Yesterday was my first time butchering a whole chicken. At first I was wondering what to do first and where to start, then it was a little odd feeling the bones cracking under the knife, but the mission was finally completed after forty minutes. Basically only cut off the thighs, wings and breast meat. Decided not to waste my time figuring out what to do with the rib cage since I was going to use it to make chicken soup anyway, so I just chopped it into half for easier storage in the freezer. Wish I had a chopper though; I imagine the job would have been easier if I was using that rather than a normal knife.
Definitely going to do more of this. At £2.99 a chicken, it's so much cheaper than buying like chicken breast/thigh/wings from the supermarkets at I-dunno-how-much-because-I-never-buy-them prices. And I can do so many things with the chicken! Just made my chicken soup just now after coming home from work... and three hours later, woohoo done! I love getting the meat off because it's already falling off the bones, and I'm keeping the meat for making sandwiches during the week (so healthy right... lol). I always like using home-cooked chicken soup for stuff that needs taste instead of those chicken stock cubes (which off course are more handy).
I love this! I can imagine enjoying a hot bowl of soup just before rushing off to work on one of those days when I just barely have enough time to change and put the make-up on after reaching home before I have to leave again. Will have some of the rest of the chicken for dinner on Monday and Tuesday, when I don't have to go to work. Haven't had a proper home-cooked meal for so long now, very satisfied and contented :)
On the work front, since yesterday I've been half a chef and half a waitress. I'm really interested and one of the new girls doesn't mind doing either cooking or waitressing, so I've been trying out the cooking. So far it's good, pretty much common sense and also cos I've seen them doing stuff for so long already. If I really want to make the full switch to a chef though, I guess I'll have to master the tossing thing they do when stir-frying the noodles. Seems like it's very essential to getting the ingredients evenly-mixed! Trying to do so with chopsticks, no matter how conscientiously, still doesn't seem to work well enough.
Now that I've been up way past my bedtime, I don't feel sleepy anymore (or maybe it's the coffee NH made just now?)... think I will start doing the work for Tuesdays' tutorial. That would be a nice change from my usual Monday night frenzied-churning sessions.
Showing posts with label Work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Work. Show all posts
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Saturday, February 17, 2007
All in a day's work
So much for feeling sufficiently recharged after taking a break on Wednesday.
On Thursday, all hell let loose in the restaurant. A chef had her day off and the two other chefs couldn't cook fast enough, the new chef/waitress (she hasn't decided) couldn't do much to help, and we were 80% full on a normally more relaxed week night. I was alternately waiting on tables, trying to placate complaining (read: fussy, non-regular) customers who didn't know our good food is always worth waiting for (seriously! the regulars never complain about waiting), and running upstairs to get more of anything that the chefs ran out of because they were too busy to do so.
At least the new chef/waitress could help me write the bills and do some washing up, otherwise I think I might have had a very strong impulse to slap anyone who called me over to their table just to tell me they've been waiting very long for their food. Duh, I know! But what can I do?! Not like I can speed up the cooking process! I was helping with things like getting the rice ready for the donburi dishes or kare rice or set or whatever, or beating the eggs, but that was about all.
After such a busy night at the restaurant and not enough sleep last night (helping a friend with some school stuff), I had an absolutely rubbish morning. GH and I had to accompany some singers for a masterclass, and because I've been too busy to practise this piece, I was sight-reading it. So was GH, but her sight-reading skills are considerably better than mine. The professional giving the class didn't give me time to react when he told me where he was singing from; he referred to them by the text instead of the bar numbers, and by the time I've found the place he'd already started singing. I'd be trying to catch where else he'd got to by then and trying to sight-read at the same time. At one point I was really lost and didn't know where he was singing at all, the second time he started, I finally found it. And the third time, I was ready to play, but for some reason he thought I wasn't. So he came over to the piano and told me off for wasting everyone's time.
I didn't respond in any way at all (read: stone face), but GH was definitely pissed off and I could feel the vibe from the singers being more tense. After the thing ended, GH furiously bitched to me in Mandarin (so that nobody would know what we're saying hehe the benefits of Mandarin!). Yep, it is my fault that I didn't practise this piece. But even if I really did, chances are I would still screw up the first or second times because you're singing a recitative and I don't know what @%&%# speed you're singing it, and where you're going from, damn it! ARGH.
Like GH said, it's not as if we were obliged to play for them; we could have said we weren't free when asked to help play for it. It was terrible to be put down in front of all the singers attending the masterclass like that, as if my poor sight-reading wasn't enough to show them that I'm such a LOSER. It's times like this I'm glad to have been with my piano teacher in Singapore, for her harsh criticisms (some friends have actually cried because of what she said), and maybe for whatever-it-is that makes me so able to remain stone-y in times of crisis. Blessing in disguise, maybe? My piano teacher used to say I play like a block of wood (read: emotionless), but the woody-ness of me also helps me not to react to harsh remarks. I'm glad to report that I still smiled at some of the singers who made eye contact with me at the end of the masterclass (no doubt checking I was all right, no?)
GH was also saying, if the pianist had been some local brit, (and had been in my situation), it would have been likely that he/she would have ended up crying. Because the piano teachers here are so PC! Everything you play is 'good!'. That applies to my first-year teacher. At least the teacher I have this year has more constructive criticisms on top of the 'good' that he says after every piece I play. Lol. Sigh... now I am totally relieved of all my negative feelings from this morning and it doesn't keep replaying in my head. Well, at least people who've heard me play for concerts know I can do it if I practise. I am not CMI lor! *grim and determined mood*
Now it's an early (ya, 2am in the morning is REAL early man) bed time for me, and an early rise tomorrow for a fresh start to a hopefully-sunny day full of practising!
On Thursday, all hell let loose in the restaurant. A chef had her day off and the two other chefs couldn't cook fast enough, the new chef/waitress (she hasn't decided) couldn't do much to help, and we were 80% full on a normally more relaxed week night. I was alternately waiting on tables, trying to placate complaining (read: fussy, non-regular) customers who didn't know our good food is always worth waiting for (seriously! the regulars never complain about waiting), and running upstairs to get more of anything that the chefs ran out of because they were too busy to do so.
At least the new chef/waitress could help me write the bills and do some washing up, otherwise I think I might have had a very strong impulse to slap anyone who called me over to their table just to tell me they've been waiting very long for their food. Duh, I know! But what can I do?! Not like I can speed up the cooking process! I was helping with things like getting the rice ready for the donburi dishes or kare rice or set or whatever, or beating the eggs, but that was about all.
