ears, but of course, he was too posh to carry his own bloody bottle! I asked T if he could, please, take the bottle as well as the cake upstairs to the customer as I was too angry to deal with such... a... - I won't even begin to describe the words I would, and did, call him.

After a while two hamburgers were ready. I asked where they were going and was told upstairs. Since I had overheard the word "hamburger" I delivered them to the French I had heard ordering them. A couple at the next table said that they had ordered two hamburgers as well, and I promised that I would ask for thyem when I came back down. I did, and it turned out that those were their hamburgers, and the group with the ansty customers had four hamburgers in the process of being made, and that they would have to wait for them to be finished, screwing up the plan made by H, who's the cook on Saturdays. After being reassured that I couldn't know (I was quite upset with myself), T went upstairs while I served some other customers and appologised for the misunderstanding, to both tables, and offered free coffee/drinks, which they seemed to appreciate. Well, all except for one. Wanna guess who? You go it! The nasty middle-aged posh-assed rich man. He complained, apparently, quite loudly that he didn't like to be kept waiting, even though they hadn't been waiting for more than 5-10 minutes etc. Grrrr! Also, T went up to clean their table after they'd left, and when he came back down he could report that they couldn1t have left a messier table even if they whad tried. I replied that we should consider the possibility of them to indeed have done their best to make us work even more.

Other than that, the customers have been very understanding of us having a busy time, and when offered free coffee (for example an elderly couple who had ordered two single lattes, which were delivered right away, and two shrimp-ciabattas delievered after 20 minutes, glady accepted two more single lattes on the house and said thank you over and over). In general, people can see from my red face, busy kitched/espresso machine area and the full tables that we are indeed doing the very best we can, and are patient. I like that

Now I'll be going to bed. We have tomorrow off, and I plan to clean up the bedroom and vacuum, as I am currently waking up in the middle of the night with a very runny/stuffy nose to sneeze 20 or so times due to all the dust. T is also planning a romantic everning in bed with candles and music and talking.

[Mez83]

^ Customers like that need to be drop kicked.

[Pierced Musie]

Or accidently elbowed on the back of the head as you walk on by.

[Mez83]

I wish I'd thought of that when I was waitressing!!!

[Pierced Musie]

That is the reason why I can't be a waitress. When I'm not being clumsy, I have anger issues.

[Mez83]

I don't know if I could be a waitress in a busy place. People in NZ are generally pretty relaxed about life. As long as their food's good, they're ok with anything else that may happen. In my 4 years of waitressing I only had maybe 5 customers who were obviously the devils spawn.

[Pierced Musie]

Heh. I won't be applying for any hotel work then. You have to start off in the kitchens and as waiters, then move up the ladder to other jobs.

The only reason I was looking for hotel work is because some of the hotels in the nearest town are sympathetic towards Connexions and the kids who train there. They are willing to give the teens a fair chance, which is a rare thing these days.

Working with the public is my downfall. My confidence with people is below average and that pulls me back.

[Cal]

The Cafe sounds lovely, Mar!

I hate those posh tight-ass people, they make me sick.

Last Summer, my Aunt was asked to cook for a big party her friends were having. She agreed, but needed a waiter and waitress. So I waited with my cousin.

Little did we know that these people were like Royalty! And it wasn't just a small party, there were 60-70 people there. I know it doesn't sound like much, but when they are posh and tight-assed, one is enough!

The people were so rude. They'd look you up and down then turn away! We opened a total of 30 Bottles of Belini.... That was even before they sat down for food...

We started at 6PM... finished waiting at 12AM, THEN we had to carry all the dishes from the Out-Houses to the Main House, which was ages away.... and in the dark! We thought that we could go home, then we were told that we had to do the washing up! We finished everything at 2AM....

[vikkysmile]

Hello, Sorry i have not been on for ages been working really hard in my new job and loving it. Done a 10 hour stint at Gatwick and the amount of people moaning becasue they have missed there flight. Well if they turned up on time then they would not miss it. The plane waited 30 mins for people that didnt show so 54 people missed there flight. What fun i had calming them all down.

[~Amy~]

^^Ohhh your an air hostess. I'd love that job. You must get to travel to really nice destinstions and you get to wear a cute little uniform