I have the power

I mentioned to mum how I won't be able to get over the fact that there's too much work for one person and that the system is crap and she said that I have the power and can quit because of that fact if I want. It doesn't suit me and it's not effective. It's a great job apart from that. It could be so much better but I doubt they will ever change the system just because a new employee says something. They'd be more likely to fire me. I'll go till Saturday and if I don't get used to the system then I guess that'll be me. At least I am getting a taste for working 5 days a week from 9am and getting my sleeping patterns organised. I can take that away from this job if nothing else. I don't have to stick with it if it doesn't work for me. I'm a restaurant girl. Maybe I can apply for daytime restaurant work somewhere else or ask Alison when she gets back about more work at thebeach. Somehow I doubt it'll work out at Oomph but then again that's fine. It's not a supportive system. You're out on your own and it's not the way to go. I think it stinks. That's a relief then. I'll wait until Saturday and give my verdict then. I might have to talk to Nikki about my feelings towards the set up and see what she says. Once again, enough on this subject until tomorrow.

Wednesday Wishes

Today I wish for a job just like Oomph, regarding the hours and the clientèle, with with more of the finer details of thebeach all rolled into one. I wish that Nikki would see how it's all wrong, how having one person to cover the floor will always end badly what with getting behind and not always wiping the tables after each customer. It's impossible to do it just as she expects. I wish that the roles of the wait staff will change but I doubt this wish will come true. It's a stupid system but I believe they will keep it as it is. It's sad.

Horrible day

So I had a horrible day today at Oomph. The morning was good, expect when Nikki kept coming and telling me what to do when I was about to do it or knew that's what needed to be done, but lunch was horrible. It hit at about 1230 till 200 and it was crazy, crazy busy. Every table was full and it was my job to cover the whole floor, take coffee's out, set tables with cutlery, clear tables and wipe them everytime but I swear it's too much work for one person. It's nothing like thebeach and I regret that it isn't. It's too hard and once I finally got my break at 205 I went to the toilet and had a little cry, then told myself I was done with crying until I was out of there. Carlos asked if it was my fault for things being behind ór messed up, not that I'm sure it was, but I tried to keep up as best I could. I wasn't prepared for it being that busy and it's so hard to prioritise with the coffee as well as set tables, wipe them and clear them. There are 20 tables and it's way too much. They should have 2 people for those duties, one for coffee and setting, one for clearing and wiping, or for each person to have their own half of the tables. It's too much. Nikki blamed me for the other girls, Jess and Amelia, having to set tables with cutlery but it's not always my fault as some people who order food don't have coffee so I don't see the order. Nikki said that only happens sometimes so she still kinda blamed me. I was ready to get the hell out of there, and even Jess said she wanted to leave. It was horrible. I collected so many plates by the end and had to dump them in the washing up area, which also has to be done by the front of house crew. It's stupid as they're not set up very well. They need that to be done by a kitchen hand and have the coffee cups and water glasses part set up with one of the washers we have here, one where you place the glasses in, give them a pump, and the brissles on the sides get the crap off. I hate how different the little things are. I'm a restaurant girl, not a cafe girl. I talked to mum on the phone about it and tried to mask my tears. I'll see how I go for the rest of the week and if I can't handle it I guess I'll have to say I'm done. I like it there though but the only thing I hate is that there's too much for me to do and not enough of me to get it all done. It's not fair and Nikki isn't sympathetic at all. Carlos is good, as he isn't really involved with giving orders, but it's Nikki I have to please. I don't know how it's going to go. I love getting up early and getting the bus, going to work and finishing in the afternoon. It feels short too, and knowing the cafe is closing at 330 makes the day feel short. If the work doesn't get better though I don't know if I'll be able to stay. It's almost perfect. I got called into thebeach by Ryan, a recently new guy who might eventually replace Joerg, the manager, when he leaves in December, for 6pm and I finished at 830pm so I might head off home now. I'm in the office upstairs relaying the horrible events of today. It was nice that Jess and Amelia sympathised with me and Amelia even rubbed my back. I told them I thought I was so behind and they were there for me, supporting, despite having their own work to do. It's hard. Anyway, enough of that. I need to put today behind me and see how tomorrow goes. Only then will I know what to do...

