Last week one of my bosses came to me and said he wants to give me more hours. "It means more money, you should be happy." Fair enough. On Sunday he showed me the new rota. So far I've been working from 4pm until we finish on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and cleaned the restaurant on Mondays for a few hours in day time. Now he wants me to work the following hours: Tuesday 6pm-finish, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 12-15 and 18-finish. So I'm losing all my Monday hours and two hours on Tuesday. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday I will be working one hour more that usual but I will have to sacrifice four hours more for work each day because on that 3 hour break I cannot get home and back. I have no idea what to do with that time? I really can't afford to go shopping or eat out. No way.. I'm trying to save money for Finland. At the minute I usually get about £80 a week. I try to save half of it. So let's say I have £40 for myself per week. My weekly bus ticket is £12. Ok so I have £28 left. This is supposed to be enough for cat food, human food, cat litter, hygiene etc etc. This week I have to buy Nero's flea drops and food. That's £30 gone. I also just ran out of shampoo and conditioner. Maybe I can't save half of my weekly wage. Again.
Last week I was at work every single day. Wednesday is my day off but I go to that sommelier course which is at work so it is not really a day off. And then my managers dared to make me and the other waitress to set and clear tables and clean up after! We don't get paid for it and it was my only day off all week! Usually Sunday is my day off as well but because it was mother's day and we were full and I was the only waitress who could do it, I had to do it. Well yesterday I went cleaning again and was hoping to get this Tuesday off. Because of the new rota it was a problem so I am expected to work without a proper day off until Sunday again? Well my manager promised to phone me today if he doesn't need me. I still can't plan anything and have to be ready to go... Funny that he just phoned me when I was writing this. Ok I'm not going to work, let's stop moaning then. :)
I am really looking forward to going to Finland and I bought a little sandwich box for saving money in. I really want to see the amount grow! But Finland is not the only thing I am looking forward to. We are going to see a horse race in about three weeks time. It will be my first gallop race ever and since I really like horses I am really excited about it. I really hope they find another waitress to help in the restaurant.. I am just thinking of my waitress friend, not them two managers so much. I am so happy she is still there. I only see her on weekends and on the course but seeing her really motivates me. Her and one of the chefs. Please don't leave before me! Because I know they both want to. Anyway, about the race! I hope that I get lucky and win some money. I will choose a horse with the nicest name or colour and hope that will do it. I also hope it is going to be a nice day. I really want to wear a summery dress.
Any ideas on what I could do on my 3 hour breaks? So far I am thinking that I could take my wine books to work and if I'm allowed to stay there I could do some studying. Then MAYBE if there is a swimming hall somewhere close enough and they are open, I could start swimming. Maybe just stupid long walks. I could kill that time online but I am not taking my laptop to work. Hmmm.. Heeeelp!
Ps. 66 days until Finland!
Showing posts with label restaurant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurant. Show all posts
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
Thursday, 13 March 2014
I can't wait to finish my apprenticeship.. Ps. our flights to Finland have been booked!
Sorry it's been a while, I've been quite busy and stressed. When I moved to England I really struggled to find work. I worked in a factory packing cosmetics for a few weeks during a busy Christmas period in 2012 and volunteered in a charity shop for a few months in 2013 but I was reaaally struggling without English references or work experience in England. I sort of got desperate and since I mainly got interviews for apprenticeships I started applying more and more for them simply because I didn't have any money left at all. I couldn't get any benefits and I'd spent all my savings. I will write about all this another time because I have a lot to say but now I just wanted to tell you how I ended up doing an apprenticeship in food & beverage service in an Italian restaurant. I was desperate.
Let me tell you how it's been so far. The first months were quite different. The place was owned by another person who actually cared about his staff in some ways. He was a lot like a fatherly figure who always remembered to ask how I was and if everything was ok. He would see it as soon as I walked in if something was wrong or if I didn't feel well. He used to join us when we had a barbeque or went paint balling. We were a very happy team and did loads together. Sometimes when it wasn't busy we would play hide and seek in the restaurant with the chefs and we always used to have a laptop in the kitchen and everybody took turns choosing which song to play next on Youtube. We still had problems, we didn't have contracts, we got paid late, I was used as a pot washed way too often and not really trained enough.
