Filed under: Weblogs
Short updates from the tall dude. Now better known as a waiter, I’m kinda getting used to the table waiting world, if only they’d tip better.
It’s quite amazing how versatile a day in the life of a waiter can be sometimes, yet it all comes around just as soon as you talk about it with another waiter. The endless rants of ugly shifts, fussy guests and god knows how many people are already labelled as bad tippers in the restaurant field. Thankfully I didn’t get the more often than not sure to be present bad hat co-workers.
Just the other day a Datin and her friends came over for a late lunch, and my friends should know I much I hate table draggers. Knowing that her reservation was for 1 was enough to make me hunch just a little bit more in the midst of the empty restaurant. It was an 8 pax birthday lunch, but soon we found out that there was no specific birthday boy or girl, but it was just one of those BFF things where the name in the Happy Birthday song would be replaced by ‘all of you’.
But whatever. Me and Din picked the table up anyway. We waited anxiously for them to come. Finally all 8 showed up, the Datin being the last of course because VVVVVVIPs have to be fashionably late. Just after she arrived an assistant stormed into the kitchen, white bland box in hand, and left shortly after. While Din was taking the order, I decided to check out what happened. It apparently was just a black forest cake Datin bought for everyone. There goes the prepared parfait, but we saved it what would be the next day’s birthday reservations, so no worries on that.
When the cake was served individually with candles, Datin caught me, Din and KD for a song. She literally trapped us in the room and forced us to sing with them. So we sang and let them carry on just before the name part. KD and Din left to pick up the petit fours but I stayed to top up the champagne until the hilarious happened.
After finishing off the song, they stood up for a toast and while doing so, one of Datin’s friends actually burned a really big hole in her dress as it caught fire from the candle when she leaned to the front for the toast! Now I know why the first agenda after the song is to blow the damned candle out first! I literally was snickering as I chased toward her. The rush of my pleads for her to put the fire out herself, since tapping on a Datin’s friend’s tummy without permission at the time didn’t seem very… encouraged.
Luckily she put it out as soon as she saw, and the hole managed to open up only about three inches in diameter or so.
An hour passed, and it’s almost 3 now. KD already took off for his split break, me and Din still lingering in our sloppy faces when a conversation between Datin and her friends broke out as the lady victim was about to leave.
Lady : Too bad I burned my dress today! Luckily someone saw it..
Datin : Ya, luckily or else you would have to wear her jacket and leave! *pointing to a friend of hers wearing a very trendy Coach jacket*
Lady #2 : Eh nevermind lah, it’s very hot anyway, I’ll let you take lah!
As the tune of a slightly plastic but usual Datin’s laugh played, I can only smile to myself with the obvious ringing in my mind.. Obviously. It is afterall, a lunch, no?
Datin : Luckily Ariff saw it! (pointing as my manager, Ariff, walks into the room with the bill)
Lady : Eh, not him lah, who was it again ah..
Lady #2 : This boy, here, what’s your name?
Before I knew it, she’s already gazed at me with the request which kind of slipped right past by me disguised by my weariness.
Ariff : His name is Andy, Datin.
Lady #2 : I see.. Andy, are you a trainee here?
Me : Uhm, yes ma’am, from Taylor’s College.
Lady #2 : Good good! Keep it up, you deserve something for what you did!
I just smiled and left the room. They were already leaving and I don’t know what else could I offer, except safety pins for the lady victim, which she actually already had. Ariff comes up to me after they’ve left and asks cooks up a short talk with me.
Ariff : Did you know who was the lady in white (referring to #2)?
Me : Nope.. who?
Ariff : You’re from Taylor’s College right?
Me : Ya.. and..
Ariff : That’s the honor of Taylor’s man, come on..
Me : Erm.. She was the best student? *chuckles*
Ariff : She is Datuk Loy’s wife, and their daughters are very very the pretty you know?
Suddenly everything gushes back to me, it all seemed so familiar then but now it’s all clear! I have to admit, I did kind of eavesdropped when they were showing off picture of their children from a recent dinner, and it all seemed way too familiar. So it is her, and that was them, so I do remember from an event last year the the main campus!
Me : Ohh! Ya ya I know them, wow.. that was seriously her ka?
Ariff : Yes of course! She was very happy to know you’re from Taylor’s.
Me : Oo.. I see.. *chuckles slightly louder*
Ariff : Ok lah, anyways you can go for your break now, come back a bit later, I ask the kitchen to save some food for you.
Me : Ok, thanks!
I left for my break with Wai Kheng, the pityful girlfriend. She was waiting since 2 doing nothing, sorry baby! If I’m not mistaken, we went out and had a small lunch, got ice cream from Pavilion. Was going to get some for her, but she always rushes to pay with me, too bad I lost that day, AND she had to wait.. Sucks to be her that day, but thankfully the gorgeous is still so loving 
Still figuring out what to get for her birthday though.. Any suggestions?
Well all in all, a day’s work can be as dull as hell at the restaurant, and on some days can be so special like such. Brewing Illy and firing captain orders are quite enjoyable, but it has it’s cons at times, especially functions, but that’s another story. I’ll continue tomorrow if no table draggers attend, and I’ll be able to leave early.
Until then, work safe. Your blogs, like my tips, are always appreciated.
