21 September 2011 (07:00 - 13:00 & 17:00 - 23:00 )

Today I started with cleaning and preparing the guesthouse for the guests checking in...

So what did I do?

Firstly the guesthouse has A LOT of couches with A LOT of pillows, I took off the pillow and puffed it up again as well as the couch it self.

Then I did room checks and made sure everything is up to standard...

Welcoming:

I cleaned the welcoming stand and put new water and spirit jelly in, made the hand towels ready and warm!
Prepared the glasses and juice.

Outside by the swimming pool we have a braai area with tables and chairs...
So I went and put table cloths on the tables and cleaned the pillows outside!

Lunch set up:

For room 4 in his room!

Dinner set up:

Room 4 in his room and then in the guesthouse we set up for the other guests and as well as Roelien Haarhof came to eat at the guests house.

After everyone went home and to bed, Me and Jonathan set up for Breakfast for the next day!!

Went home @ 23:00 !!

20 September 2011 ( 07:00 - 16:30 )

My Morning started with the usual routine of cleaning the veranda and reception area.

The I set up for breakfast in Room 3...

* table cloth

* cutlery 

* napkins

* glasses 

* knives and forks 

* side plates

With breakfast the chef went to the guest  and  explained to them what is for hot breakfast...

When they were done with their cold breakfast I took their plates away and took their hot breakfast out.

When they were done I cleaned and cleared.

THEN: : : : :

I started with my duties for the day!!!!
-ROOM CHECKS      &   -POLISH ALL GLASSWARE...

First of all who would for ever thought that a Guesthouse has so mush GLASSWARE !!!!!!

Oh well I did it and I made it through it all!!! 

Here are some general rule I come across on the internet:

* If you are not 100% committed to learn how to repair glass, QUIT NOW!!

* Shortly after you have ruined you first piece, you will regret having started

* Practice each technique on worthless piece before trying it for real

* Be patient, and work slowly and carefully ( you will get quicker, eventually)

* Don't panic- when repairing glass, things always look a lot worse before they look better

I washed all the glasses individually and dried them...
We have a collection of glasses like
+ whiskey
+ red wine
+ white wine
+ cocktail
+ beer
+ champagne
+ juice
+ sherry
+ brandy
+ hurricane
+ Irish coffee mug

After all this I did the Room checks.. I also Reported a light that has been broken to John.

He then called Ed the maintenance guy to come and fix it for us!

MY last task was to SPRING CLEAN the Office !!!
Sjoe I never knew there were so much papers in that office !!!!

Well my JoB hErE iS DoNe !!!!

See you Tomorrow !!!

xxx

19 September 2011 (07:00 - 16:30 )

MONDAYYYYYY....

This was my national BLOG day....
 I did some catching up on my blog...

But before I did all this, I waiter for breakfast and take drink orders,
Clean after wards and made it look according to the guesthouse standards...

Cleaned the veranda and reception area with Jonathan.

16 September 2011 (07:00 - 16:30 )

Today I worked Early shift..

Me and Altina assisted the guests who checked out on Friday.. 

After they have checked out and the cleaners has cleaned the room me and Altina went and do the room checks so that is could be ready for the next guests on arrival...

We also refilled all the amenities, the coffee and tea's for the rooms.

 WE prepared for welcoming and warmed the hand towels so long that it is warm on arrival of the guests...

When they arrived Altina did the hand massage, I did the welcoming drink and Chef Steve did the welcoming snack...

13 September 2011 ( 07:00 - 16:30 )

Duties for the day:

Swept reception area,  Then I took all the chairs out at each room !!

Store room:

Refill all the shower gels, bath liquids and body cream, so that it is ready for the guests.

We repacked and cleaned all the cupboards. 
We washed and cleaned all the equipment inside the cupboard.

Cellar: 

Rearranged the cellar wines in alphabetical order, cleaned the bottles and cupboards, swept and mopped as well  .

Did so theory on 08 General pre- service procedures. 

12 September 2011 ( 11:00 - 16:30 )

DUTIES for the day:

1. Clean kitchen
2. Store room tidy
3. Polish coshes & ice buckets
4. Clean office
5. P.O.E

In the kitchen we swept, mopped and washed all the dishes and packed it all away.

Used Silverware polish, we wiped polish on silverware, then used a separate cloth t wipe is clean and shiny.

 POE were done and I finished Module 7- Billing and Checking procedure - and came up to date with my logbook

Locked up, check that everything is closed....