New job

So I do have the job at Oomph. I am back there tomorrow morning, Thursday morning, Friday morning and Saturday morning. They are closed at the Cupping Room on Sunday and Monday and for now I will stay there and get trained up. Then I will move to another of the stores and get trained there so I can move around the stores and work where needed. I am trying to swap or give away my Friday-day shift at thebeach so might have to go in there tomorrow after work and check out other options. I haven't gone too well so far.

For my trial and today my duties have been taking out the coffee's and food, setting and clearing tables and washing up. Tomorrow I'm going to start on learning how to do some of the cold drinks and tea's and also the biscuits and cakes and muffins. My training is going fast. I really like working there. I also love the hours. It's great working in the day and getting up early, doing some good, hard work for a change. I'm glad for it. I can't wait to watch my bank account soar up and up when more money keeps coming in. I'll save a heap! I will I will.

Reoccurring Posts

I went shopping in town today and was very successful. I was thinking that I'll have to start taking photographs of my work outfits as I always love seeing that kind of thing on other blogs. I think I will now look the part for Oomph and I like the idea of having work clothes and looking polished. I loved having an excuse to buy new clothes, especially since they are all for the one purpose.

I have been thinking more about special day posts, like Katie's Wednesday Wishes. I think that's very cute. I racked my brains last night while trying to get to sleep about other alliterations. I'm not into Music Monday or Tattoo Tuesday. I like Wednesday Wishes... Friday Fashion? That's the same as daily outfits though. I could post them all on Friday's possibly... It's so hard to think of them.

Reoccurring post ideas --

+ Daily outfit;

+ Wednesday Wishes;

+ Friday Fashion[s] or Fashion Friday;

+ Flowers on Friday or Friday's Flowers [I plan to have a house full of flowers in Sydney];

+ Life lessons on the side gadget;

+ Margate Monday [for my possible only free day at home];

+ Tuesday/Thursday Toning [gym/exercise updates?];

+ Tuesday/Thursday Thoughts;

+ Saturday/Sunday Surprises;

I will have to spend some time looking in a thesaurus. I'm having trouble with Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately that's most of the week's posts. I don't have to have one for each day but it would be nice to have that routine.

So far the ones I want to stick with are --

+ Daily outfit;

+ Wednesday Wishes.

Hopefully more come and stick. I'll be thinking. Now I'm looking forward to Wednesday.

Love and romance

Seeing people in love, starting new relationships and cementing it with a passionate first kiss stirs something inside me, a wanting for just that. I am jealous but I know in my heart I will have that one day with someone worthy. Someone who will give me tokens of his affection often and someone who will in truth be my best friend and share everything with me, not someone who is so closed off it is impossible to sustain a relationship with. Sometimes I really miss having Yorick's companionship but I do know something much better is out there for me. I want to know when it will arrive but I think that might be impossible.

I'm going shopping this afternoon for clothes to wear to my new job. Hopefully tomorrow I find out more about the specifics so I can be 100% certain I have the job and what my hours will be. It's a bit frustrating not being that sure of it, even if being asked back does indicate I have the job. Damn that dish washer for breaking when I needed to know the details.

I have started watching The Tudors on DVD. I bought it for $20 yesterday at Big W and I like it. I asked my sister if I should watch it a few months back and she said no, but then again she doesn't like period drama's so she would have no idea. I love it. I think it's a great way of truly understanding how things were done back then. I always want more detail in other drama's from that time. I've never heard of a TV series of this scale being made though. I think it's great.

Yorick was in my dream last night/this morning. The last part I remember is that we were hugging. I loved having him that close and I miss it. I wasn't bending my neck down to rest it on his shoulder though so that makes me think I was envisaging what I would like for the future in a partner while having him for the base as that's all I know. It might be that way. I miss that physical connection though.

I really have to lose some weight and get fit before I even think of being intimate with a man. I want to be happy in myself before doing that, and anyway I'm not ready to move into something so quickly. I do need to get off this computer though and go shopping.

I have finally found time to update

It's about time I updated. I've been so busy that I haven't been able to and so many wonderful things have happened in this last week. From Sydney to a new job I really need to get all of this down.