After such a busy night at the restaurant and not enough sleep last night (helping a friend with some school stuff), I had an absolutely rubbish morning. GH and I had to accompany some singers for a masterclass, and because I've been too busy to practise this piece, I was sight-reading it. So was GH, but her sight-reading skills are considerably better than mine. The professional giving the class didn't give me time to react when he told me where he was singing from; he referred to them by the text instead of the bar numbers, and by the time I've found the place he'd already started singing. I'd be trying to catch where else he'd got to by then and trying to sight-read at the same time. At one point I was really lost and didn't know where he was singing at all, the second time he started, I finally found it. And the third time, I was ready to play, but for some reason he thought I wasn't. So he came over to the piano and told me off for wasting everyone's time.
I didn't respond in any way at all (read: stone face), but GH was definitely pissed off and I could feel the vibe from the singers being more tense. After the thing ended, GH furiously bitched to me in Mandarin (so that nobody would know what we're saying hehe the benefits of Mandarin!). Yep, it is my fault that I didn't practise this piece. But even if I really did, chances are I would still screw up the first or second times because you're singing a recitative and I don't know what @%&%# speed you're singing it, and where you're going from, damn it! ARGH.
Like GH said, it's not as if we were obliged to play for them; we could have said we weren't free when asked to help play for it. It was terrible to be put down in front of all the singers attending the masterclass like that, as if my poor sight-reading wasn't enough to show them that I'm such a LOSER. It's times like this I'm glad to have been with my piano teacher in Singapore, for her harsh criticisms (some friends have actually cried because of what she said), and maybe for whatever-it-is that makes me so able to remain stone-y in times of crisis. Blessing in disguise, maybe? My piano teacher used to say I play like a block of wood (read: emotionless), but the woody-ness of me also helps me not to react to harsh remarks. I'm glad to report that I still smiled at some of the singers who made eye contact with me at the end of the masterclass (no doubt checking I was all right, no?)
GH was also saying, if the pianist had been some local brit, (and had been in my situation), it would have been likely that he/she would have ended up crying. Because the piano teachers here are so PC! Everything you play is 'good!'. That applies to my first-year teacher. At least the teacher I have this year has more constructive criticisms on top of the 'good' that he says after every piece I play. Lol. Sigh... now I am totally relieved of all my negative feelings from this morning and it doesn't keep replaying in my head. Well, at least people who've heard me play for concerts know I can do it if I practise. I am not CMI lor! *grim and determined mood*
Now it's an early (ya, 2am in the morning is REAL early man) bed time for me, and an early rise tomorrow for a fresh start to a hopefully-sunny day full of practising!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Half-relaxing Valentine's day
Gave myself an impromptu day off school today. Impromptu, because I had intended to go and practise in the morning but only woke up at 9am. So I had a good lie in before slowly crawling out of bed after 10am.Finally got to the library in the city to return some books and II's cds (she's away in London). And the shopping spree started, though not before I went to the music shop to get some scores (hey, shopping for scores is still shopping!)
Actually, I wouldn't really call it a shopping spree because I only bought a top and a jacket, and both are from the same shop! Shopaholics will all go 'chey!' when they find out how my 'shopping spree' went. Anyway, I managed to find a top that I liked and didn't cost too much. BUT it was size 12... asked for a size 8 or 10 to try, but the sales assistant said everything in the shop was all they had left. What to do, go for affordable is like that one lor. I still decided to buy it, because I can just wear a tube inside the top, plus the sleeves weren't too loose so it should be ok. Managed to find the jacket in size 10, and it looks ok, just that the shoulder part of it does look a little loose on closer scrutiny. Tried both together, and it looked quite ok to me, but I really dunno if that was just my 'whatever la, just buy them and I can go home now!' side talking. Well, shall try them on for the housemates' approval/disapproval some day.
I treated myself to 8 Millie's cookies, 3 of which I've already gobbled down. Going to go easy on the rest of them because I'm watching my weight till this Sunday is over! Haha as if it's going to make a big difference though... well it's just the temporary way to loose a little weight I guess. Will put in some effort to permanently do that when I'm not too busy (which will be never hehe).
Relaxed a bit when I got home, but I still managed to get some work done in the form of listening to the big work we've been rehearsing every Tuesday evening. Tiring stuff that I never got down to doing and now that I have, it's really fulfilling and I hope will be helpful towards my sight-reading it at rehearsals in future. Because we keyboardists don't practise stuff that are not solos, don't you know? Actually, that's not true... I've been diligently practising the pieces I play with singers and the ensemble, but I've just had too much going on to have time to practise for this piece as well.
Work at the restaurant was really busy tonight. All couples, and on top of the reservations we'd already got, many others kept coming. What really threw me into a big mess was that some customers claimed they had a reservation when they didn't. And I offered them the reserved tables only to find out later when the real customers who reserved the table came. ARGH. Fortunately it didn't turn out toooo badly... I hope. I think one customer was rather pissed to be turned away :(
The boss got roses to be given to every female customer, and there were extras in the end so we all got to take one each! And the housemates surprised me with a bunch of roses at 12 midnight (lol too late!), when they just came home from somewhere. All in all, not really a fully exhausting day and I had some time off everything to just recharge. Ready to dive into the busy swirl of activities again tomorrow!
Friday, February 02, 2007
More updates
Still busy with work and uni, although it was slightly better this week in that once the presentation on Monday was over, I felt more relaxed. And fortunately he didn't set us another presentation for next Monday! That would be killer... presentations on both the second and third lessons for a module, I'll just die.
Still haven't started on my final piece for one of the modules. It doesn't help that instead of the usual weekly lectures we had last term, we'll have fortnightly individual tutorials this term; the less frequent lessons are for a module, the less motivated I am to start doing work. Guess I'll have to do the usual and rush through this weekend to produce something decent for next week's tutorial. A leopard never changes its spots. Sigh.
On Wednesday evening I told the boss that by mid-March I'll stop working on Wednesdays. Beforehand I really wanted to say mid-February, but I guess that's a bit of a short notice. I do love the extra amount I earn for working Wednesdays, but I think working four evenings per week is beginning to take a toll on me. Need time, big time! I've also calculated that at present two weeks' wages covers the rent, the next two weeks' goes into bills and other expenses, the remaining money is saved up for next year's tuition fees. Without working Wednesdays, I'll probably use about two and a half weeks' wages for rent, then stretch the expenses a little in order to manage paying the bills without having to deduct from the savings. Think it'll still work. I've already stopped being lazy by packing my own sandwiches for lunch everyday, instead of buying really expensive sandwiches at an average of £2! Yes, I know, I shouldn't be converting currencies and all that, but I can't help it! If it helps, I do convert my wages from time to time too... hehe.
