Training at Starbucks

So on Friday (4th December) I started my training to become a Starbucks barista.
To be fair though, on that particular day, we didn't really do much, it was all paper work and regulations on COSHH, Health & Safety, and Fire Safety. Easy to say, the 6 hours that I was there seriously dragged. Lucky for me though, there were two other really nice girls who are training there. I was so happy that I wasn't going to be alone. I honestly think that was like my main worry about going into this shop and doing the training. But yes, luckily I wasn't alone.

So Saturday came around and it was time for some actual training, rather than just reading through booklets and answering thee most obvious questions. I was so nervous though, and I don't really know why. I've always worked in customer service like in bars and shops, but for some reason, this felt different, like there was some pressure on me. It was okay though, because for most of the day I was doing the cafe, which was just essentially clearing tables and tidying up (which I've done at like 4 of my previous jobs) which was nothing I couldn't handle.
Saturday wasn't a very good day for us to start our training though, purely because it was a Saturday, and the shop is based literally right on the high street in the city centre. So me and Shannon (one of the other girls (Zahra didnt turn up because she was ill) doing the training who I actually get on with really well) basically just did all we could to help. I was kind of manning the dishwasher, and making sure the "bar" had enough mugs and plates, and Shannon was running around making sure the cafe was nice and clean.

I guess I should kind of talk about the staff who work there. But that's simple, they're all absolutely awesome. They were all so welcoming, and friendly, and even though I've only been there a few days, I really feel like I'm going to miss them.

Sunday isn't worth talking about because I was only there for like an hour.

Monday, ahhhh...Monday, Monday, Monday. This was actually the first day that I met the manager for this particular store, and to be honest, I kind of had the pre-conceived idea that he was going to be really horrible; but I was pleasantly mistaken. He was lovely. The first thing he did was help us all finish off any unanswered questions in our paperwork, and we were doing that for about three hours, which then took us to lunch time.
I didnt have anything for lunch, because I had no money on me, so I just drank lots of water and chain-smoked for about half an hour. Got rid of the hunger pains.
After lunch was our time to try and make some drinks. I was TERRIFIED. I have never made barista style drinks before, they've always just been instant..or alcoholic. Ha! I was on the "bar" with Chris, and keeping in mind this is the first time I had met the bloke, he was really reassuring, and talked through literally everything for me. After half an hour or so of watching him make the drinks, it was my turn. and oh my god, it was SO MUCH FUN. I was so proud of myself, I really felt like I had picked it up quickly and was capable of doing most of it on my own. Other than the frappucinos, we haven't got that far yet. I'm dreading that part though, they literally look so confusing.
Being on the "bar" made time go so quickly, because before I knew it, it was time for me to leave. Before I did though, I had to sort out my hours for the rest of the week:
Tuesday (today) off
Wednesday 6:30 - 2:30
Thursday 12:30 - 8:30
Friday 9:30 - 5:30
Saturday 7-3
Sunday off
Safe to say I am not looking forward to tomorrow and Saturday. I have to get up at 3:30am to get into work for half 6. Ugh.

So yeah, this is basically how my days are at the minute, lots of training and learning new things. Its awesome. I'm actually loving it.

 Emily.
 

The last few days....

...have been pretty hectic at work, especially with the lead up to mother's day...

Yesterday, was really bloody busy, like, I literally did not have 5 minutes to just go outside and chill out to have a cigarette..as much as I wanted one. I was initially on a 11:30 - 4 shift..which got changed to a 5 finish, which I didn't mind, I like to help where I can.
It got to half 5 pretty quickly, and I was putting away all the clean glasses, because there was like 5 oor 6 trays that needed putting away. So my intention was to put all those away before I went, because I know how annoying it can be when there's lots to do, and people just leave you in the lerch and you're bombarded with glasses, clean and dirty. But every time I went to put out some clean glasses, more customers would come swanning in through the doors, and I would have to serve them. I hate it when I'm in a rush, and the customer is being really awkward, cos I've only been there a few weeks, so I still don't know the ins and outs of everything..so then I have to find one of the managers which just wastes time, and then I have to go through their order..blah blah blah.
But yeah, as I said, literally every time I went to put glasses out, someone else would just come walking through the door.
Anyway..I finally managed to sneak away, although by this point, it was nearly half 7, and I hadn't let Azzy know that I was going to be this late. I knew he would be worried about me, and I couldn't get in touch with him, because my phone had died, no one else had their phones on them, and I wasn't allowed to use the work phone because I was calling a mobile, which is pretty god damn stupid if you ask me...I may have to have words with them about that.
When I did finally get home...I got a right bollocking. Literally in floods of tears with Azzy shouting at me..... but I won't continue with this bit, as its rather personal.
We were okay in the end :)