I went to Sydney on Tuesday. I didn't feel any sense of loneliness on this trip, which I was very pleased about, but I think knowing what to expect helped with that. For the whole trip I was just so pleased I was back in that wonderful city in the sun, wandering around, experiencing the museums and new ways of travelling. There was no time to feel lonely. After an early start on Tuesday, I flew to Sydney on a window seat this time and got to the airport for around 1pm. I followed the signs and got a return ticket for the train and again followed the signs to the platform. I loved travelling on the train and had a big grin on my face for most of the time. I went straight to BASE and the receptionist recognised me from last time. I went up to floor 4, room 11 instead of 13 this time, which had 6 beds not 8, and got organised quickly as one of the girls was in bed asleep so I didn't want to disturb her too much. First I went to the Museum of Contemporary Art right up towards the Quay. The admission was free and it was a great exhibition. I loved some of the photography but I never understand the video and audio installations. Not my thing. After that museum I went to the Museum of Sydney and only had to pay $5 as it was the end of the day. It was a small museum but I enjoyed the exhibition very much. It was very windy once I left and went back to BASE. I stopped in a Woolworths and found it so strange. The building covered 4 floors and you would ride up escalators to get to the food. Very strange indeed. I got some yogurt and a lovely sugar bread twist then went to Darling Harbour for some chips. I then went to see Easy A at Event and love love loved it! It was much funnier than the trailer made it out to be and it's definitely one for my DVD collection. That afternoon I had accidentally left my pinky ring in the bathroom at BASE, the one I got at "So Good", this cheap Asian jewelery story next to Event that I love, so I got another before the movie. After that I went back to BASE and hopped into bed. The next day I slept in, then walked up to George Street and tried to find the place I had the great hot chocolate at on the first trip. After walking both directions for a bit I found it, lined up and waited, then walked to the Quay and went to the Rocks Discovery Museum. That was the best museum I had been to. It was small and in an olden day building like they were when they were built and I loved the set up and display of all the items. After that I walked up to Observatory Hill and looked out over the wonderful city. I think some people were doing Boot Camp or something similar. At that time I was waiting for money to be deposited into my bank account as I was very broke at that stage. I didn't have much money left at all but by 12 it was in my account [it's usually there before 2 but earlier is best] so I went to the Quay and hopped on a ferry to Taronga Zoo. While I was waiting for the ferry I got a call from Oomph! and talked to Nicky [spelling?] about coming in for a trial once I got back from Sydney. That was pretty cool. Dad said I'd get a call while I was away. Ha ha. The zoo was great. It is huge but I only covered half of it. I saw no need to see the reptiles or animals I usually see. Instead I focused on the seals and penguins, big cats, zebras, bongo's, giraffe's, elephants and mountain goats. It was hot and the zoo was hilly so I was a bit tired and sweaty but it was worth it. I tried to make it back for the 2pm ferry but missed it by 5 minutes so had to wait till 230. Once back at the Quay I got a train to Town Hall station, the one I got off at from the airport and the one close to BASE, had a chat to mum and dad on the phone before changing my shoes at BASE and grabbing a coat then catching the bus to the Uni. I first talked to an Arts rep and said I could go straight into the masters, but as I found out later it all depends on my marks. After that chat I went to a mini lecture then got a cup of tea and some mini orange cupcakes put on by the school. They were nice. I sat in the beautiful quad and waited for the lectures on ancient studies, then art curatorship and museum studies. I loved the lecture on museum studies. I found out that the classes are from Monday to Friday 5-7 in the evening, or if you want you can do 5 weeks of full day Friday's like a summer school course and get it all done with. The only problem with that is that the assignments would also be sped up. I'm not a fan of that, I need plenty of time for assignments. I'd be happy to do the 5-7 classes, then I could get a day job. In this lecture they mentioned a credit average for some of the courses and so I found out is the Masters. I will apply for all 3 and see what I get an offer for [please let me get in!!!]. I would be happy to start at the beginning with the Certificate, then I can do all the great classes as I would miss out on some if I just went straight into the Masters. I don't need experience either but getting it will be fantastic, then I can apply the theory to the work. After the lecture I left the Uni and caught a bus back to town. I went into the So Good jewelery story again and bought another ring, but it is a little big for my right hand ring finger. However, it is a nice fit on my left hand ring finger... I went to the movies again and was originally planning to see Despicable Me but ended up seeing Tomorrow When the War Began as they changed the times of the first one. I got some popcorn and a frozen coke and went to the movie. I actually enjoyed it. I didn't think I would for some reason. After that I went back to BASE and tried to sleep but had none, maybe a short half an hour before someone came into the room at 3am and woke me up with the noise. Hmm. I got up at a bit before 4am, showered, packed, then went to the train station and caught the train to the Domestic Airport station. I was so sleepy but had a V and was okay. I got the plane from Sydney to Melbourne, then from Melbourne to Hobart. When I got to Melbourne, I got some McDonalds for breakfast then went straight to the gate and waited for a minute or so before boarding the plane. I would have rathered a direct flight as I didn't want to be on a plane anymore but the second flight wasn't so bad. Had a chat to a nice man one a business trip to Hobart. Dad met me then we went to his work and I took the car and went to meet Nicky at Oomph. I was there for 15 minutes and just had a bit of a chat. She said she'd call that afternoon if I was to come back for a trial.

