English Summer Rain

Well this is thoroughly depressing. We are supposed to be hosting Men's Invitation Day today here at Ilkley Golf Club, but due to two days of very heavy rain the course is heavily flooded and it is still raining.  The time sheet was full today with around 140 golfers signed up to play, plus we have two events scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday) and on Monday we are supposed to be hosting an England Golf Captains event for 100. It isn't looking good at the moment.

Yesterday's service was rather chaotic due to the torrential rain interrupting the two visiting parties we had booked in.  Congratulations are due to the gentlemen of Headingley Golf Club and the Spreadeagle Golf Society who braved the conditions to play 18 holes in a constant, wind lashed downpour.

Thanks also to my staff for the day, Rob, Ellie, Callum, Fred and Laura who were all great and responded to our calls for rapidly changing shifts as events changed through the course of the day.

Due to insomnia I've been up since 4.30am, and the river hasn't dropped at all in that time.  Looking out from the clubhouse I can see that large areas of the 1st, 2nd and 18th holes are flooded, and of course this means that the lower lying areas of the course will be a lake this morning.

It looks like a homework day then, I may as well take advantage of the sudden lull to catch up on my A151 work.  Target for the day then; finish the chapter on the history of books, make a start on the history of museums and collections chapter, and then read the rest of the essay Metaphor, Materiality and Interpretation: The Metaphorical Tranformations of Wala Island Canoes, gripping stuff I assure you.

The Death, Or Possibly Dearth, Of Culture

As I was driving the waiting staff home this week...

Robyn - "What's this [on the radio]?"

Me - "It's Radio 4, 11.30pm, it sounds like a play or a Book At Bedtime."

Robyn (incredulous) - "There's a Radio 4 ?! I've never heard of it."

Me - "Stephen Fry says Radio 4 is just about the best thing about living in Britain."

Maddy - "Stephen Fry is really annoying."

Me - "You both have to shut up right now or I'm dumping you by the roadside."

A Suggestion

Pretty much every week I get advertising fliers and letters from various food companies that promise better prices, better products and of of course the current most favoured buzz word of the ad-man, solutions, solutions, solutions.  Well here is a solution I would actually like.

Next week we have a double bank holiday.  Bank holidays are times when many catering businesses and quite busy, Christmas, New Year, May Day, and of course this bank holiday for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  All of the food companies, who spend so much time and effort trying to persuade the catering industry how wonderful they are, will be closed for the bank holidays.  This means that we have to take our deliveries for fresh food for Monday and Tuesday (and perhaps Wednesday if it is food for breakfast/lunch service) on Saturday, or even Friday if it is one of those 'solution' based companies whose solution is not to work on a weekend.

My solution then is for the food supply industry to be more flexible, get their arses into gear and deliver food when we actually need it.  It isn't just a question of freshness, although I gather some butchers are warning customers not to order fresh chicken products as they would fall outside the 5 day safety margin. It is often a question of refrigerated storage, many catering businesses simply do not have enough cold space to carry goods for a busy 4-5 day period.

I'm going to give Lishman's of Ilkley a plug here.  Lishman's will be open on Tuesday, which is vital to me as I have a large order placed with them, which I could not possibly carry in my cold storage over the weekend. So thanks to David for opening, and thanks to Stuart and the team who will be making hundreds of burgers and sausages for me on Tuesday morning, I appreciate the effort, thank you.

Changing The Guard

It's that time of year again when we'e taking on new staff in anticipation of a busy summer season.  It looks like we will be changing the entire part time brigade this summer. Fred will be leaving for a full time job, while Laura, Ellie, Maddie and Rachel will all be heading off to university.

As I have done for a few years now I advertised on Facebook, which got a dozen responses plus one person reported me to the Facebook cops for friend requesting them.  I whittled out four of the initial twelve before interview, including nearly all the boys who really need to learn that as informal as Facebook is, when you are talking to a prospective employer calling him "mate" and "pal" is not the way to go.

This week then I have conducted eight interviews and now I'm in a real quandary. Sometimes the interviews throw up a one or two outstanding candidates who obviously stand head and shoulders above the rest of the group.  Last year I thought Maddy fitted this description and she has proved to be a charming addition to the team.  This year I would happily employ 7 from the 8 interviewees, it is going to be really tough to winnow the field down to the two we want to take on at this time.

