My Bloggyness of Scrapbooking and Then Some: August 2009

Its 8 o'clock and Im extrememly tired and nackered, after spending the day in at the ASB Showgrounds competiting in the National Culinary Fare. But I think this blog entry needs to be done while its fresh in my head still. Strangely enough I was thinking about my blog entry all day today....!!

After the success of getting Gold at the Auckland Regionals this year, my lectuter sent me to the nationals. Ive spent the past two weeks doing training, I think I did about 4-5 session at Uni after and before Food and Beverage Management, it was just conveniate that I had class with my lecturer who was training me. It hasnt been an easy month I will say that, Ive been cruising alone with training, I know i can do it, I know i can get it done with pleanty of time at the end. Sadly you will learn how it went in training or how it went at the Regionals did not go that way at the Nationals BUT I do know why that was! So keep reading...

Friday saw me collecting my box from Uni, I had two assessments due that day but I had extension granted for them, as my mum has been ill the past month or two and my depression hasnt be the greatest this past month. Infact we ended up in the hospital a couple of times the week after Regionals with mum....also the same week mum was in hospital Matthew decided he would dump me after a month of going out with me....its one thing being dumped, but its another thing doing a competition when you have Starfish in your setting and knowing that a guy you were going out with has the nickname "Matty Starfish" but strangely enough I wasnt even thinking of him today, infact I was actually thinking of Roberto....my bestest friend in the whole wide world and who brings me alot of luck. But not only was I thinking of him but I was also thinking of our little Angel up in heavan..for it is him that I am doing these comps, I missed out on doing them two years ago as I fell pregnant with him and then sadly lost him...and ended up going on extended sick leave at work and missed out on entering them.

ANYWAY....

Friday I spent the afternoon washing all my china, cutlery, glasses, vases, trays and napkins and table cloths.....Saturday my darling mother spent the day ironing everything for me (see now I hae her do them because last time I went and ironed my table cloths they melted and I had to have her make them smaller and then had to get a second cloth to go underneath the table...as what I had became to short all because I had burnt it...probably a good thing in a way as had it been long still it would have clashed with the chair covers) I spent Saturday night packing my box and making sure I had everything all in it and putting it into order.

I was woken up by my stalker this morning...(a guy who goes to Uni and he just stalks me none stop...texts me and msn's me alot....and he gets all shitty if I dont reply and ahhh I wont even go into it all - thats a blog for another day....but I have learnt he does it to everyone - all I can say on the matter is in hospitality its one thing to be friends but its another thing to be TOO friendly and in your face...to the point you actually put people off you) but after lying in bed for a couple more hours I dragged myself out and got dressed had some breafast...and got things all sorted and into the car...

Updated my Facebook Status and sent a message to the Fiskateers....and checked on my Farmville farm....however not my Farmtown farm...which I should as I think I had Coffee beans to harvest soon...texted a few people and then headed off over to Greenlane. We stopped in at Countdown (formerly Foodtown and I had fond memories as I drove in of the last time I went there in April with Rob to the McD's and got a BBQ Cheeseburger combo meal...hows that for memory??) Got some munchies then had fun and games trying to sort parking out and where to go to unload...

My first bit of critisim came across here - I thought it was poorly organised, maps of the place and gates should have been supplied with directions on where to go and there should have been specific parking for competitors - I didnt think it was overly fair that competitors had to pay for parking, I mean we have paid registration, and we have spent lots of money to get things all together for these comps, for me I have spent well over $300 on things for my table setting! Which is alot of money in my books.....thats how much its costs someone to have me working for 10 hours at work at a function.

Once I finally found the gate I had to go too - the paper work said Gate Three but in actual fact it was Gate B....there is a big different between B and 3 you know...that little line on the bumps! So I was unpacking the car and took my box into the hall and wait for it here is my second piece of critisim coming - I stood in that door for a good 5 mins going ok now what am I meant to do where am I putting my box and where am I meant to be going and what not....it would have made like so much more easier had there been someone there directing competitors especially those who were there for a first time! I mean for me I didnt have my lecturer there to show me and tell me what to do....because she was managing the floor. And then as I was going back to the car to move it to the the paid parking area...I had the EMT of some manky ambulance company that wasnt St Johns tell me they had rung security on me to move my car because I parked in front of an ambulance..I said to them Im unloading my car...I havent technically parked here and its not my fault this place is poorly organised with parking and directions on where competitors are to go....I mean I didnt know it was a real ambulance...if it had been a St Johns one I wouldnt have parked partically blocking it...i would have blocked the TVOne van....and as I said to Jade I would have made a big scence...and done a special Catherine Tate impersionation on live National TV just for her...lol....but when I went to go move my car the EMT's rang security on me again and said that the tow truck was now going to be there in 60 seconds....(well I saw no tow truck at all...or anything...so threatening people you idiots doesnt go down well....and had anything happened to me through the day that required me having to have medical treatment I would have told them where to go and requested proper St Johns Paramedics...

So once parking was all sorted I pretty much bummed around for a few hours - went and looked in at the Hospitality show...but wasnt really in the mood for it partly because I didnt want to be leaving mum on her own for long and it would have been more fun with her in it with me...I just yea wanted to get the comps over and done with I wasnt feeling well and I was feeling completely put off doing the whole comps due to a certain person. I felt a bit sad that my former co worker Renee was at work and wouldnt be coming but felt a bit better when I had a few class mates come and watch...and the judges from the Regionals *waves to him incase you have found my blog again!! Haha* I feel a bit embarassed by that now! But I guess you will be able to see just how much I can critic and judge things and how competitive I am...