That afternoon I waited at home and by around 4pm she called and organised for my trial the following day [Friday] at the Cupping Room. On Friday I started at 8am there and did very well I believe. My focus was to run coffee's and some food, set tables, clear tables, and do some washing up. I liked the focus of the work as the other girls were taking orders and getting some sweets and drinks. I didn't want to have to do all of that. I had a half an hour lunch break and has 2 poached eggs and some chips. I had a chat to Carlos, Nicky's husband, and he seemed to like me. The end of the day came by reasonably quickly. We closed at 330 and were done by 4 and I got paid over $100 for my time. Nicky wanted to talk to me but Carlos was fixing the dish washer so there wasn't any time to talk about the specifics she whispered to me that they wanted me back on Tuesday from 9am so upon reflection that might mean I have the Tuesday to Saturday shift set. We didn't talk about me specifically being employed or what hours I would get or where I would work or anything so I'm not sure about it but I'm back at the cupping room on Tuesday. I need to go and buy some new clothes to wear. A grey cardigan would be nice and some other cutesy tops. I want to get more Croc shoes so I might have a look in town today before Mary's baby shower this afternoon at 2. I will go to the gym tomorrow and have another look at clothes if I don't do it today. I actually felt a little under dressed for the trial in my con's and skirt. I should have worn my work skirt, as I will from now on, and some black shoes would be great along with more grey tops or a blue shirt and a vest over the top. I didn't get too over-heated but I definitely need new clothes. Lucky I have so much money! I hope we talk about the specifics on Tuesday... I want to know if I formally have the job or not. It's a bit confusing.

So on Friday I worked for 8h at the Cupping Room, then caught a bus to Kingston where I collected my car, then went to Banjo's for party pies, stopped by James and George's for a quick visit and a cuppa, then went to work at thebeach for 5h! It was a long day. I had to get some Nurofen and took 4 by the end of the evening. Work wasn't super busy and after the Nurofen I felt much better, like new really, but needed more as the night went on. 13h is a big day. Yesterday I did 10.5h at thebeach. I worked from 12-5, had an hour's break where I had my fish and chips, then went for a walk and a sit along/on Blackman's Bay beach with my mp3 player, then worked again from 6-1130. Ryan, the new guy who's working towards replacing Joerg, left at 11 thinking things were all done enough, when they really weren't, so I stayed and finished setting the tables and cleaning up. I don't like his attitude about it but I would have rathered have done the work without him. It was him, me and Sara upstairs for 2 functions. Enjoyable. Then I went home and got up at 930 this morning, not feeling like I needed to sleep for hours more despite having stayed up later finishing watching Jane Eyre before bed.

I have to keep getting up early and stick to my exercise regime. I have plans. That's for another post though.