Today, a loud and persistant doorbell-ring at 9am got me jumping out of bed and running down the stairs. Because I knew my precious baby was going to be delivered today. Woohoo, I have my own euphonium at last! Over the last few weeks I had been viewing lots of second-hand euphoniums online, deliberating whether to bid for them (most are on e-bay), then deciding not to. Also calculated and re-calculated how my spending on an euphonium would affect my finances. Finally, last week I saw a Buy-it-now! euphonium on e-bay for £700 and after staring at the page for over an hour, decided to buy it. That's just about how much I earned for working in the cafe during the Christmas holidays. Right now I'm still unsure if this wasn't a good decision; what if this £700 could be like a miracle if I ran out of money later? But there's no way to tell, I'll just have to hope that's never going to happen.
Anyway, more about my baby. It isn't my Besson Sovereign model dream baby, but a second-hand Boosey & Hawkes Imperial model for this price is good enough for me. It was supposed to be delivered on Tuesday, but because stupid me forgot that I had only changed my address in paypal and not in e-bay. So the instrument got sent to my university accommodation last year. By some stroke of luck, either nobody was in or they kindly directed the parcel deliverer to the main reception, where someone rejected the parcel because they couldn't find my name in their records. And by the time I realised about my address in e-bay, this was all already in progress. By the time I called the local depot the next morning, the parcel was already back in the seller's local depot. Fortunately she managed to get them to hold it and then send it back to me, this time to the right address. Very contented now :)
Still haven't started on my final piece for one of the modules. It doesn't help that instead of the usual weekly lectures we had last term, we'll have fortnightly individual tutorials this term; the less frequent lessons are for a module, the less motivated I am to start doing work. Guess I'll have to do the usual and rush through this weekend to produce something decent for next week's tutorial. A leopard never changes its spots. Sigh.
On Wednesday evening I told the boss that by mid-March I'll stop working on Wednesdays. Beforehand I really wanted to say mid-February, but I guess that's a bit of a short notice. I do love the extra amount I earn for working Wednesdays, but I think working four evenings per week is beginning to take a toll on me. Need time, big time! I've also calculated that at present two weeks' wages covers the rent, the next two weeks' goes into bills and other expenses, the remaining money is saved up for next year's tuition fees. Without working Wednesdays, I'll probably use about two and a half weeks' wages for rent, then stretch the expenses a little in order to manage paying the bills without having to deduct from the savings. Think it'll still work. I've already stopped being lazy by packing my own sandwiches for lunch everyday, instead of buying really expensive sandwiches at an average of £2! Yes, I know, I shouldn't be converting currencies and all that, but I can't help it! If it helps, I do convert my wages from time to time too... hehe.
Today, a loud and persistant doorbell-ring at 9am got me jumping out of bed and running down the stairs. Because I knew my precious baby was going to be delivered today. Woohoo, I have my own euphonium at last! Over the last few weeks I had been viewing lots of second-hand euphoniums online, deliberating whether to bid for them (most are on e-bay), then deciding not to. Also calculated and re-calculated how my spending on an euphonium would affect my finances. Finally, last week I saw a Buy-it-now! euphonium on e-bay for £700 and after staring at the page for over an hour, decided to buy it. That's just about how much I earned for working in the cafe during the Christmas holidays. Right now I'm still unsure if this wasn't a good decision; what if this £700 could be like a miracle if I ran out of money later? But there's no way to tell, I'll just have to hope that's never going to happen.
Anyway, more about my baby. It isn't my Besson Sovereign model dream baby, but a second-hand Boosey & Hawkes Imperial model for this price is good enough for me. It was supposed to be delivered on Tuesday, but because stupid me forgot that I had only changed my address in paypal and not in e-bay. So the instrument got sent to my university accommodation last year. By some stroke of luck, either nobody was in or they kindly directed the parcel deliverer to the main reception, where someone rejected the parcel because they couldn't find my name in their records. And by the time I realised about my address in e-bay, this was all already in progress. By the time I called the local depot the next morning, the parcel was already back in the seller's local depot. Fortunately she managed to get them to hold it and then send it back to me, this time to the right address. Very contented now :)
Sunday, January 28, 2007
I wish there were more than 24 hours a day...
Arghhhh. Wanted to wake up really early yesterday and today, about around 6am so that I can get to uni by 7-7.30 to practise. But was dead tired after a very busy night in the restaurant on Friday, so I only woke up at 10am yesterday. Didn't even hear my alarm clock. Hate the feeling of frustration when I realise how late it is and how many hours I've wasted. So I rushed to school and managed to squeeze in about 4.5 hours of practising before having to come home and go to work.
Also asked the boss if I could just set up the restaurant and then leave at opening time, since the other waitress would be working. Was really evil to do this, but at that point I couldn't really be bothered anymore because I've now ended up working every Wednesday for her although when we first agreed on that it was meant to be temporary. I needed the time too; hadn't had time to move my stuff into my room over the week (the whole table was cluttered with stuff that belong to various housemates... they seemed to have likened the empty table to a store room).
So last night I finally piled all the things somewhere on the floor and set up my laptop, hard disk, speakers etc. Finally! A table to do my work on! Later today I'll try to bring the books up from the kitchen too.
Right now I've just finished webcam-ing with the parents and I've got to take a quick shower before I rush to uni to practise. NH's friend is going to cut my hair for me in the afternoon. They say he cuts alright, just that he can sometimes take up to two hours per person, so my whole afternoon is likely to be burnt. Sigh. Things I do to save a bit of money... haha maybe I should reconsider going for a haircut in one of the many salons for £14.99?
Also asked the boss if I could just set up the restaurant and then leave at opening time, since the other waitress would be working. Was really evil to do this, but at that point I couldn't really be bothered anymore because I've now ended up working every Wednesday for her although when we first agreed on that it was meant to be temporary. I needed the time too; hadn't had time to move my stuff into my room over the week (the whole table was cluttered with stuff that belong to various housemates... they seemed to have likened the empty table to a store room).
So last night I finally piled all the things somewhere on the floor and set up my laptop, hard disk, speakers etc. Finally! A table to do my work on! Later today I'll try to bring the books up from the kitchen too.
Right now I've just finished webcam-ing with the parents and I've got to take a quick shower before I rush to uni to practise. NH's friend is going to cut my hair for me in the afternoon. They say he cuts alright, just that he can sometimes take up to two hours per person, so my whole afternoon is likely to be burnt. Sigh. Things I do to save a bit of money... haha maybe I should reconsider going for a haircut in one of the many salons for £14.99?