Unfortunately the old owner decided to sell the restaurant to two younger men, Italian as well. The place couldn't feel more different. They don't care about the staff. They don't want you to enjoy your job. They treat you like you're a dog. Everything you hear from them is negative and if they're not in a good mood you get told off for stupid little things all night until you feel like you cannot do anything right. They think they are allowed to come and touch you in ways that I find uncomfortable, give you kisses or push you around. They think they can tell me to fuck off when they feel like they want to be alone. They argue with each other all the time. I am not allowed to talk with other staff anymore. Especially not with the chefs who are my best friends in the work place. I am not allowed to stop for a moment to think if I'm not sure about something. "DON'T THINK JUST DO".. We are supposed to be robot dogs who smile at the customers but are not allowed to enjoy the work. Usually if I smile at work one of my managers asks me "why are you smiling?"... Do I need a reason? Usually he wants to know if it's because I've had sex last night. How is it his business anyway. So far the head chef and two waitresses have quit. Everybody is leaving and I have to stay for another 3 months. But I need to finish what I've started! And after it's over we are going to FINLAND :DD My brother is getting married and I will see my youngest nephew for the first time. I cannot wait.
Another thing I wanted to tell everybody.. My cappuccinos are getting better! The other night I tried to make a cappuccino and I asked one of my managers if I have improved. His answer was "no".. Very blunt. I asked him what was wrong with it and he ignored me and walked away. I am supposed to be trained in that place, not washing shitty toilet seats, trained! This makes me angry because they just use me as cheap work force. I would like to be learning something when I'm getting paid the ridiculous £2.68 an hour, when it always comes late and when they steal our tips. Well I thought they can't stop me from learning this. I spent a long time on youtube watching people make cappuccinos and lattes and the next time I went to work I bought my own milk and steamed it until it was perfect. I still can't do latte art but at least they taste nice. :)
Let me tell you how it's been so far. The first months were quite different. The place was owned by another person who actually cared about his staff in some ways. He was a lot like a fatherly figure who always remembered to ask how I was and if everything was ok. He would see it as soon as I walked in if something was wrong or if I didn't feel well. He used to join us when we had a barbeque or went paint balling. We were a very happy team and did loads together. Sometimes when it wasn't busy we would play hide and seek in the restaurant with the chefs and we always used to have a laptop in the kitchen and everybody took turns choosing which song to play next on Youtube. We still had problems, we didn't have contracts, we got paid late, I was used as a pot washed way too often and not really trained enough.
Unfortunately the old owner decided to sell the restaurant to two younger men, Italian as well. The place couldn't feel more different. They don't care about the staff. They don't want you to enjoy your job. They treat you like you're a dog. Everything you hear from them is negative and if they're not in a good mood you get told off for stupid little things all night until you feel like you cannot do anything right. They think they are allowed to come and touch you in ways that I find uncomfortable, give you kisses or push you around. They think they can tell me to fuck off when they feel like they want to be alone. They argue with each other all the time. I am not allowed to talk with other staff anymore. Especially not with the chefs who are my best friends in the work place. I am not allowed to stop for a moment to think if I'm not sure about something. "DON'T THINK JUST DO".. We are supposed to be robot dogs who smile at the customers but are not allowed to enjoy the work. Usually if I smile at work one of my managers asks me "why are you smiling?"... Do I need a reason? Usually he wants to know if it's because I've had sex last night. How is it his business anyway. So far the head chef and two waitresses have quit. Everybody is leaving and I have to stay for another 3 months. But I need to finish what I've started! And after it's over we are going to FINLAND :DD My brother is getting married and I will see my youngest nephew for the first time. I cannot wait.
Another thing I wanted to tell everybody.. My cappuccinos are getting better! The other night I tried to make a cappuccino and I asked one of my managers if I have improved. His answer was "no".. Very blunt. I asked him what was wrong with it and he ignored me and walked away. I am supposed to be trained in that place, not washing shitty toilet seats, trained! This makes me angry because they just use me as cheap work force. I would like to be learning something when I'm getting paid the ridiculous £2.68 an hour, when it always comes late and when they steal our tips. Well I thought they can't stop me from learning this. I spent a long time on youtube watching people make cappuccinos and lattes and the next time I went to work I bought my own milk and steamed it until it was perfect. I still can't do latte art but at least they taste nice. :)
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