The Week That Was... #1

The Week That Was...#1

I'm writing this on Sunday 28th April and I'm sitting on the Gawler Central train, heading North towards home from Adelaide.

I'm in the process of slowly beginning to unpack the week, both physically and mentally.

I'd worked all week at the Liv Golf golfing event.

My fingers are covered in bandaids to cover the knicks, cuts and scratches from opening cardboard boxes. My finger tips are still sensitive from opening beer cans.

I have a bruise on my arm from when it got pinched between two plastic crates before I could move out of the way.

My left arm before

My left arm after

My right hand

My right arm

My white volleys (shoes) are now dark brown because of the dirt I've had to work in.

Dirty white shoes

Before catching the train, I decided to go to City Indian Quisine on Hindley Street in the city.

I chose the two mildest dishes, Butter Chicken and Mango Chicken and with the much hotter dish Beef Vindaloo and rice all on the same plate.

Butter Chicken, Mango Chicken, Beef Vindaloo with Rice

I also ordered a Mango Lassi to take away the potential afterburn.

Mango Lassi

While I was eating my meal, a few people had come in to the restaurant and others had left. One group was a family discussing various gossip.

Another lone woman entered after them and sat down.
She was wearing a Japanese Kimono, had her hair done up in Japanese style and she was made up similar to a geisha but not quite.

Her make up was subtle for the most part, but her eye shadow was mesmerising! Multiple rainbow colours but blended together in a random but stunning fashion.
The eye shadow matched her traditional looking kimono in a way I can't really describe.

She was staring at her phone with a look of either concentration or annoyance and I wasn't going to take the risk of complimenting her.

After I finished eating I the main meal I got and ordered a Meat Samosa and a Garlic Naan to go.

Meat Samosa

Garlic Naan
I probably won't have the meat samosa again, and just stick the vegetarian option. The garlic naan was amazing.

LIV Golf Tournament

The reason my hands, arms and shoes are in the state they are in is because I was working at the LIV Golf
tournament for 6 days.

For the first 3 days I was working in the distribution section AKA "distro", it was the preparation for the event.

This was essentially loading trays amd boxes of food from palettes into huge portable freezers known as "reefers". This is where I bruised my arm.

I also had the opportunity to learn some kitchen hand skills. I peeled parsnips and beetroot and sliced beans and small tomatoes.

I didn’t like being spoken down to by one of the chefs, and while the work of being a kitchen hand seems easy and enjoyable enough, the forced fear-based respect of the chefs isn’t in alignment with how I want to spend my life. I don't like hierarchies nor disrespect.

The last 3 days, the actual event itself, I was lucky enough to be given the role of supervisor of one of the bars.

This was due to a few reasons, the first being that the woman who originally was going to be supervisor called in sick all weekend and second being that I had a Responsible Persons Badge from last year.

It was my first time in a supervisor role and I think I did OK.
I needed to pull back a little and relax more and let the other staff do their thing.

I also needed to ask for help more from other bar supervisors.

The reason my hands and arms are all cut up, bruised and scratched is from opening entire palettes of beer cartons.

I also needed to use the little microphone button the earpiece for the radio more, but I prefer to see the radio display so I know I am on the right channel.

At no point during the 3 days, did I feel the need to speak down or bark orders to any of the staff.

Other supervisors would do it anyway and the reason I was given so that it was easier to decide who to send home and who to keep early when things got quiet.

I find the idea abhorrent and this is why I am seeking a full time job. I really hate the idea of anyone controlling my ability to simply pay my rent, and I hate the idea of doing it to someone else.

Throughout the shifts I made sure everyone was on the same page in regards to what was expected, I taught shortcuts where necessary and I praised and thanked my workers.

For the most part the job was a good experience, and one I immediately put on my resume.

After I locked up and cleaned the bar, I took the wet aprons, timesheets and radios back to the main compound with mini detour across one of the golf courses due to being lost in the darkness.

I went to catch the free bus home and there were a few of my staff members waiting there already. They saved me a seat and told me that I was the best boss they’d ever had and that they’d gladly work with me again.

This was really good to hear.

Thank you for reading.

Until next time, insist on being treated with dignity and respect and treat others the same.

Shaidon

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