A typical Friday night in the hospitality industry (Re:post September 2015)

I expected to write this first blog in slightly different circumstances.  I expected to make a cup of tea and relax into the couch.

Instead, I'm sitting on reception at work. Technically I should have finished 16 minutes ago, I should be all cozy at home, in my jammies. But, I drew the short straw this evening.  I'm on lock up duty for the hotel. There's 3 women sitting in the main lounge,  jab jab jabbering away. Catching up on all their goss.

Dinner was 6 hours ago, and as I'm also on the open shift tomorrow,  I'm not going to make a cup of tea,  as I'll be awake all night. Everything is done all lights are off where they need to be, all candles are blown out, just waiting for these ladies to nip off to bed and I'll be home in 5 minutes.

All down the inside of my right hand is black smudge pen marks, I was on checks tonight, taking everyone's orders. I don't know why or how it gets so smudged.

Obviously I'm incredibly bored, and hungry and tired as I'm giving you details about the pen marks on my hand.

I don't really know what else there is to tell you. If only we'd get a booking and I'd have something interesting to do. I'm actually tempted to run home (in the dark) and get a banana and come back and eat it, but I won't.

I don't know how to tell them to bugger off and go to bed. I don't want to ruin their evening but they're creating a situation where I'm going to be very difficult on the breakfast shift tomorrow morning, and they'll only have themselves to blame.

In 4 minutes I'm going to announce myself.

In 3 minutes..

In 2 minutes I'll cough. Or start turning off the lamps..

I'll blow out all the candles..

In any case, in 15 minutes the doors are going to scare me, as they close automatically at 11:45pm!!

In one minute they'll go to bed..

In 30 seconds..

I can't even turn the computer off coz it'll turn the music off and deep down I do really want them to have a nice time.

Ok here goes...

Candles are blown out - where appropriate.. and they're still chatting..

GO TO BED FOR GOODNESS SAKE

I locked up the back corridor, kitchen and dry store outside, put my coat on, my scarf and sat and waited.

And waited. I don't get paid for this you see.

Finally they got up to go to bed. One of the trio asked me for a brandy, I'm not the greatest with spirits or liquors, but I took a punt, usually I just point to our shelves and they'll say "glen morangie" or bla bla bla.. and I'll get it for them, but tonight out of some stoke of genious I asked if she'd like a convousier, which says cognac.. thankfully she said yes.

It's bed time now.. and thats a typical Friday night.