I learned how to polish silverware!!! 
  

11 September 2011 ( 06:00 - 15:00 )

Breakfast waiter and cleaned

 Cold breakfast: Muesli, Yogurt and fruits
 Hot breakfast:  Bacon, mushroom, tomato and eggs

Check outs

Carry of bags
Cleaned guesthouse
Cleaned the kitchen
All check outs went well

Room checks

Checked all the rooms and I placed all the chairs in the rooms..
Checked that everything is up to standard and if not I corrected it !

Liquor stock list:

Did the stock check list in the wine cellar and in the office.

We got very good feedback for this weekend. !!   
 

10 September 2011 ( 14:00 - 23:00 )

Dinner set up:
We set up for all the rooms and made one big table for Mr Ian van Rensburg and Mrs Roelien Haarhof, Room 5 sat with them.

We took drink orders from guests and when the chef laid out the menu for them we went and took their food orders.

Room 1 Wanted wine, so I got them Red wine and presented the wine to them:
How to Present Wine Bottles as a Waiter

When you present wine bottles as a waiter to your guests, it serves a couple of purposes. The first purpose is to make sure that you ordered the correct bottle of wine from the bar and the second is that presenting the bottle is part of the complete wine service.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Get your wine service ready. Once the order has been placed for the wine, grab the appropriate glasses, the bottle of wine and the wine chiller (if white wine, sparkling wine or Champagne). Do this in two trips if necessary or use a service tray.
   • 2
     Face the label toward the guest. When you approach the guest that ordered the wine, make sure the label is facing toward them so they can read it and confirm that you have the correct bottle.
   • 3
     State the name of the wine, including vintage (if applicable). If your guest ordered a vintage bottle, state the vintage, then the name of the wine, then the varietal. An example is, "The 2002 Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon."
   • 4
     Wait for the guest to confirm that you have the right bottle. Generally, he will simply nod as confirmation. After that, it is fine to go ahead and open the bottle of wine.
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     I also did issues for the guesthouse...

     TURN DOWNS for Room 1, 5, 7

     
     

     Cleaned afterward and set up for breakfast for the following day..

     The night went all good !!!!!

     John Helped Me With The Presentation Of Wine !!!

      

9 September 2011 ( 07:00 - 16:30 )

Wildlife Center Breakfast !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whoo !! What a hectic day !!! 

We had a Breakfast at the Country House and One at the WLC.....
Me Chane and Natalie went to WLC were we set up for 7 people:
* Tables
* Chairs
* Cutrely
* Crocory
* Utensils
* Juice
* Food
* Table cloths
* Napkins,                 

----You name it we took it all !!

It was fun doing a breakfast that's for the guesthouse but it was not there it self...
The people got a cold breakfast and they enjoyed the animals around them...

When we came back, we cleaned everything and I helped Jonathan with the buffet at the guesthouse.

I also cleaned the wall at Room 2.. It was full of mud and didn't look appropriate or neat  !!

I went on split... Came back on 16:30 and worked the night ..

NIGHT

Set up for dinner and waiter for the guests..
While they were eating and shiela were assisting then I went and do the turn downs....

7 September 2011 ( 07:00 - 16:30 )

Breakfast:
Waiter for guests
Take their drink orders
Clean and clear afterward

Store room:
Repacked the store/ linen room with Shiela,
She also showed me how to do the issue of the linen.
We placed everything into there places and made the room neat as well...

Me and Shiela also did room checks and made the rooms up to standard !!

Welcoming:
Prepare for welcoming : 
* drinks
* snack
* towels
* reg cards

TEST: Health and Safety
My score were 88 %

Well this was a get ready, clean and theory day. 
But we all managed very good !   

6 September 2011 ( 07:00 - 16:30 )

Breakfast set up, worked and cleared up..

Room checks: 

* Beds                         -  tidy and neat

* Lamps                      -  Straight and clean

* TV                             -  Switch off and TV guide open on the days date

* Bathroom                 -  Clean, towels same color, glasses steamed 

* Outside bathroom   -  Swept, mopped and bath/shower is cleaned

Cleaned reception area and all the pathways..

WHY???????

So That It Can Be Up To Guesthouse Standards

Modules involved:

14 Provide a table drink service

05 Customer care

01 Safety at work

02 Hygiene at work

5 September 2011 ( 07:00 - 16:30 )

I started with a Breakfast set up and waiter for them as well.
After they have eaten I cleaned up and made it look appropriate to guests.

