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Published: November 1st 2005
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Mandy, me and other animals
George, Mandy, me, Richard and Jenny at the Sidebar. The Blue Parrot Hostel is a small, friendly place in Potts Point, Sydney.
I came to Sydney a wiery, tired and penniless traveller.
When I walked through the door on September 12st 2005 I was welcomed by one of the owners, Andrew. I felt completely at ease seeing that I was tired he quickly got the formalities over and done with and showed me around the hostel. It struck me straight away how cosy and comfortable the place seemed to be. A TV lounge (although the TV is not overbearing) and a free internet terminal in the corner. The Kitchen had plenty of space for all my (limited) cooking needs. The rooms too were clean and spacious and i quickly had a power nap before coming back downstairs eager to see the sights of Sydney.
Andrew upon seeing that i was up, greeted me by my name and showed me the nicest walk to the Opera house and few of the must sees in Sydney. I did a double-check why are all hostels not like this. He asked why I was here and I said I was looking for work. After looking around the city for the rest
The Blue Parrot Massif
The 'lifers' at the Opera Bar. Bobby, George, me, Paul, Diarmuid, Lee and Mandy at the front. of the day - I had an early night - not before getting to know my room mates Mark from the UK and a guy from Sweden. The next morning a came across the other owner Andrews wife Christina.
Our first meeting was a little awkward - she was standing outside with two other empolyees at the Blue Parrot Stuart (who had also introduced himself to me the day before) and the scary looking but really nice Dagmar (from UK and Germany). I wandered in to the hostel and Christina thought I was a new customer - as soon as the misunderstanding was sorted out she started talking to me in a nice and chatty way.
She told me that there may be a job going at the hostel - too which i said i was interested. As we were speaking, Andrew called to say he had found me a job!!! These people (Andrew and Christina) are amazing... as I didn't have a tax number I was even more pleased to note that the new job would be cash in hand. Even if it was just for a week.
It was not long before I was formally
The Blue Parrot Backpackers Hostel
A Small freindly place in Potts Point Sydney. offered the job of Weekend managers position, taking over from Stuart. Which I started at the end of September. It was a long procession training me and Andrew, Christina and Stuart showed a lot of patience teaching me how to do my job. I soon learned the truth about the operation here at the Blue Parrot - to absolutely strive to be the best hostel in Sydney. Andrew and Christina expect high standards - the most important thing is to get to know the guests and to make their stay in Sydney the most fulfilling and nice experience.
After September in which it seemed i was working all the time... I did a 10 day successive run.... I jacked in all my other jobs to concentrate on the Hostel job. My job really is full time here - and I felt without realising it I had wandered into a new career in the hosptility trade. I was eager to get to know the guests ... it didn't take long to realise that there was a familiar sight to a lot of the faces that were around.
The Blue Parrot hostel is sooo nice that a number of backpackers
Day out at Bondi Beach
I am on the far right... I is black!!!! This is Sydney in Late Winter!!! looking for work in Sydney don't even bother looking for another place - of the 40 ish beds available there were 10 'perminant' residents. In my usual judgemental way, I thought that I would be an outcast from the beginning as I was taking over from the immensely popular Stuart. A number of the other guests would have liked my job and I really only got it on the strength of being a virtual backpaker OAP.
But I found quite the opposite... as I had found with my room-mates already there is something about Sydney that shakes off the 'hard-nosed 'safe' not speak to anyone unless it is absolutely necessary in case i make an idoit out of myself' European way. Everyone speaks to everyone is the rule here.
It did remind me of my early days at University - although I did not feel there was anyone who was trying to 'outcool' anyone ( you know my ones bigger than your one style).
So, on my first weekend on the job - I found everyone to be soo easy on me - My first night I was introduced to a simple but effective card game F***
Do you smell what the smoss is cookin
Cooking the last of many communial meals. the dealer - which was really a drinking version of higher or lower. The gang of the night were as follows -
my trainer/handler Stuart - another 'backpacker OAP' who clearly knew exactly what he was doing and all the 'shortcuts' to making the job easier. He was clearly a ringleader as far as organinsing anything was concerned a real party animal.
The mad as a hatter Scot Angie - A loud, unbelievably happy and friendly Scottish girl. Completely bored with her helpdesk computer job.
Cockney / Mockey Bobby (George) - A chirpy Londoner, quick witted- hospitality trained (and I really thought he was pissed at me for stealing his job) guy
Scouser guitair playing Rob - Who really left too soon without me getting to know him
Clumsy Irishman Paul - who seemed to be taking the majority of the stick that night - his hero is Roy Keane - and he is a bit of a lookie like of the tough tackling arrogant Irish footballing legend.
The cleaner getting rapidly drunk head band wearing George - who was struggling to keep up with the mad for it Angie.
Also mad as
The gruesome twosome
My two road trip amigos - George and Mandy - the sexiest girls I have ever met from Nantwich!!! a hatter clearly knackered from work Mandy - whom everyone continually addressed in that annoying as hell westlife/rod stewart song of the same name.
and of course the two french guys who i had befriended (my Allies as it were) from my room Alexis (aka PapaSmurf) and Guilluame (aka Gigi) - who were without a doubt the maddiest of them all.
I got to know the other 'lifers' who made an effort to get to know me as i learned the ropes.
Diamond Diarmuid - The sport/movie/music buff mate of Pauls, who quickly became a new drinking comanion.
much travelled slightly zany always thinking she was going to move out but still hasn't Jenny - she was out at Darling Harbour.
After weeks of meeting and getting to know countless other guests who have come and go I have quickly made a new family and home for myself some 14000 miles from home in Sydney.
Thanx to the wonderful Blue Parrot
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Mark C
non-member comment
Get out of OZ!!
Nice picture snaps moss couldn't quite fit the beer belly on screen though! You seem to be enjoying yourself not like boring old England.