Monday, January 22, 2007
Back from the dead
Wow... been really busy for the past two weeks. It was really bad, particularly because AL couldn't work in the cafe so I had to do that, take a 3-hour break while HN sets up the restaurant for me, and then work in the restaurant. It really took away whatever time I figured I would have to complete my essays.
At the same time, people came to tear down the plaster in my room and re-plaster and paint, so I had to move my stuff to the kitchen and NH's room. And sleep in a sleeping bag in his room as well, but I didn't get to sleep for 4 days because I was basically going to work, coming home after 11pm and then camping in the kitchen with my laptop until it was time to go to work again the next morning. That, and yet I still couldn't finish one of the three essays by the deadline. I had to give that up and hand it in a day late... was really disappointed in myself. Not so much for not being able to finish, but for procrastinating and leaving the work till so late.
Now my room is finally done, and I can move back, but the wardrobe is still mouldy, so I still can't put clothes in it. Going to just move my laptop and stuff back later, and put the bedsheets on so I can finally sleep in my own room tonight! But I'm going to miss sleeping in the very warm and comfy sleeping bag, although I won't miss the backache from sleeping on the floor.
I could have moved back sooner, but I was busy with the first week of school and for the last three days or so NH took over my room to finish his assignment (his room's in a complete mess now with my stuff cluttering it). But he's finally handed it in today, and I will gradually move out of his room (except my luggage with all the clothes piled on it).
The recital at which I accompanied two singers went really well. There was a last-minute change of piece at the end of last term by one of the singers, which I didn't have the time to practise during the holidays... and when school started, I had a day to practise it before rehearsing it with her the day before the recital. It was really nerve-racking, but I'm glad I managed it. And didn't break down, just had some minor mistakes... which the professional accompanist also had when he played for the singer who abandoned me. So, just goes to show... I'm not that bad afterall! (Saving my own face here la.) Both singers were really sweet and they bought me chocolates; the nicer one of the two bought a really box of chocolate and a really pretty card.
I can finally breathe again this week (or at least for now, I just hope the rest of the week will be ok). Tonight all of the housemates got together and we made assam fish head curry, roti john and roti prata for dinner. It was fantastic, except that the curry wasn't spicy at all (the Germans can't take spicy stuff). Tomorrow after I finish at 7pm I'm going to watch a movie with HN (whee!... but, a week after he asked me, he also asked a fellow colleague and her husband along...). Should be fun. I realised he's a really great friend to hang out with and we never run out of things to chat about, so that's good. Think status quo is great too, things can turn sour sometimes once you cross the line.
Anyway, yep, going to relax a bit before all the studying and working takes it out of me again once term gets into full swing.
At the same time, people came to tear down the plaster in my room and re-plaster and paint, so I had to move my stuff to the kitchen and NH's room. And sleep in a sleeping bag in his room as well, but I didn't get to sleep for 4 days because I was basically going to work, coming home after 11pm and then camping in the kitchen with my laptop until it was time to go to work again the next morning. That, and yet I still couldn't finish one of the three essays by the deadline. I had to give that up and hand it in a day late... was really disappointed in myself. Not so much for not being able to finish, but for procrastinating and leaving the work till so late.
Now my room is finally done, and I can move back, but the wardrobe is still mouldy, so I still can't put clothes in it. Going to just move my laptop and stuff back later, and put the bedsheets on so I can finally sleep in my own room tonight! But I'm going to miss sleeping in the very warm and comfy sleeping bag, although I won't miss the backache from sleeping on the floor.
I could have moved back sooner, but I was busy with the first week of school and for the last three days or so NH took over my room to finish his assignment (his room's in a complete mess now with my stuff cluttering it). But he's finally handed it in today, and I will gradually move out of his room (except my luggage with all the clothes piled on it).
The recital at which I accompanied two singers went really well. There was a last-minute change of piece at the end of last term by one of the singers, which I didn't have the time to practise during the holidays... and when school started, I had a day to practise it before rehearsing it with her the day before the recital. It was really nerve-racking, but I'm glad I managed it. And didn't break down, just had some minor mistakes... which the professional accompanist also had when he played for the singer who abandoned me. So, just goes to show... I'm not that bad afterall! (Saving my own face here la.) Both singers were really sweet and they bought me chocolates; the nicer one of the two bought a really box of chocolate and a really pretty card.
I can finally breathe again this week (or at least for now, I just hope the rest of the week will be ok). Tonight all of the housemates got together and we made assam fish head curry, roti john and roti prata for dinner. It was fantastic, except that the curry wasn't spicy at all (the Germans can't take spicy stuff). Tomorrow after I finish at 7pm I'm going to watch a movie with HN (whee!... but, a week after he asked me, he also asked a fellow colleague and her husband along...). Should be fun. I realised he's a really great friend to hang out with and we never run out of things to chat about, so that's good. Think status quo is great too, things can turn sour sometimes once you cross the line.
Anyway, yep, going to relax a bit before all the studying and working takes it out of me again once term gets into full swing.
Monday, January 08, 2007
One down
Finished the assignment tonight, finally... after about 2 hours spent creating only 1 minute of music. Pathetic. At least that's done, I guess. Just left with the write-up, which I'll do after I've finished the essays.
Went to the uni's other campus today after work, because I needed another edition of the score of what I've chosen to write about. And I also found a useful book for another essay. Good... now I just gotta bury my nose in the books.
I'm just starting to get stressed about practising because I've been occupied by the work-dinner-assignment-sleep cycle for the past week, and haven't once been to uni to practise. And this will be the last week before term starts... how!!!! (Reminds me of that phrase we used to say in secondary school... 'how now brown cow?')
Am really sleepy today... after having very little sleep on Saturday and Sunday nights, I couldn't wake up this morning. As usual, I hit the snooze button and hovered between sleep and half-wakefulness, occasionally looking at the clock to see if I'm late. What I didn't realise was that my clock had stopped for some minutes while I was asleep, so it was about 15 minutes behind. Fortunately, NH came to knock on my door because he didn't hear me moving about the house like I usually do at that time in the morning. Good thing my rushing-to-school/work skills are good enough to include on a CV, and I managed to reach the cafe at 9am on the dot even though I left the house 10 minutes later than I usually do. But actually usually I'll be a bit early la...
