Day 10 - Should I say, or should I go?
Last night I was toying with the idea of just packing up and leaving (again), I was left alone to do the cooking (it was only me and one other person all day) and I was worrying about it last night. Breakfasts can be stressful at the best of times, that's with three people in the kitchen (even four people can be stressful, if you're the one cooking!), and I was sure it was going to be stressful, I got that vibe from the other staff (the other two).
Anyway, before I even get to whether or not it was a complete shambles or a miracle of a success, let me start by saying that I didn't have the best of days yesterday anyway. I was up at 6:30 and helping with the breakfasts, one other was helping me, and I was snapped at by the other girl; "you need to talk to me!"... this, I think, was because I was plating up someone's breakfast and I told her it was nearly done... I have no idea why she snapped, and I was too busy to ask at the time, now the moment's passed, it seems silly to bring it up. The only thing I can think of, is that she wanted me to tell her before I plated up... but I'm sure I did... and as for 'talking', I'm always talking... I'm always asking questions and feel like I'm asking too many questions (I'd rather ask and get it right, rather than assume, do it anyway and get it wrong!)
Later, after cooking is done, it's onto cleaning the rooms. Somehow I had to do this one room, and I took ages cleanig it, but it was a state! The room was large anyway (1 double, 2 singles and a foldaway, so you can imagine how big the room is!) but the occupants had food the previous night and there was a mess EVERYWHERE when they left... there was even food mess in the bathroom! So, of course, I took a while to clean! When I finally finished cleaning the room, one of the other staff members had gone round the other way doing rooms 1, 2,3... and meeting me in the middle (I started at the top end and worked my way down) she had got to the room next to the one I was cleaning, having met me in the middle. By the time I'd finished only two rooms, she had done the rest (another staff member doing the beds seperately).
Anyway... the guy who had been doing the beds in the rooms came to me after I had stocked up the teas and coffees in that same room and said "What's taking so long?" I of course took offense, but I thought, well, he might not have meant to sound like he was judging me and my abilities, so I just answered, "The room was a mess!" and laughed it off. But he didn't really say anything.
Luckily I only did a morning shift yesterday, so I had the afternoon and evening off. I finished at 2 and that was me done for the day. Although, during the evening - well one of the other members of staff had the evening shift - there was door slamming multiple times, a radio up high, so much that I could hear it from my live-in accommodation upstairs, then the fire-alarm went off and no one had a clue what was going on... the other two who were working that evening, had a tour arrive and everyone was being shown to their rooms at the same time, I went downstairs to find out if it was an accident or a drill, but all I could gather was it wasn't, but no one seemed to know what was going on and no one explained to me what to do (surely there is supposed to be a fire-martial?) they just checked the building, without talking to anyone, figured out it wasn't a fire and just reset the alarm... I just went back to my room.
Later that evening, who ever was on evening duty was listening the radio until 9 at night, again loud. More door slamming. A group of lads were using the breakfast room to play cards. Then one of the staff member later decided to make a first (at half 9 at night) and one of the drivers was watching TV in the communal area until 11 at night.
I had to get up at 6 to start work at 6:30.
Needless to say, I was a little annoyed and already stressed about my day ahead the next day!
Luckily though... but some miracle, breakfasts went fine! I did manage to burn the porridge, but that was just the bottom of the pan, no one had burnt porridge for breakfast! And I did manage to burn the grilled tomatoes, but again, that wasn't a huge issue.
Now, I'm about to start again this evening. After doing a 6:30 until 1 shift this morning, I am starting again at 4 and finishing at 9.
To leave this post on a positive note, here's a picture of me at Dunvegan Castle when I went on a tour on Saturday (I may be writing more posts about this trip another time!)