Also this year at interview I asked some slightly oddball questions in order to make the candidates chat a bit, getting them to explain the LBW rule in cricket was fun, Having them sell their favourite band to me was even more so and provided some eloquent and spirited defences of an assortment of acts from Coldplay to N-Dubz.

I also asked that if a deity could grant you a personal superpower and then change one thing about the world what would they choose.  This brought some lovely responses along the lines of eradicating poverty and halting all wars, and then some unintentional hilarity when one person said they'd like to have all the countries closer together.  That's nice, I thought, bringing down boundaries and making us all better neighbours.  Not for that reason though said the candidate, it's just that Australia is such an awfully long way away and if it was closer it would be cheaper to travel to.

One candidate giggled, perhaps through nerves, all the way though the interview, but her laugh was so infectious she had me laughing with her by the end. Another almost reduced me to tears with a heartfelt deity request that was so unexpected honest that it stopped me in my tracks for a moment.

I have high hopes ten for this year's intake.  Two young people will be offered a job today, and most of the rest will be given first choice if they are still available later in the summer.  I know it won't be any consolation for those that don't get a place, but if I had enough employment to offer, I'd take them all on.

Stamina

Woah, I was sick for two weeks before I came back to KL and I after I obtained my Zumba license, I came back and got like an audition. So anyhow, I am still at recovery period, and these coughs last like forever. So after only two bloody songs, I am so tired, I remember being able to do so many songs. Now it's like two songs, and damn I was breathless.

So two days later I had another try out, this time for three songs. On the third song, i wanted to die, and I could tell the members look weird cause my face was getting pale.

God life sucks when I have to re work on my stamina again!

Cheers!

J

I'm the Queen Bitch!

So I attended the PhotoShoot for the Miss Universe 2011 finalists. Bear in mind this is a special Miss Universe and not the real kind that is organized in KK. So I am the emcee for the event and I decided to fool around with the crown. Since I'm the Queen and all:) But it's all for good fun and I really love the shoot!

I'm getting a little meaty though:(

xoxo

Jeffrey James

My Favorite Ad

This is by far the easiest Shoot i've done and it's by far the best! I can say that I was a pro at doing this! Well, Pro Drinker!

xoxo

Jeffrey James

I Have Returned

Image by Rob J Brooks via FlickrThe blog isn't dead, yet. The past two weeks have been exceptionally busy here at Ilkley Golf Club with the Autumn Senior's Open, Ladies Invitation Day, Yorkshire Golf Guide Qualifying Event, Clitheroe Ladies Exchange and a host of visiting club and golf societies to look after.

The whole team have done a wonderful job, but as the season draws to a close there have been some changes on the staff front.  The summer uni student brigade have gone back to their palaces of learning, so it is goodbye for now to Rob C, Calum and Izzie.  Little ray of kitchen sunshine Hannah is moving on to become a shop assistant, bye Hannah, it has been fun working with you. Staying on with chef Rob W and myself we have Fred (although he wants to work away in the ski season over the winter), Laura, Rachel and Ellie.  We had a bit of a false start with new girl Brook, although we will welcome her back if her circumstances change, so our latest addition to the team is Maddy.

I like this time of year, the brutal long shifts and work patterns are almost behind me, the nights are drawing in so we can get to close earlier on evenings when there are no bookings, and it is very nearly holiday time.

We bought some flights at a fund raising event for Ilkley Rugby Club (and I'm still waiting for an invite to look around the place !), so we are having a few nights in Amsterdam in October.  For our big holiday this year we pondered over going to California and doing a long distance driving holiday, but then we changed our minds and decided on Florida and a single base holiday.  So we will be going to some of the big fun parks, Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure, Seaworld, and then a few lazy days at the nice villa we are renting.

Image via WikipediaWe arrive back from the USA just in time to get to Hard Rock Hell V for a fairly raucous weekend featuring Girlschool, Magnum, Black Stone Cherry, Therapy ?, Ginger Wildheart, Lizzy Borden, Ace Frehley, Michael Monroe and a host of other bands.

On Christmas Day, the one day of the year when the club is closed, I will of course be cooking for the family, and no doubt the twins Alice and Jack will be the stars of the day, adored and pampered by everyone.  I will try to get up to Ripon Cathedral to watch Joe singing, and a big hug from Ellie, plus some chin pie for Ellie, are compulsory.