The thing I'm now wishing not to happen is that AL can't work in the cafe on Wednesday, or any day after that. Previously, before the boss went for holidays, she said she would work in the cafe from Wednesday to Saturday, so that I won't have to work full days in both the cafe and restaurant. (And also because she would be having something else in her college during the four evenings so she can't work in the restaurant.) But so far, she hasn't gotten back to miss-experienced although she said she would call this morning.
Oh, and after working a week with miss-experienced, I realised the know-it-all impression I got of her at the beginning is only because she's already so used to everything, that when newbies like me get simple things wrong or ask 'stupid' questions, she gets exasperated. Nothing to do with whether she thinks she's very great. And actually, she's an ok person. Not exceptionally friendly, but not frostily hostile either.
Went to the uni's other campus today after work, because I needed another edition of the score of what I've chosen to write about. And I also found a useful book for another essay. Good... now I just gotta bury my nose in the books.
I'm just starting to get stressed about practising because I've been occupied by the work-dinner-assignment-sleep cycle for the past week, and haven't once been to uni to practise. And this will be the last week before term starts... how!!!! (Reminds me of that phrase we used to say in secondary school... 'how now brown cow?')
Am really sleepy today... after having very little sleep on Saturday and Sunday nights, I couldn't wake up this morning. As usual, I hit the snooze button and hovered between sleep and half-wakefulness, occasionally looking at the clock to see if I'm late. What I didn't realise was that my clock had stopped for some minutes while I was asleep, so it was about 15 minutes behind. Fortunately, NH came to knock on my door because he didn't hear me moving about the house like I usually do at that time in the morning. Good thing my rushing-to-school/work skills are good enough to include on a CV, and I managed to reach the cafe at 9am on the dot even though I left the house 10 minutes later than I usually do. But actually usually I'll be a bit early la...
The thing I'm now wishing not to happen is that AL can't work in the cafe on Wednesday, or any day after that. Previously, before the boss went for holidays, she said she would work in the cafe from Wednesday to Saturday, so that I won't have to work full days in both the cafe and restaurant. (And also because she would be having something else in her college during the four evenings so she can't work in the restaurant.) But so far, she hasn't gotten back to miss-experienced although she said she would call this morning.
Oh, and after working a week with miss-experienced, I realised the know-it-all impression I got of her at the beginning is only because she's already so used to everything, that when newbies like me get simple things wrong or ask 'stupid' questions, she gets exasperated. Nothing to do with whether she thinks she's very great. And actually, she's an ok person. Not exceptionally friendly, but not frostily hostile either.
Winning one war and losing the other
Glad to say I've survived the past six days of working at the cafe. I've now become used to waking up real early in the morning already, and I hope it's something I'll never change. Even when I'm done standing in at the cafe I'll want to wake up early and go to school to practise.
I've also gotten used to the quicker pace of the cafe, and sort of gotten used to the pricing system (except odd things that some customers order). I've become more experienced at making tea and coffee (ok, just tea, since coffee is easy) of the right strength, although some customers are beginning to ask for more milk (oops, my teas are getting stronger) while yesterday someone wanted his even stronger. Really diverse tastes, humans...
I'm getting used to putting my hand in scalding hot water to do the dishes (soapy hot water). We do this so that the dishes are dumped into the water and when there are no customers to serve, they (the dishes, not customers) are just scrubbed clean with a sponge, dipped a few times to 'rinse', and then left on a rack where the hot water will evaporate off them very quickly. It saves me from having to dry the dishes, but it also makes my hands feel very cooked each time I wash something.
One thing I'm proud of is that so far I've managed to understand all the customers, even though when I was asked to stand in they warned me that cafe customers sometimes have really strong (and sometimes weird) accents. But it was ok, I could understand them and they can usually understand my fake-o trying-to-be-British-but-dunno-what-it-sounds-like accent. I was really a bit surprised when HN came in one day to help and he couldn't understand a very simple order, seeing that his English is as good as mine... it's a very weird thing, accents.
On the school work front I'm not doing so good, though. As of now I still have 1 minute and 12 seconds to write in order to complete my assignment (oh and plus a write up too). And I'm afraid to say, I'm quite gone case for the three essays... started the first paragraph of one but realised I might need to get another edition of the score cos this one isn't of much help. I think I'll go right after work tomorrow (er, ok, today I mean). I know I say 'gone case', but still, I'm going to try my best. Gambatte ne...
I've also gotten used to the quicker pace of the cafe, and sort of gotten used to the pricing system (except odd things that some customers order). I've become more experienced at making tea and coffee (ok, just tea, since coffee is easy) of the right strength, although some customers are beginning to ask for more milk (oops, my teas are getting stronger) while yesterday someone wanted his even stronger. Really diverse tastes, humans...
I'm getting used to putting my hand in scalding hot water to do the dishes (soapy hot water). We do this so that the dishes are dumped into the water and when there are no customers to serve, they (the dishes, not customers) are just scrubbed clean with a sponge, dipped a few times to 'rinse', and then left on a rack where the hot water will evaporate off them very quickly. It saves me from having to dry the dishes, but it also makes my hands feel very cooked each time I wash something.
One thing I'm proud of is that so far I've managed to understand all the customers, even though when I was asked to stand in they warned me that cafe customers sometimes have really strong (and sometimes weird) accents. But it was ok, I could understand them and they can usually understand my fake-o trying-to-be-British-but-dunno-what-it-sounds-like accent. I was really a bit surprised when HN came in one day to help and he couldn't understand a very simple order, seeing that his English is as good as mine... it's a very weird thing, accents.
On the school work front I'm not doing so good, though. As of now I still have 1 minute and 12 seconds to write in order to complete my assignment (oh and plus a write up too). And I'm afraid to say, I'm quite gone case for the three essays... started the first paragraph of one but realised I might need to get another edition of the score cos this one isn't of much help. I think I'll go right after work tomorrow (er, ok, today I mean). I know I say 'gone case', but still, I'm going to try my best. Gambatte ne...
Saturday, December 16, 2006
End of autumn term
Start of the much awaited for one-month hols!
Not that I'm going to have much time to slack, but anyway I'll still have more time than usual without having to go for lectures and stuff. I just need to prevent myself from procrastinating and start on the three essays, one assignment, and ideas for next term's huge assignment. All of which (except the last) are due on the first day of term.
On the third day back will be the BIG DAY for me when I play for two singers' assessed performances. Currently not too worried about this because both singers are very consistent in the way they interpret their pieces so I know they won't spring a big surprise on me by making huge changes on the day. And without them here during the holidays I can't do much except make sure my part is ok.