Today...OH MY GOD. I have literally never seen a restaurant so busy!!!!
It took us an hour and a half to get through a queue of people, and that was only at like midday, so we had just only just opened!
Today was absolutely manic, every member of staff was on, expect a few, so we were well on force today. It was brilliant. It was pretty unbelievable just how busy it was to be honest. 5 or 6 times I got called onto the restaurant floor to help clear tables of plates and glasses, and that's not even what I was meant to be doing today. I like going on to the floor sometimes though, I've never done it before, so I'm totally not used to it - being on the bar is my safe place - but it just feels nice to be doing something different for a change. Its bloody hard work on the floor though, literally do not get to stop, its just constant walking backwards and forwards - I guess it is like that on the bar too, but thats no a veryh big space so that doesn't really count - around a big area....wow it sounds really boring put like that. Haha.
Work goes so quickly though, its awesome!!
I did a 11 - 7:30 today, and it seriously only felt like I was there for just a few hours.
We had an auditor in today as well...I won't go into too much detail there, cos that bloody woman makes my blood boil. Not even joking, she's had something against me since the very moment she saw me...well, I should say, since the very moment she saw my tattoos...fucking dick. UGH! Excuse my language. I just really despise her..She walks around like she bloody owns the place, and she doesn't!! She's always got such a bitchy look on her face, and walks as though she's poke a hot poker up her arse.
She was sitting at one of the tables earlier doing one of her stupid little charts, and I had to walk past her with a massive tray of glasses...most of them still had drink in them...the temptation to just "accidentally trip" was immense....but, alas, I had to control myself. And I tell you what, the amount of control I had to have not to pour those glasses over her stuck up little head was second to none.
But thankfully, seven thirty came around fairly quickly, and I was able to leave. Yay.

So right now, I am at home, curled up on the sofa with a ros spritzer, while the mister cooks me tea. Lush.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Work, work, and more work.

I am literally f*ckin' shattered. Not gonna lie, I love my new job.. Like absolutely adore it, but I have just done 34.5 hours in 3 days. Ugh.
Yeah, so I realise I haven't posted anything in a few days, and that would be the reason why. I have had basically no time to myself, no time with my Azzyface and little Jace-monster, but I am now currently in day one of my 2 day break... Which I am so ridiculously thankful for.

Thursday.
Wednesday, I went for my induction Wednesday, which took what seemed like forever. It did take a hell of a long time though. I got there at 3pm, and didn't get out til about half 6! All I was doing for about 2 and a half of those hours was reading a shit tonne of papers and doing little tests about said papers. I was quickly losing the will to live xD haha. But it all went good, my employment was confirmed, and I was given my uniform, which is actually pretty nice. Just a shame about the tie and apron colour... they're burgundy. Why? Just, why? I also got my shifts, and that's when the excitement kicked in.

Friday.