Who knows, with the nights drawing in, I might even do things that normal folk do, like having nights off and going to the pub, see you in Bar'Tat, mine's a bitter.

First TVC

This is my first television commercial. You can barely see me. But I'm proud of it nonetheless!

The Start of My Internship

Well, basically I'm just helping out with my mom's business but I told her to look at it as an internship. So far the job has been quite okay, time passes by faster than usual and I hate having to get up at 830 in the morning. I try to squeeze my time between gym, work and friends and I end up sleeping at 1am.

I usually get tired by 8pm but I don't want to feel as though I'm wasting my semester break so I try to make use of the time that I have. Working now is a good experience though and I am in a way enjoying it.

Wish me luck! :)

xoxo

Jeffrey James

To follow me on twitter please add me up @jeffreytanggau

Past The Half-Way Stage

Image by cannellfan via FlickrThat's it, the nights are drawing in already, the longest day is done and dusted, we're half-way done with the summer season of 2011.  As per usual in the feast and famine work pattern of the golf club I am overworked and under slept at this time of year, and as exams and injury have conflicted with our busy period we have been slightly understaffed for the first half of the summer.

We have done some hugely busy days and nights in the last few weeks, and I would like to say a special thanks to yesterday's crew, Laura and Rachel on the evening shift, and especially the two Robs who worked like demons in order to get the buffet and bar orders done for Blaize day yesterday.

Rotary Club of Bradford Blaize run an annual charity golf day here at Ilkley Golf Club which raises thousands of pounds for a variety of charities.  This year's event was very well supported and the weather although hardly flaming June was reasonable and dry for most of the day.

From dictionary.com "Summer - the period comprising the months of June, July, and August in the U.S., and from the middle of May to the middle of August in Great Britain." Well, I never knew that the Yanks got shorter summers than us.

Current happenings

I'm currently reading The Inheritance Of Loss by Kiran Desai, it's a story that is set in the north-eastern Himalayas. It's quite good so far, it started off boring at first but slowly as the pages start turning, the story gets more interesting and witty. I've been reading like crazy lately. And I don't plan to stop reading. It's quite a useful habit because it improves one's vocabulary level (and mine is pretty shit).

I also dropped my blackberry and the thingy on top of the screen came off:( but i I went to the convenient store and got some super glue to stick it back. So I have my own patchwork Blackberry. My ear phones are also fucked and I really feel like getting an ipod, but at the same time i saw this nice bag at hugo boss, and also the ticket to Kylie Minogue's concert in Singapore. So it's either one of those, that I have to pick. Which sucks, but oh well.

I've also managed to finish three assignments that were due friday, I can tell you that I was multi tasking like a bitch, switching between three assignments, One Journal, One major essay and one Sound editing drama. I'm here still doing my last one which is due monday, but it's all good! After I'm done facebook-ing, I will start sourcing for articles to read tomorrow:)

Wish me luck ya'll!

xoxo

Jeffrey james

Burning My Educational Oil

So over the past two weeks i've been spending my days on campus rushing up my assignments. I've got three assignments due on Friday with one being an advertising major essay (50%), Broadcasting Journal (40%) and my Sound Editing Drama Assignment (50%). The scores there are the total marks that each assignment is worth per subject.

So i've been multi-tasking between my sound editing project as well as my advertising major essay, going back into the editing room and studio and then back to the PR lab to complete my essay. My progress does seem promising though but I stay on campus from 8am till 6pm over the past two weeks. I did manage to squeeze in some gym sessions in between.

Since there are two more days till dooms day, I've been stressing myself out over the issue and hoping that I can complete all these bloody assignments so I can focus on shifting out of my apartment! God i'm gonna celebrate when i get everything done!

xoxo

Jeffrey James

But...

It's funny how things usually turn out to be like. You receive a piece of potentially good news, then suddenly, you get the potentially bad news. Life sucks. But I dont mind la.

I was shortlisted for a commercial shoot recently. But the shooting date is the same as the date I'm supposed to be back home.

It's like i dont mind getting the role, but i don't mind not getting it as well :)

xoxo

Jeffrey James

please add me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jeffreytanggau

Flowers

What are these ? Conrnflowers ? Forget-me-nots ?  On the terrace at Ilkley Golf Club.