I'll be working more during the holidays too, but in the day at the cafe. Some of the staff are going to have breaks/holidays so the restaurant staff are going to help out. The restaurant will be closed for three weeks while the boss and his family goes back to Japan. I'm just a tad worried because apparently the majority of cafe customers are old people with very strong accents. Hope I understand them. And I'll be working with the miss-experienced, who has switched from a night-time to day-time staff for some time already. Even the boss admits that both she and the other cafe staff have 'very strong character'. My tolerance level is very high and I can always seem unaffected, but I'm just not that keen on feeling low/stupid working every day with her. We shall see...
Not that I'm going to have much time to slack, but anyway I'll still have more time than usual without having to go for lectures and stuff. I just need to prevent myself from procrastinating and start on the three essays, one assignment, and ideas for next term's huge assignment. All of which (except the last) are due on the first day of term.
On the third day back will be the BIG DAY for me when I play for two singers' assessed performances. Currently not too worried about this because both singers are very consistent in the way they interpret their pieces so I know they won't spring a big surprise on me by making huge changes on the day. And without them here during the holidays I can't do much except make sure my part is ok.
I'll be working more during the holidays too, but in the day at the cafe. Some of the staff are going to have breaks/holidays so the restaurant staff are going to help out. The restaurant will be closed for three weeks while the boss and his family goes back to Japan. I'm just a tad worried because apparently the majority of cafe customers are old people with very strong accents. Hope I understand them. And I'll be working with the miss-experienced, who has switched from a night-time to day-time staff for some time already. Even the boss admits that both she and the other cafe staff have 'very strong character'. My tolerance level is very high and I can always seem unaffected, but I'm just not that keen on feeling low/stupid working every day with her. We shall see...
Friday, December 08, 2006
Tired
As if it's not enough to have busy schedules on Mondays and Tuesdays, the last two days have been two busy days rushing about from one place/thing to another. And then to round up, both days I had to take a cab to work.
The last thing I had on Wednesday was supposed to end at 4.15pm but we ran a little over time and then I walked home before calling a taxi because there was no way for a cab to get out of the uni except join in the massive traffic jam, whereas the road from my house going towards my work place is relatively empty. I think that was a major mistake, I should have just called a taxi from uni and hoped the taxi driver could find some other road to travel by, since by the time we finished I only had ten minutes left to get to work. I was half an hour late and the chef wasn't too happy that I informed him so late.
On Thursday I finished at 5.30pm in town, and by some coincidence the same taxi driver picked me up. He was really pleasant to chat with and avoided the roads with the major traffic jams so I managed to be 'on time' for work, at 6pm which was previously agreed on between the chef and I when I told him I won't be able to make it for 5pm.
And now I'm sitting at home wondering whether to go to uni, because I was supposed to attend a rehearsal to play for a group of singers today since GH said she couldn't make it. But because I'm such a scatterbrain and due to the busy week, I can't remember what time the rehearsal is. Last night, being exhausted from the tight schedule, I collapsed onto bed without setting the alarm clock. Woke up at 10am and panicked. Something tells me the rehearsal will either be from 10-12, or 12-2, or 2-4. One of them. But 12-2 might not be right cos usually there will be a lunchtime concert during this time, so we can't use the stage.
I wouldn't mind going to uni later for rehearsal, but if the rehearsal was really from 10-12, then I'd rather not show my face in school. Just so I can pull off a stupid excuse like 'I was sick' etc. Yea I know, how irresponsible of me! But from the start of the rehearsals I've never missed a single one whereas both GH and the other player have sporadically not gone for a rehearsal or two. I don't think it's too much that I just miss one (although I had agreed with GH that I'd go), and I doubt they can't continue rehearsals without me there either. SMS-ed GH at 10am to ask her for the time but she didn't reply. Argh she can be so uncontactable sometimes!
The last thing I had on Wednesday was supposed to end at 4.15pm but we ran a little over time and then I walked home before calling a taxi because there was no way for a cab to get out of the uni except join in the massive traffic jam, whereas the road from my house going towards my work place is relatively empty. I think that was a major mistake, I should have just called a taxi from uni and hoped the taxi driver could find some other road to travel by, since by the time we finished I only had ten minutes left to get to work. I was half an hour late and the chef wasn't too happy that I informed him so late.
On Thursday I finished at 5.30pm in town, and by some coincidence the same taxi driver picked me up. He was really pleasant to chat with and avoided the roads with the major traffic jams so I managed to be 'on time' for work, at 6pm which was previously agreed on between the chef and I when I told him I won't be able to make it for 5pm.
And now I'm sitting at home wondering whether to go to uni, because I was supposed to attend a rehearsal to play for a group of singers today since GH said she couldn't make it. But because I'm such a scatterbrain and due to the busy week, I can't remember what time the rehearsal is. Last night, being exhausted from the tight schedule, I collapsed onto bed without setting the alarm clock. Woke up at 10am and panicked. Something tells me the rehearsal will either be from 10-12, or 12-2, or 2-4. One of them. But 12-2 might not be right cos usually there will be a lunchtime concert during this time, so we can't use the stage.
I wouldn't mind going to uni later for rehearsal, but if the rehearsal was really from 10-12, then I'd rather not show my face in school. Just so I can pull off a stupid excuse like 'I was sick' etc. Yea I know, how irresponsible of me! But from the start of the rehearsals I've never missed a single one whereas both GH and the other player have sporadically not gone for a rehearsal or two. I don't think it's too much that I just miss one (although I had agreed with GH that I'd go), and I doubt they can't continue rehearsals without me there either. SMS-ed GH at 10am to ask her for the time but she didn't reply. Argh she can be so uncontactable sometimes!
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Happy
Got my pay for last week!It's so exhilarating to convert from pounds to sing dollars and wow, I earn so much from working 22 hours! And then the balloon will burst when I spend money on grocery, bills and stuff cos I pay so much too. Dang.
He didn't add in the Thursday I worked two weeks before 22nd November, but fair enough, they did only ask me to 'come down and give it a try' for that Thursday.
I also didn't realise that tips would actually be added to our wages. Because the waitresses are told to put the extra change and tips into the till and to write down on the receipt the amount tipped, so all along I thought the tips just goes to the boss. I actually thought it's a good idea, cos on days when there are two waitresses working, it would be quite unfair really if the tips went to anyone who gave the customers bills and collected the money. Then both waitresses will be fighting to serve customers who are asking for the bill and not attending to the rest instead, right?
