Appreciation

Even though it's Monday

I am finished work for the week

As I mainly work weekends 

And am not back in until Friday

The centre is busy these days 

About 35 guests in all

It doesn't sound like a lot 

And the capacity is 60

But there is still a lot of stuff to be done 

A guest usually stays full board 

So they get their room

A continental breakfast 

Including porridge, cereal and toast

The at 1pm

They get a three course lunch 

Of soup

Mains 

And dessert 

Then a hot tea at 6pm

It's down to me to get the dining room ready for each sitting 

And clean up afterwards 

Which includes doing all the dishes 

And there are a hell of a lot of dishes 

Then clean the dining room

And reset for the next meal

This week 

There was a group of 25 ladies all together 

Two couples 

And a single man 

It takes a while to get to know everyone

And some people you'll see more than others 

They all watched the Ireland match yesterday 

And we opened the bar for them 

I've never worked behind a bar before 

And I really liked it 

It was good to do something different 

And get out of the kitchen for a while

I mostly work with a girl called Sinead 

She is lovely 

And we get in great 

She is 19

But a very mature and savvy 19

Now we have got in to a good system of the way we work 

We are like a tag team 

We do everything together 

And have the craic too

Yesterday was a great day in work 

Myself and Sinead were doing the dining room after lunch 

When one of the ladies came in 

I saw her hand Sinead something 

That I thought was a five euro note 

Sinead wouldn't take it 

And either would I

But the guest insisted 

And told us to keep it for our selves 

Eventually we took the money 

Reluctantly 

And when I looked at it

I saw it was a €20 note 

I was shocked 

We both gave her a big hug 

And she thanked us for helping make their holiday 

How nice was that?

That's a big tip to me 

And means I have a little extra to get through the week 

Then after that 

I was in the office with my manager Georgina 

Trying to sort out my tax 

I was just heading out the door 

When she called be back and told me that I am doing a great job

She said that I am hard working 

Not afraid to muck in 

And that I ooze warmth and compassion 

I was blown away by this 

It was so lovely to hear

And in fact it was exactly what I needed to hear 

As I doubt myself so much 

And have regular crisis of confidence 

But they affirmation just made my day

I told Georgina that I thought the job was doing me the world of good 

And that I could feel my confidence getting better every day

She said she had noticed it too 

Then I got some more good news 

Like my day couldn't get any better 

Georgina told me that she's going to keep me on in September 

How awesome is that?

It's totally awesome!!

After that 

My shift was nearly over 

And all our work was done 

So I sat out the front and chatted to some of the guests 

There was one man called Gerry 

He told me that I am a very special person 

And gave me a big hug when I was leaving 

I left work on cloud nine 

With a warm fuzzy feeling in my tummy 

For the first time since I started work 

I really feel appreciated 

It's one thing getting paid for the work 

And of course that is why we do it 

But hearing the words of appreciation is just the cherry on the cake for me 

It makes it all worth while 

You know I just go about my business in work 

I'm friendly 

Chat with the guests 

And am always willing to do any thing to help out with them

Myself and Sinead are similar 

In that we both want to make their holiday a special one 

And will do anything we can to do that 

Because these are vulnerable people 

Who might not ordinarily get a holiday 

And that just makes me want to do more to make their stay a great one 

So yes 

Today was a good day 

The only thing I have to watch is my food 

I tend to be on the go for long periods of time 

And I can forget to eat 

But I feel so shit when I don't eat 

So I try and have something 

A small dinner 

Or a sandwich 

Something just to keep me going 

I need to remember that I am doing so much running around at work 

That I probably need to eat that but more 

Just to keep my energy up 

Anyway 

That's ok 

I'll figure it out 

Ok 

That's me for today 

I'm off to have a wee rest 

And a cuppa 

See you on the next post.....