Nervous About Work

I've got my Fashion week gig this Saturday and I've been worried sick about screwing up the event! I've done fashion shows before, but this is so far my first one in KL. And well, the last time i did a fashion show I was quite tipsy and a bit off with my announcements. I'm quite nervous about the event but hopefully everything will go well!

For those of you who want to enjoy two days worth of Fashion shows featuring your favorite brands, do come by on Saturday at 12pm and Sunday at 1pm to the Curve in Damansara. You can visit http://www.thecurve.com.my for more information!

xoxo

Jeffrey James

Homework - Who Does How Much ?

In a very scientific survey taken in the kitchen this lunchtime, the three students on duty owned up to how much study they had accomplished during the previous week of the Easter holidays.  Names have not been changed to protect the guilty.

Subject #1 - Rachel, A Level student, Hours of work - 10, Hours of study - "About 2"

Subject #2 - Rob, University student; Hours of work - 25, Hours of study - Nil

Subject #3 - Mike, Open University student; Hours of work - 75, Hours of study "about 12"

Motivation, you either have it, or you procrastinate.

I'm (Still) Not Dead

Oh dear, these sort of posts seemto be becoming an annual occurence.  Chef / Brother-in-law Mk.3 has gone and broken himself playing rugby (hard men's League version not soft lad's Union) and has had an operation which has left the poor lad with pins in his thumb and a cast. 

With an impeccable case of bad timing, Rob has manged to do this just at the point when the summer season here at the golf club really gets going.  We really want Rob to come back us healthy and well, and he needs a job to come back to, the result of which is I'm doing 7 day weeks + twin shifts somewhat earlier in the season than I expected to and I have put a panic call out to all the staff to cover Rob's work while he recovers. 

Thankfully Easter has fallen late this year so Rob C has stepped in during his university holiday to help out, and Fairly Friendly Fred is proving a great help as well.  The rest of the crew (Laura, Hannah, Ellie & Rachel) are pitching in as exams allow, and next week we are welcoming a newcomer to the crew, Calum, although Fred swear's he really called Lindsey.

Brother Rob in not broken mode

And my degree ? Well I'm still managing to read some pre-course material and I am working through some of the modules on OU Openlearn.  I thought when I began the degree that it would be really hard going, but that the only thing that could absolutely derail me would be my sous chef leaving / falling under a bus / being arrested for endangered animal smuggling, and lo and behold he goes and breaks himself.

So, for at least the next month, if you need to know where I am, I'll be either asleep or in the kitchen working, or perhaps option C) Gone mad and running naked across the moors.

Behind The Scenes of Ntv7 Bella's Promotional Ad Shoot

So I got a call last week telling me that I was chosen to be one of the "hunks" that throws himself at the main characters, which are DIVAS in various different shooting scenes. I was a Pilot, A Body Guard and a Bartender as well. It was all a new experience for me because I never shot an advertisement before. So I got to Pavilion by 11 in the morning and the shoot dragged until 2am. It was long, but I enjoyed every second of it. i met alot of people, and learned so many new things!
The shoot took a total of about two days, and there were different themes to it. There was the traveling diva (which required the pilots), there was the shopping divas (which required the body guard, stylists), there was the famous diva (which required a ferrari F430, body guards, and paparazzi), the sex and the city divas, and of course the restaurant divas (chef, waiters and bartender). The show, Bella, which is a women's lifestyle program on Ntv7, needed some promotional advertisements hence the ad shoot.
The budget for this particular shoot is quite high and I am excited to see what the final product will look like! I'll post it up once I get my hands on it!





xoxo

Jeffrey James

Fusion Excel Event @ MAEPS Serdang

So i recently did an event at Serdang (Saturday), they had some Quantum Power Wristlet Launch. Former Miss Malaysia World Thanuja Ananthan as well as Maggie Loo were among the invited guests. Puan Sri Susan Cheah (Wife of Sunway Group Founder) was also among the attendees for the event. The event was smooth, I tried to end it quickly so we managed to get everything done by 11pm. There was also a Children's Charity Drive during that event and they managed to collect about Rm26k to benefit the Children's Home.
It was tiring, but a job is a job and it was nice. At least i'm working now.

xoxo

Jeffrey James