Okay, people. Now I finally have time to write to you a bit more. I’ve just finished my first shift, it was OK.

We are actually working in split shifts, which means we get up to serve breakfast from 7:30-9:30 or so and then e set the tables ready for dinner and then we are free to go about 10:30. The dinner shift starts (at least today..) at 6 o’clock and I assume that will take 4 hours or so. I won’t go into the detail on the job itself right now, maybe some other time. I’m glad there’s so much time in between the shifts, you actually have time to do stuff.

So, I arrived here on Monday at 4 o’clock. Everything went surprisingly smoothly from Kokkola all the way to the hotel. Thank God I love flying because the last 30 minutes of the flight to Manchester was all about turbulace, and it wasn’t some small bumbs! :D From the city of football I bought a train ticket and had no problems finding the right train; there were only 2 tracks. I changed trains in Middlesbrough. That’s one of the closest bigger cities nearby. Have to shopping there as soon as I get a day off ;D When I got to Whitby I ringed (yes, “ringed”, not “called” :D ) Royal Hotel and they sent a taxi for me. Ema from reception greeted me and took me up to my room. 12 hours of travelling finally reached it’s destination. J

The hotel is quite nice, surrounded by water on two sides and the town on the other two. Very typically English; sort of elegant but still a bit old and worn out. I haven’t seen the actual rooms the guests are staying in but I assume they are in better shape than ours :D It’s nothing much wrong with it , I mean I wasn’t expecting luxury anyway, but it is very worn out and the carpet is horrible :D But we’ve got about everyhting we need: 2 beds with bedside tables and lamps, 2 wardrobes, 3 chairs, a big desk with a water boiler(?) and tea cups and tea, coffe, sugar and milk. Also we’ve got something I didn’t expect; a TV J A very old one, but it’s working! 4 channels J Yey!

Most customers are old people, pensioneers. They come here on coach (bus) trips and Whitby and the hotel are very popular. The town itself is quite lively although summer season is pretty much over. Lots of both locals and tourists out on the streets. It smells like fish and sounds like sea gulls – just like in Brixham J ( You girls know what I mean ;) Lots of small restaurants and coffee shops and stuff, and even a few game arcades. Not a good place for shopping clothes but there are a lot of tiny special shops with souvenirs or art or whatever.

Oh right, I’m sharing the room with a Polish girl, Gabriella, she seems alright. She’s been working at another restaurant here for a few months already but she started here at the hotel today as well. There are about 50 people all in all working here, about half I’d say are from abroad. Poland, Russia, Estonia and Spain at least. Haven’t met all of them of course but I’ve been told. All the Brits are nice and cheery. “Hello, Paula!”, “You okay, Paula?”, “How are you, Paula?”. This goes on and on and on. Love it :D Just takes getting used to.

Oh well, I think that should be enough for now. I’ll keep you posted. Don’t hesitate to write in my Guestbook or give a comment! Would love to hear from you!

Take care!

 ♥: Paula