After all this I did some theory on 04 Personal skills and attributes and 05 Customer care

* Self confidence: - Always come to work prepared

                           - Believe in your own abilities

                           - Be punctual, neatly dressed and refreshed !!

* Personal development: - Motivate workers to come to work neatly dressed and prepared

                                      - Complement them on a job well done

                                      - Create a positive atmosphere !!!

* Appearance: - It is very important to wear clean clothes and shoes, as that is the image that will stay with     the customer long after.

                        - The use of jewelery / accessories should be limited 

                        -  Make-up should be used sparingly and naturally

                        - Nails should be short, clean and with no nail polish on.

When you spot guests : Always smile and be friendly toward them it makes them feel more at home and welcome...

Customer complaints:

* Customer is ALWAYS right 

* Apologize to the guest 

* Restate

* Agree

* Act

* Feedback

Face to face conversation

- 7% words

- 38% tone of voice 

- 55% body language

Ways to communicate:

+ Letters

+ Email

+ Faxes

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Set up for dinner for Room 1 + 4 , Both the room ate outside
their own rooms and we set up like we always do with
table cloths, chairs, glasses, candle light side plates.....

2 September 2011 ( 07:00 - 16:30 )

Breakfast set up: Room 3

I set up for breakfast in their own room, outside.
* Table cloths
* Glasses
* Side plates
* Knifes, forks and spoons
* Salt & peper
* Pillows for the chairs

I waiter for them and took their drink order

2x Coffee with milk

Registration cards made and printed for welcoming once again did all the preparations for welcoming 

* glasses, drinks,  snacks, towels...

Dinner set up:

I set up room 3's dinner in their room again outside and the second room in the wine cellar...

Meat lovers Feast

I set up 5 tables @ the restaurant for the guesthouse people.

When we set up for them at the restaurant we put on white table cloths, wine glasses, 2x knives and forks and a dessert spoon and fork.

When you work at Meat lovers you only help the Country House guest !!!


Off weekend.....

1 September 2011 ( 12:00 - 21:00 )

Today I started with Registration card for the guests that's checking in.
It's a folio we make for the guest with their information on and thing like what they prefer to drink the weekend and or week and what kind of pillow they like to sleep on and news paper they prefer.

Then the speed point drop- It's were I take the daily cash up and drop it the following day to the appropriate person who handles the cash...

Prepare for welcoming:

* Glasses
* Juice
* Ice
* Grenadine
* Hand-towels
* Handlotion
* The spirit jelly to keep the towels warm for arrival

Room checks:

* I take a check list that's been printed out for all 7 rooms and do room for room following the procedure for checking, if something is not correct I make a note and correct it myself.. If there need anything like a pen, postcard, or entertainment program I make a note and replace it.

Cleaning of Veranda & Kitchen :

* It is very important to keep it clean at all times. It must look attractive and according to the Country House Standards at all times !!!
Swept the floor outside to take all the leaves away..
Kitchen, I washed all the dishes, swept and mopped the floor, cleaned all flat surfaces.

Stock count:

* I counted all the Shoe mittens, soaps and vanity cases in the store room.

CHECK - ins:

In the beginning I was really so scared to check guests in..
This was my first check in I did alone, it was stressful but I managed.
I went and received them by their car, walked with them and carried their bags for them.
We sat at the front desk were I gave them their Registration card to complete.
Then I let them sit in the lounge were they received a hand massage from Shiela, meanwhile the Chef made them a welcoming snack and I made the welcoming drink...
With the check in I explained a few things to them and tell them a bit more about the Guests House and Sondela.
After the hand massage I took them to their room where they went and relax...

Dinner set up:

I set up for dinner in the wine cellar.

* table cloth

* utensils and crocory

* Salt and Peper

* Silver candle

I assisted them when needed and took their food to them.

When they were done I cleaned and clear up!

Modules that were in progress for the day

01 Safety at work

02 Hygiene at work

05 Customer care

04 Personal skills and attributes

09 Provide a table service 

14 Provide a table drink service

Week 2 @ SSB 11 April - 15 April 2011

Dusting and Theory

We dusted Maroela 5 and 6.

We made the beds, polished, sweep, cleaned and washed the bathroom.

Theory and Practical

We did our workbooks.

We took pictures on Health and Safety for our evidence.

