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In Praise Of Wait People Everywhere (And I Have a Bit Of A Rant).

So last week I told you about how I had to do work experience to keep my Hospitality qualifications current, and how much I was dreading doing it.

I didn’t want to do it on principle (I have already worked in the industry thank you), and also because of the practical hassle of leaving work for my students and having to wait tables etc for a week.

Anyhoo….

6 days down and 1 to go and it’s not as bad as I thought. Granted I’m still not considering a career change into the hospitality industry, but there have been some good things.

Once I worked out where everything was, I could keep up in the kitchen with the chef. I know this sounds stupid, but I was wondering if I still could. I got to make some interesting things, and got a good variety of jobs (apart from half a day of vege prep – 1 box of brocolli, 3kg snowpeas and 10 kg of onions = very sore eyes). 3 days in the kitchen to stretch me was actually good.

I am now doing Food and Beverage, which is really just a fancy way of saying waitressing (or is it waitpersoning?). Surprisingly it’s not too bad either (I did try to find the cushiest place I could). The people I am working with are all kind and helpful, and humour the (34 year old) work experience kid well.

I have learnt a lot of practical skills (though I still have a way to go). I have also learnt that F&B staff have THE hardest job out. On your feet all day, balancing heavy loads of food that can easily fall off plates and on to unsuspecting diners laps (so far I have managed to avoid this). Then you have to clear tables, clean up, reset etc. There a huge time pressures during busy periods, and during the quieter times there is a lot of mindless, repetitve work (polishing glasses and cutlery etc). Don’t get me started on the people you serve; they often look straight through you, drop their food everywhere, strew everything over the table and leave a huge mess.

Working in kitchens, I had already appreciated the hard job that is F&B, but this week has taught me a new found appreciation for their hard work.

image credit

Let me encourage you: next time you go to a restaurant, be considerate of the person serving you. Do NOT change your mind about what you would like 10 minutes after placing an order (it’s too late). Avoid ordering sandwiches like Meg Ryan does in When Harry Met Sally. Acknowledge the person who is serving you – they don’t want a huge conversation, but a thank you is just good manners. An while we are at it, don’t rip your napkin into tiny pieces, or blow your nose on it before putting it on your plate. Don’t separate the salad out and stack the left over pieces in your glass. Avoid dropping food everywhere. Of course it is not possible to make no mess, but really people… have a go!

Here end-eth the rant-eth

So people, hit me with your stories of waiters, both good and bad…

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Comments

  1. •´.¸¸.•¨¯`♥.Trish.♥´¯¨•.¸¸.´• says

    November 10, 2011 at 3:59 am

    I think we all should heed this advice.I don't envy their jobs and rude people.
    My children are so polite and chatty with wait staff (but please excuse their mess) – one even told the McDonalds wait staff wiping tables -older lady in fact – "thanks the nuggets and chips were yummy"

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Hi, I’m Jo

I'm a city girl turned farmer's wife, school teacher, ideas woman, and mum to three country kids. Country Life Experiment is all about simple country living, growing and making our own food, and life on our family farm in rural Australia. Join me as I give country living a try. Read more...
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Team work makes the dream work. We were asked rec Team work makes the dream work. 
We were asked recently whether we “make” our kids work on the farm. The answer is “of course not”. Having said that, all three love to help out whenever they can. They all work hard because they want to; because they take pride in working hard and contributing in a meaningful way to our family life; because they love living on our farm and don’t remember life before we moved here. Whether it be planting trees or doing sheep work or feeding animals, they all want to be involved. As a parent, nothing is better than watching them grow in skill and confidence as they work along side you. We’re so glad that we get to spend time with our three, working together.
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It’s been a tough few weeks on the farm. We got It’s been a tough few weeks on the farm. We got through shearing without a hitch (thankfully 🙏) but we’ve had a run of the flu followed by Covid run through the family since then. The kids and I have tested positive (this is my second time getting it 🦠) though so far C has managed to avoid it. There has been a lot of lying on the couch feeling pretty ordinary. Han had to reschedule her driving test for a 4th time due to Covid, which is disappointing for her because she wants her freedom and for us because it would be so much more convenient if she could drive herself places. Just to add in to the mix, our hot water system has chosen now as a good time to die so we’re on cold showers until we’re all out of iso. This is not meant to be a whinging post but sometimes life just sucks a bit and it’s good to be real. Fortunately, the sight of the fire going with a stack of wood next to it cheers us up. Things will improve soon. Onwards we go…
A picture perfect Autumn afternoon to end the scho A picture perfect Autumn afternoon to end the school holidays. We’ve been busy spending time with friends and family, harvesting the last of the summer produce, as well as a short escape to explore the big smoke. After the craziness of last term it was the break we all needed. It’s back to school for me tomorrow, and the kids are back on Wednesday. Shearing starts soon and so it’s all systems go over the next few weeks.
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Hi, I’m Jo

City girl turned farmer's wife, school teacher, ideas woman, and mum to three country kids. Country Life Experiment is all about simple country living, growing and making our own food, and life on our family farm in rural Australia. Join me as I give country living a try. Read more...
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