So the next day came around ridiculously quickly, and I pretty much jumped out of bed when my alarm went off at 8am..which is very unlike me, I am not a morning person.. I think it is the worst time of the day. But I'm learning to live with them now. Its only taken 23 years. 
So I went into work, totally nervous by this point, and completely running on adrenaline, and I was faced with people I hadn't met yet, and then the nervous tummy pains kicked in. The manager, Iain, then came down, and explained to me what I would be doing for the day... "bar training", well, less training, more getting me used to the tills. I've been working on bars since the day I turned 18, so I'd say I know what I'm doing when it comes to pouring/mixing drinks.
I got my first glimpse of the till just 15 minutes into my shift, and my gut told me to run. It was all so much to take in! Like, all the carvery options, food screens, which had like 6 different types of menu (ie traditional, grills, burgers, etc.), then there was the "light bites" menu, kids menu, hot and cold desserts, kids desserts, drinks, hot bevs, all the tables... and then, after scouring your way through that, and after taking the payment, there was the job of the receipts. Like, not even kidding, every single carvery order comes through as a single ticket, so the lady, Wendy, then I was being shown by, literally had like 15 tickety receipt things come out of the till. What a waste of paper, like seriously. Then...then came the receipts we have to staple together and put on a little spiky thing to keep with all the other receipts. Its all just so much paper, its insane! Poor trees. 
After 4 and a half hours, I had a 2 hour break. I had to get my stepdad to pick me up though, cos I had to go round his/my mum's to use their phone to call HMRC, because I don't have a landline, and there was no way I was using my mobile to call that bloody place. Did that once before and ended up with like an extra £21 on my phone bill. Wasn't good. Especially as mum pays for my phone. Got the angriest phone call from her because of that.
But yeah, I got all my details for the HMRC sorted, then I had to go back to work for like another 4 and a half hours, and not gonna lie, it went so ridiculously quickly. I picked up how to use the till really bloody quickly, and it was very fastly becoming like second nature.
Home happened at 9 o'clock, and I tell ya what, I hadn't worked in nearly 2 months, and I think that was obvious.. I completely flaked when I got in, and just wanted to go to bed...but didn't, cos I wanted to spend some time with the Mr, as I knew I wouldn't be seeing him much the next couple of days.

Saturday.

Saturday came around, and I did not want to get out of bed, but I knew I had to...eventually. Ha. I didn't have to be at work til 12, which is better than the 10am start I had Friday. 12 is much more acceptable for me. 
I went into work a little bit early, and felt so confident, but also bricking it at the same time cos I was down for doing "floor training".. So like waitressing, clearing tables, relaying tables, taking drink and dessert orders on the handhelds when needed. I get so nervous and clammy when I have to approach people, I don't know why. I guess with the fact I'm used to being behind a bar, I expect people to come to me for things. I don't know. Anyway. I was more than relieved when Olivia, one of the assistant managers, told me she wanted me behind the bar because we were short staffed. Obviously being short on staff isn't a good thing, but that day, it was for me. I think learning quite a few new things in a short space of time would have really confused me, and I would have ended up epically failing at something, and I'd probably drop plates, then fall over, and break my face or something. 
So, on the bar for 12 hours, with only a half hour break...that was the most fun thing I have done in my life I have to say, especially when I was left on the bar a lot on my own, cos the guy I was working with was "ill", I still think he was hungover, and he kept going to the toilet to be sick. Olivia, Iain, and Kev (the other assistant manager) were fuming with him for leaving me on my own so many times. But I think I impressed them with how quickly I had picked the bar/till up, and how comfortable I was doing it. And the fact I was upselliing the post mix drinks and the carvery... I love surprising people. Ha.
12am came around, I had done the bar close, on my own, which took me roughly 2 hours... it was such a god damn chore. I had to restock the fridges, clean about 300 glasses, sweep/mop the bar floor, clean the fridge doors, clean the glass washer, sort out the patio for glasses/bottles/ashtrays, empty the bins (Which took like 5 journeys, because the main glass and general waste bins are outside)..stupid idea if you ask me. So yeah, I was expecting to leave about 12, oh no, the girls Sam and little Wendy (a different Wendy to yesterday) were still cleaning the restaurant/dessert/coffee area, and being the nice person I am, I stayed behind and helped them so they could get out quicker. It was good fun actually, they're both absolutely lovely people. It was absolutely pissing it down when we left, and I felt really cheeky in asking, but I asked Sam if she could give me a lift home, I explained I didn't like asking, because I'd only known her like 36 hours, but she said she was more than happy to help me out. Bless her.

Sunday.

Well, I crashed when I got home from work Saturday night. I was absolutely exhausted. I could barely walk, my thighs muscles from where I was bending to put the glasses away, were so frikkin tense (still are), and it was so hard to walk. Me and the fella had a bit of a barny.. I think we were just so stressed, and we just went at each other's throats. Its understandable, I mean, we're in this completely different routine now.. I'm working a hell of a lot, and he has to look after Jace on his own all day. Its a proper shock to the system.
Sunday was pretty much the same as Saturday to be honest, another long day, spent all on the bar, which I really wasnt fussed about.. I actually really enjoyed it. And we actually managed to be all finished by midnight. It was such a quick 12 hours, it literally felt like I was only there for about 6 or 7.


I'll post again when I next get the chance, but honestly, there probably won't be anything exciting as I'm working 42.5 hours this week. But if anything fun or/and interesting happens...you'll know.