On the 8t January 2011 I started my trial up at SPicers Peak lodge, an exclusive lodge, also part of the Australian Luxury Lodges, the property is stunning and the people are AMAZING. So I have been hired on a casual rate for 2 weeks, after which we all decide whether it’s what we want and then I’ll get hired full-time in February.
I kind of hope that they do like me seeing as though to a point a might have ‘overstayed my welcome’ when the rains came in (sure you saw them on the TV- the ones that FLOODED Queensland-seen on side as big blue patch, I'm at maryvale, sister is at Brisbane, my Mother and Father are somewhere in between it all...this image was the beginnign of it all) these rains caused a few problems such as landslides and well, raging rivers… nonetheless we were safer than others and are thankful for this. Anyway, so as the new girl, I live down the bottom of the mountain and as the rains came in causing more chaos than devastation up on the mountain. I opted to stay up there along with the other chefs, managers and service attendant. That was day 2 on the job… 4 days later I drove off the mountain…
So let’s place the scenario…in my uniform I went to work on Sunday… I worked in my ‘uniform’ which is just black pants, black shirt and shoes…doing housekeeping and F&B the clothes get washed in my break and I lend clothes while waiting for them to dry, Monday semi-clean clothes, Tuesday still staying up there sitting up there in a gown, waiting for clothes to dry, as hospitality enthusiasts we pull out the wine, and JENGA….jenga was a life saver, keeping us as sane as possible, no that there is any form of sanity to any hospitality employee… anyway, so yea, left the mountain on Wednesday tracking down the mountain mud and water and through the river – EPIC. 2 nights of wine and jenga – we survived the floods of 2011. on the side you will see the 2011 Flood kit survival pack.
The awesome thing about the situation is seeing the ‘crisis management’ being part of it, seeing how well these managers deal with it, it was a GREAT experience as hard and tough as it might have been on some – I definitely had a good initiation and definitely ample time to ‘bond’ and get to know the team…already, after 2 days…I regained my name ‘crazy South African’ somehow I can’t even get rid of that one…2 different lodges different parts of the country… same name…ha ha haAl the while along with all the MADNESS that is Mother Nature and Hospitality I got accepted into the Masters of Business Administration in Hotel and Tourism Management, friends of UP… I couldn’t print my one study guide….it was 182 pages…. [Gag!] …we all know how much we LOOOOOVE a study guide…so yeah trimester A I will be looking at the contemporary hotel and tourism issues on an international basis… as well as the ‘foundations of management’ (the 182 page Study guide…) studying part time, for two years, over correspondence – BOOYA 2011 has just brought it! LOVING it!!!
Anyway I’m off. Life’s good.
Love. Peace. HapPineSS