More Sydney thoughts

I am constantly thinking about moving to Sydney, as I have mentioned several times I'm sure. I imagine packing a huge suitcase and stuffing it with a few pans/pots, plates, cutlery, baking trays just to keep me going as well as clothes and my bathroom essentials, maybe even my DVD player and set top box, some DVD's and books and several other items. I don't want to take too much stuff but I don't want to go with none of the kitchen items because I won't want to buy them in big lots as I won't need that many. I wonder how much I can fit in a suitcase. I'm really excited about going to Uni again and studying. It feels like such a good use of time and I love learning. I'm so excited about setting up my own little house. I hope it's as cute and affordable as I want it to be. I can't wait to fill it with flowers and my fish and art. It'll be all mine. Getting furniture will be great too. Got to make more money now so I can have the life I want. One thing I'm especially looking forward to is the weather and the newness of the city. I can't wait to explore more and do it in a t-shirt instead of having to be wary of what I wear. I think that will be fantastic. I loved the weather when I was there. This is my own journey. I'm doing it to see if I can make it on my own and I"ll have to do it alone. I want to say that I've done it and really experience it. I'm sick of letting everything depend on another. That's not healthy or how it should be. I think it will be a challenge but I'm going to make it great, I just know it. I hope I get it all sorted next week on my trip there. I'm going to try the trains to get to the city and back because I doubt the shuttle will get me to the airport in time for my 615am flight. I didn't realise it was so early but that's all there is. It'll be okay. I can sleep for the rest of the day, or even on the plane on the way back. It'll be a good experiment and I'll finally use a train there! I might go on a ferry to Taronga Zoo too. I'll check out the prices for that tomorrow probably. Monday maybe. I'd better go and get ready for my first Beginners Pilates class at the Uni gym. I really do hate that it's so far but it will be worth it and I've flaked so many times in the last few months. Bad me.

Toy cameras

I stumbled onto another blogger's blog and she loves her toy cameras! She mentioned two new ones, the "Lomographic Pop 9" and the "Kid Lomo Robot style 35mm 3 lens" cameras. I might have to do more research on these and keep watching her blog to find out more about these amazing cameras. I love them! I need to use them more. I think she will give me more inspiration and new cameras will be great to play with. I really do need to get back into photography. I think in Sydney it will be better because everything is new and unexplored. It's easier to start there I think.

Tomorrow I'm going to call the "10 Buck Bus" service that I will hopefully use to get to and from the airport next Tuesday to get to Sydney and back. Leaving my car at the airport will either be $26 or $33 for my departure and arrival times according to a calculator on a website for the Hobart Airport so I'll try and skip that if I can. I'm really excited about going. I thought it was Tuesday today for some reason but knowing it's Friday makes me realise that next week and my next trip to Sydney is much closer than I thought! I'm very excited. I can't wait to have more sushi and the good hot chocolate I had from a place on George Street and go to the movies again and buy more jewellery from the shop open late near the Event complex [where the movies are]. I'mloving the city already. I'm going to explore more museums and the Botanical Gardens and it'll be great going to Uni for postgraduate studies in particular. I'll get what I need next week. Finally.

I keep thinking about Sydney! It's like my life will be starting. Bad to think that I'm not having the life I want right now and that I'm not making the most of it but I think it will be better next year. I don't want to live my life in Hobart. It's sad because all my friends and half of my family are here, and I'll miss things with new family members like Etta, but to start with Sydney isn't all that far away. When I move to the UK that will be a different story. I might not end up there but wherever I go it won't be here. I want to explore all of the world. I don't have to feel guilty for that or stay here just because I might miss out on some things. All the more reason to go in some respects. I don't want to stop my life just to watch others' unfold.

I've stumbled upon even more great new cameras I now want to buy. I'll put pictures in.

1. Lomo kid robot 3 lens 35mm

This one is so cute. I think Holly would love it. It does something unusual too. It splits the frame into 3 and has the same picture for each. Here, it's easier to show you.

2. Lomo fisheye 35mm

3. Lomo ActionSampler 3 lens 35mm

4.Lomo Oktomat 8 lens 35mm

5. Lomo Horizon Panoramic

I really want this one. I think it'll be the perfect way to take panoramas since it's always so hard to stitch them together normally. Well it's a hassle. This one is pretty expensive though. Hmm. I'm excited though!