I don't care much for the tips but I must admit it was really a pleasant surprise to see that it was included in my pay. It shows the boss' appreciation for our work. Which he also tells us, like yesterday when he told me that I was doing well and I don't seem to panic even though it was crazy yesterday, with all the tables filled by big groups of people who wanted to be attended to at the same time. And I was working alone. It's good to know that my hard work didn't go unnoticed but at the same time I haven't yet managed to accept praise easily. Every time someone praises me, I'll feel really sheepish and not know what to say. I feel too proud if I just accept the praise and thank the person, yet I feel like I'm faking humble if I mumble something about not being good enough. So yesterday I just compromised with lots of sheepish thank you's. *Blush*
Hmm, and now I'm wondering if the chefs get any tips? If they don't, then it's quite sad to work in the kitchen. All that cooking and rushing of orders and no tips? But then again, they don't have to attend to the tables. Each has its pros and cons I guess.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Not only Singaporeans complain
The Helsinki Complaints Choir. And click here to watch the amateurish Complaints Choir of Birmingham. Cringed at their out of tune moments but somehow it adds a very 'layman' feel to it.
Anyway, random daily update on work:
Feeling so shiok now sitting on my bed with my legs on the chair. Ah....
But work today wasn't too bad. The other waitress was the one who received training with me on Wednesday, and she's ok. Albeit just a little slackish sometimes. I don't really mind, as long as she doesn't slack the whole time. And I got to meet one of the students who works as a chef, but only on Saturdays, and who is a friend of a friend.
We had two big reservations - seven people (turned out to be eight) at seven, and six people (turned out to be seven) at eight. And other people who just came in. All the tables were filled.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Waitressing rants again
Had a killer time working alone on a Friday tonight. The customers started waiting outside the restaurant before our opening time, 7pm. Three tables at the same time! And one more shortly after. Ran out of menus to go around even... had to ask them to share. And just after I took orders from one of the tables, another guy came in.
Was kept on my toes all the time. I couldn't manage to serve the drinks and some starters/snacks fast enough. God. Argh. And I really wanted to slow down taking the orders, but they all were so quick to decide what to get! But fortunately most of them were really understanding and forgiving, seeing as I was the only waitress serving five tables at the same time.
Plus it's really irritating to prepare the drinks cos in order to get the the space I'm allocated to, I need to squeeze past the chefs. And then, I need to get the drinks past them to serve. Or if some customer signals to me halfway while I'm preparing some drinks, I really don't know whether to just acknowledge them and continue preparing, or to attend to them first!
Only one of the tables, the guy who came alone, was impatient. He was the last of this batch of people to come in, but even when some others haven't been served their food, he was already asking me how long more it was going to take. Tried to explain to him that there were customers before him and it might be a wait, but he cheekily argued, 'But you can serve me first.' Luckily the head chef has good foresight, when he saw that the order was just one main dish and a drink he tried to prepare it relatively quicker, no matter if it was ready before some of the others' dishes.
On the bright side though, since the bulk of the customers came in so early, we got to close earlier too when all the customers left by 10pm.
I think it's back to two waitresses tomorrow. And boy am I glad... even if it's that miss-experienced helping out.
Was kept on my toes all the time. I couldn't manage to serve the drinks and some starters/snacks fast enough. God. Argh. And I really wanted to slow down taking the orders, but they all were so quick to decide what to get! But fortunately most of them were really understanding and forgiving, seeing as I was the only waitress serving five tables at the same time.
Plus it's really irritating to prepare the drinks cos in order to get the the space I'm allocated to, I need to squeeze past the chefs. And then, I need to get the drinks past them to serve. Or if some customer signals to me halfway while I'm preparing some drinks, I really don't know whether to just acknowledge them and continue preparing, or to attend to them first!
Only one of the tables, the guy who came alone, was impatient. He was the last of this batch of people to come in, but even when some others haven't been served their food, he was already asking me how long more it was going to take. Tried to explain to him that there were customers before him and it might be a wait, but he cheekily argued, 'But you can serve me first.' Luckily the head chef has good foresight, when he saw that the order was just one main dish and a drink he tried to prepare it relatively quicker, no matter if it was ready before some of the others' dishes.
On the bright side though, since the bulk of the customers came in so early, we got to close earlier too when all the customers left by 10pm.
I think it's back to two waitresses tomorrow. And boy am I glad... even if it's that miss-experienced helping out.
Friday, November 24, 2006
I'm still alive
I survived working alone yesterday! Woohoo...
But it wasn't very busy so it was manageable. There was a new chef as well, she's quite ok, just that she gets a bit sullen after 8pm cos I think normally on week nights she's used to sleeping early, like about 8 plus. That's really early!!!
But one of the older chefs said he'll be quiting in January. No more favourite trio of chefs.
I like the job.
But it wasn't very busy so it was manageable. There was a new chef as well, she's quite ok, just that she gets a bit sullen after 8pm cos I think normally on week nights she's used to sleeping early, like about 8 plus. That's really early!!!
But one of the older chefs said he'll be quiting in January. No more favourite trio of chefs.
I like the job.
- The head chef is humourous and won't get really angry unless it's something very serious.
- The other students working there as chefs or waitresses are friendly.
- The customers are usually not too demanding unless it's really busy.
- I get my exercise by standing and walking from 5pm to about 10 or 11pm. And washing the heavy yakitori grill. (Yes my legs are aching after only working two days in a row.)
- It's quite near my house, about 20-30 minutes' walk away, and either the head chef or one of the other chefs will drive us home after work.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Food outing and job woes
Glad it's 'weekend' again. I was going to work very hard practising on next Thursday's performance pieces today. In fact, the rehearsal on Tuesday went quite well. Two of the pieces were quite straightforward so they were good. I just have to work harder on the third piece, which has speed changes almost every two bars and in which I only have the figures and bass part.
But, due to lots of disturbances from my housemates last night... 'Wheres the basket?'... 'NH!'... and other variations or noises I can't remember. I can only remember being woken up by all the noise, looking at the time, feeling really pissed, then going back to sleep. Only to be woken up again. Argh. So I didn't brace myself and crawl out of my warm bed into the cold room when my alarm rang at six this morning. I slept till it was TEN. What a pig...
When I finally dragged myself out of bed, the whole house was silent... all sleeping, of course... hahaha retribution for disturbing me last night was that both NH and YR missed their two lectures today. Hmph. I decided that since it was already so late and I have to go to work at about 4.30pm, I might as well not go to school to practice. This decision was made with lots of aid from the fact that NH and some of the Singaporeans were going for a conveyor belt sushi buffet. And it was practice, or sushi.
The types of sushi were really little, but it's still good after not eating sushi for so long. And I declare that their egg sushi passed my test! Most of the time in Singapore I wouldn't even touch any egg sushi cos most I've ever given a chance and eaten tasted disgusting. I don't know why I don't like them, I just didn't... this is coming from someone who's a I-eat-anything garbage bin.
