Hanging On

Greetings, Dear Reader!

My name badge and lanyard that has my all access card on it

I'm posting this at the end of a very long and exhausting week, and have a very much needed two day break ahead of me. I've just finished a seven shifts, on the trot, spread over as many days. I can feel those long hours and late nights. For those of you who are wondering, is it even legal what to be scheduled to work like this? The answer is yes, because as long as I can two days off on a rota week, then the company can rota me in to work ten days straight, with two days off at the start and two days off at the end. So I'm really grateful that's not happened to me and I doubt the bar café manager (who's in charge of the rota) will do this to me again as I did mention it to him in our chat today (more on that later). I'm tired, yes, as I've worked a mix of afternoon shifts and night shifts, which mean that I'm going to sleep at crazy times and crawling out of my bed too soon after I got into it (or so it felt). Andy and I have been like ships passing in the night. We've been working different shifts and have had different days off. Its been difficult but we've been working our way round the difficulties that have arisen with the hours we've been working.

I do love my job and the people I've been meeting over the last few  months, since I started at Travelodge (its close to four months now since I first started at the hotel's bar). There are a few people who come regularly, often due to work, who I've gotten to know quite well. These people don't realise that their appearances on a regular basis is something that I tend to look forwards to, because we'll end up chatting about all sorts of things, whilst they drink and I work. Bar work is very rewarding and its something that I unintentionally have made my career. Its not something you always make a plan to make into a life job kind of thing, but I've discovered that I love working behind a bar (and I'm just grateful that there isn't any waitressing involved, i.e. looking after specific tables and running food and drink too and from those tables like at the pub I worked at). As far as possible, I am planning to stay at the bar and café at Travelodge Gatwick London Central, for the time being and until God opens the next door.

Though one thing I've noticed is that the turnover in the bar café is a lot higher than I thought possible. I can't begin to count the number of staff who have left since I started, either because they didn't last more than a shift or two, or because they lost their jobs. Its been difficult to form relationships with my colleagues because I don't know how long they'll be around for. I guess its because people don't realise how demanding the job is and how stressful it can be. This can be due to the sudden influx of customers and the long hours, often with a type of boredom that is almost mind numbing.

I mentioned earlier that I had a chat with the manager of the bar and café earlier in my post. It was an official review in regards to the end of my probation period at the hotel. It was a big deal because it decided whether or not I was going to continue working at the hotel. The notes from this review will go in my personal file within the company and will be on record. I was so nervous about this meeting because I have a tendency of making a mountain out of a molehill and was certain it was gonna go badly. However, the good news is that the review went splendidly and I have passed out of my probation period with flying colours. So I'll be staying at Travelodge London Gatwick Central's Bar Café for the foreseeable future. I am happy where I am work wise, as I love my job and I enjoy the challenge of working in a bar and restaurant. Its a lot different than at The Coaching Halt (the pub I first worked at when I moved to the UK) and its totally and completely different than working at McDonald's. I'm a lot happier now with my job than I have been in a long time.

Now I'm gonna sign off and enjoy my two days off (and the sleep that I can catch up on). Until the next post.

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