Theory

Took more pictures of procedures for 

* cleaning a bathroom

* cleaning a bedroom &

* how to make up a bed.

Practical & Theory

Made the bad @ Maroela 1 for guests coming in

Did the procedures on how to clean a bedroom.

 

Practical

Working this weekend.

Wrote a health & safety test.

We are going to do roll plays today for the Parent weekend, its kind of fun.

We need a bed, golf car, chemicals, brooms ect !!! all on the grass !!!!!

Rough Friday

Sjoe... Who would have thought that I'll make it till today.. hehe
Friday: I thought I was going do die... Okay that sounds harsh, just not make it through the day.
Well I came in at 07:00 and worked till 16:30..
Me, Altina and Steve, cleaned rooms, did the room checks and prepared for welcoming.
I placed new entertainment programes in the rooms and checked what else is needed...

At about 15:00 I went to set up for Meat Lovers for the Guesthouse..
We are FullHouse this weekend...

But I must add when I got home BED...BED...BED... was I a was thinking about...!!!

Well that's it for now...

Wringley Function

Well what a rough day, we set up a dinner for about 59 pax in the Piccinini's hall...
There were a dress code and the guests went WAY out...
                               DURBAN JULY
We had a RED carpet for them as-well as horses just to lighten up the atmosphere...
Some guests even took a few pic's with the horses...

With their arrival all of them got themselves something to drink and just relaxed a bit...

About 19:45 they went into the hall and got themselves a seat...
There were a few waiters allocated to each table, I was one of them, to be their waiter for the rest of the night...

So for me, I took their drink orders and their drink orders oh ja and their drink orders....

They went and get starters,,,, then main,,, While all this is taking place they also played a horse race game, where 6 guests get a number of a horse... The rest of the group bet on the horse they think will win.. They play the video and everybody went crazy screaming for the horse they bet on... So it went on for about 4 times but they enjoyed it a lot...

It also was MARLON's birthday so we surprised him with a big cake...

After all the excitement they started to dance.. We moved the tables out the way and they even danced on the Afrikaans music... They enjoyed that very much..

When they eventually left at +- 02:00???!!!  We still needed to set up the conference for them for the following day...  We went home at about....03:00 IN THE MORNING !!!

But I must add,,, the group was really very nice...

Meanwhile at the Guesthouse Shiela and Steve were busy with the Turn-downs...


Experience = GOOD
Had a good night. I think everything went very very well !!
And I know for sure the Wringley group had a lot of FUN....

Diploma in Food & Beverage Services

Sjoe its been a while...
Well I'm back in action... Work was keeping me so busy I harley got time to do anything else...

And now I am doing my Diploma in Food & Beverage Services... I"m very excited but I must say it's very hard work...

In the time that I started to do my Diploma I assisted the 3e years in training the 1e years... The way I teach is by helping and assisting them... It's so much easier to do and understand...
A few things I helped ect them with:
* how to cloth a table
* how to do functions 
* how to do conferences 
* how to "box" a table cloth
* waiter skills
* preparations for the follow day 
* how to do welcoming 

And then......

I was send to Sondela Country House.

WOW !!!!    It's even WOW for me and I'm only working there..
The people I work with is so helpful and always ready to assist you...
Since the day I started there I loved it !!!

I'm a Butler / waiter / do turndowns... now you wonder what that is???
It's were we treat the guest by cleaning the room, opening their bed, switch bedlamp on AND.......... put a chocolate on their pillow.. 

I really enjoy working there.. My fellow worker are: 
- Altina
- Shiela
- Jonathan
- Chané - Training manager of me and Jonathan.

Well let me tell you more about what I do Everyday...
Breakfast- If full house we do Buffet, if 2 rooms we serve them individually
  Luckily breakfast isn't that hectic but can sometimes get confusing....
Lunch- Guests usually go eat lunch at our restaurant Piccinini's, but if the don't we set up for them at the Guesthouse and they enjoy the lunch there...
Dinner- Most of the time Guest eat dinner- full house or not everyone gets served individually, the chef come out to speak to every guest explain to them what is on the menu, they have a choice and decide...
We set up all the tables and get everything ready for the night...

While dinner is taking place we go to the room and do the turn downs... 
When all the guests are in their rooms, we clean and set up for breakfast for the following morning....  Hectic isn't is.?.?.?.? But it's enjoyable....

 Dinner set up

 Dinner made by the Guesthouse Chef

The front of the Guesthouse

This is Room 7...