Work was ok, but a little... I dunno... spirit dampening? Cos the really cheerful and willing-to-teach girl I was learning from the first time I worked has gone back to her country now. And the person who was teaching me and another waitress today was really... slightly unpleasantly full of herself. And to add to that, it was a really busy night although Wednesdays are supposed to be quieter. Maybe it's because the restaurant had been closed for two weeks following the chef's operation.
My major mistake was to serve a dish meant for customer a to customer b, since the dish itself was ordered by both, but for customer a it was as an addition to his main course and for customer b it was as his starter. So I wrongly assumed the dish was for customer b, and when customer a's main course was ready I was waiting for the dish to be ready so that both will be served together, but miss-experienced yelled at me to 'Serve it now!' And so I did.
It was only after I did, that it hit me. I realised that the dish I just served to customer b might have been meant by the chefs for customer a! When the realisation hit me, it was like, oh my god! But the chef wasn't too angry (luckily), although miss-experienced was really pissed. She was like, 'Why did you do that?' And even after I explained that it was my mistake and apologised, she said in an accusatory tone, 'then you'll be the one to go and explain to the customer why he will have to wait for his dish.' As if I was going to push the blame to her and make her do the apologising to the customer. Eurgh. I will apologise to everyone when I make a mistake, but I just can't stand it when someone assumes I am not going to do it.
Anyway... today's just supposed to be my 'training day'... not sure if anyone else will be there tomorrow to help/teach me or if I'll just be thrown into the deep end on my third day at work. But I think I'll manage... or hopefully I'll manage... as long as the chefs working tomorrow are the same as today's. The two other students and the boss of the shop, they are the best trio of chefs to work with man. Can handle the pressure of lots of waiting customers well. But I think I'll still have to learn more on how to pretend to slack a bit and not take the customers' orders too quickly, so that the chefs will have enough time to cook. Heard two people got fired cos they took orders too fast on a Saturday night, which is when it's the busiest and the chefs can't handle cooking everything so quickly :/ I will try my best anyway. Jobs are hard to find, I must keep this one! Gambatte!
The one thing that probably cheered me up a bit today was when another person messaged me to ask if I can play for her performance in January. I was deliberating whether to accept cos I'm real scared I will screw up. But, heck, if I don't dare to accept it and challenge myself, I'll be wasting all these excellent opportunities. And of course, the more people you play for, the more other people will ask you to play for them (assuming you don't screw up). Oh yes, I like this person already, because I replied that if she passes me the score before Christmas holidays and we get enough time to rehearse with each other, I'll do it. And she immediately replied that she'll put the scores in my pigeon hole tomorrow! Efficient, and responsible enough to find someone to play for her in advance.
But, due to lots of disturbances from my housemates last night... 'Wheres the basket?'... 'NH!'... and other variations or noises I can't remember. I can only remember being woken up by all the noise, looking at the time, feeling really pissed, then going back to sleep. Only to be woken up again. Argh. So I didn't brace myself and crawl out of my warm bed into the cold room when my alarm rang at six this morning. I slept till it was TEN. What a pig...
When I finally dragged myself out of bed, the whole house was silent... all sleeping, of course... hahaha retribution for disturbing me last night was that both NH and YR missed their two lectures today. Hmph. I decided that since it was already so late and I have to go to work at about 4.30pm, I might as well not go to school to practice. This decision was made with lots of aid from the fact that NH and some of the Singaporeans were going for a conveyor belt sushi buffet. And it was practice, or sushi.
The types of sushi were really little, but it's still good after not eating sushi for so long. And I declare that their egg sushi passed my test! Most of the time in Singapore I wouldn't even touch any egg sushi cos most I've ever given a chance and eaten tasted disgusting. I don't know why I don't like them, I just didn't... this is coming from someone who's a I-eat-anything garbage bin.
Work was ok, but a little... I dunno... spirit dampening? Cos the really cheerful and willing-to-teach girl I was learning from the first time I worked has gone back to her country now. And the person who was teaching me and another waitress today was really... slightly unpleasantly full of herself. And to add to that, it was a really busy night although Wednesdays are supposed to be quieter. Maybe it's because the restaurant had been closed for two weeks following the chef's operation.
My major mistake was to serve a dish meant for customer a to customer b, since the dish itself was ordered by both, but for customer a it was as an addition to his main course and for customer b it was as his starter. So I wrongly assumed the dish was for customer b, and when customer a's main course was ready I was waiting for the dish to be ready so that both will be served together, but miss-experienced yelled at me to 'Serve it now!' And so I did.
It was only after I did, that it hit me. I realised that the dish I just served to customer b might have been meant by the chefs for customer a! When the realisation hit me, it was like, oh my god! But the chef wasn't too angry (luckily), although miss-experienced was really pissed. She was like, 'Why did you do that?' And even after I explained that it was my mistake and apologised, she said in an accusatory tone, 'then you'll be the one to go and explain to the customer why he will have to wait for his dish.' As if I was going to push the blame to her and make her do the apologising to the customer. Eurgh. I will apologise to everyone when I make a mistake, but I just can't stand it when someone assumes I am not going to do it.
Anyway... today's just supposed to be my 'training day'... not sure if anyone else will be there tomorrow to help/teach me or if I'll just be thrown into the deep end on my third day at work. But I think I'll manage... or hopefully I'll manage... as long as the chefs working tomorrow are the same as today's. The two other students and the boss of the shop, they are the best trio of chefs to work with man. Can handle the pressure of lots of waiting customers well. But I think I'll still have to learn more on how to pretend to slack a bit and not take the customers' orders too quickly, so that the chefs will have enough time to cook. Heard two people got fired cos they took orders too fast on a Saturday night, which is when it's the busiest and the chefs can't handle cooking everything so quickly :/ I will try my best anyway. Jobs are hard to find, I must keep this one! Gambatte!
The one thing that probably cheered me up a bit today was when another person messaged me to ask if I can play for her performance in January. I was deliberating whether to accept cos I'm real scared I will screw up. But, heck, if I don't dare to accept it and challenge myself, I'll be wasting all these excellent opportunities. And of course, the more people you play for, the more other people will ask you to play for them (assuming you don't screw up). Oh yes, I like this person already, because I replied that if she passes me the score before Christmas holidays and we get enough time to rehearse with each other, I'll do it. And she immediately replied that she'll put the scores in my pigeon hole tomorrow! Efficient, and responsible enough to find someone to play for her in advance.
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