Before I knew it the whole three hours since I had arrived were gone and it was time to enter into the arena...I spent a bit of time on the floor before everyone else arrived, and my fellow class mates were concerned about me and were asking my mum if I was ok...my mum explained to them that I was praying to my son and grandfather....and I was...not so much to my grandfather but more so to Gummi...I was asking him to be there for me and to help me through it all....that I was doing it for him. Part of me wished Roberto was there just for that added bit of luck..I would have felt a hell of alot better having him there...but he wasnt...he said he might come but he didnt...i wasnt fully relying on him being there....in my minds eye I had to envision him there and I knew he would have probably left me messages wishing my good luck - which I found when I got home...thanks!! If only you werent working tomorrow and you come to prizegiving....though again its not biggy but I want you at Gradaution for Uni next year...

We gathered together and the judges told us the rules we had to follow and we were allowed to go and get started. I started to really panic not long after I started unpacking my box...I had a lecturer from Whitieria Polytechnic who was talking non stop all through the whole heat, and she stood right in front of my section and she got louder and louder and she was pushing my mum out of the way who was trying to take photos of me and get video clips of me so I could show my friends and family over seas what I was doing....and not only that but the family of one of their students was with her and they too were talking loudly in front of my section....and one of their kids kept on hanging on the barriers and that in turn kept rocking my side station table...I gave many glances towards them through out the whole hour - and instead of finishing with good time to spare I ended up only JUST finishing with 5 mins left to go...I was completely put off by this lecturer - and I know she doesnt like me at all - as she was a Judge at the Regionals, and she didnt like anything about my setting, she didnt like the starfish on the name cards, she didnt like the shells on the the napkins....she sure as hell didnt like the chocolates in my kite bags - she touched them and freaked out saying OMG they are chocolate and left the arena back then - and I cant remember if I mentioned it in my blog entry back then but I felt there was alot of favourtism towards Whitieria Poly at the Regionals....fortunately I only have one of there students competing on the Nationals but there were others there - and there were some impressive settings...

Given that I was completely put off by this lecturer and this students family from talking rudely if I must say so loudly and their continual bumping of the barriers agianst my side station - I only just finished in time, I was blown way out with my my timing, and my sequence of service...I put my chairs out first and not put my apron or gloves on first....I polished first instead of putting my table cloths on first like I had been doing through my months of training...and that is why I have been left feeling like I did poorly and wont be getting anything...not Gold and surely not winning over all...and getting the prive of lunch with Turning Tables and the one on one training...which would be benificial to not just my Diploma but also my job...

But I know I have lost ALOT of Marks due to my pants falling down...thats the sucky thing having lost more weight since the regionals...my pants just fitted me then, when I brought them they were pretty tight I could only just get them done up...but now they are falling down on my...!! I couldnt afford new ones, they were new as it was and I spent alot of money on them too! Its very hard trying to find clothes that keep your butt in your pants....Jade says I have a sexy bum lol..I said if I had it my way I would have flashed a bit of boob too...!

So yes....comps are over now...THANK GOD!! Though still waiting on results which will be up tomorrow morning and prizegiving which is tomorrow - so tune in tomorrow for the results!!

I have lots of photos but I am on dial up speed until later in the week so wont be able to put them onto Picasa yet...until that speed it back....and I have video clips too - Im not sure if I am going to upload them all to You Tube seperate or put them into Movie Maker and put them all together into one large clip...and then put that on youtube...

OMG I so need to update my blog man!! This is completely shocking!

My main excuse is Uni - Its evil I tell you! Pure EVIL! I am missing last semester big time now, it was so easy and laid back, with pretty much little to know assessments at all - most of it was practical based and online assessments which were all multi choice questions. This semester is HARD! Im in Year Two now and its a higher level of work - unless you count that one damn paper Im repeating....

Ive got three group assessments this semester, and if I think back to a year ago when I first started my Diploma, my two group assessments fell apart and I was left to do them on my own - One I passed with a B or somethng and the other I just passed with a C....but I failed that paper completely as I flanked out in my final exam and here I am repeating that paper this semester!

Not only that, but i have four assessments - one is due next week, two the following and then one two weeks after that. I have such a full on month looking at my little diary in my manky cellphone that is slowly dying on me - Ok Ive had it since 2005 give me a break! Im a poor uni bitch now....alright?? Recession as hit the Hospitality Industry hard and no one is having big flash weddings or fancy parties and stuff - what I would do to have a whole pile of weddings or big parties like the one Lucy Lawless had in March to come through work and my wonderful boss to call me up and say CAN YOU WORK BRONWYN!! ??

This month is full on with all those assessments due in that i havent even started yet! Im into the hard Management stuff now...I have now fulled up two days a week for the next two weeks with training for the National Culinary Fare which is the 23rd- 25th July with my competeing in Innovative Table Setting on the Sunday 23rd at 3.30pm....I need to get my box from Uni on the Friday before hand to take home so I can get it to the ASB Showgrounds for the comps...Ive got an assessment day next week at the Langham Hotel for a job Ive applied for and Im hoping like mad I get offered a position - training for that job starts in September and the actaul job doesnt start until late October (they are currently building banquet rooms) - and with all this shit from Uni and inbetween - Im trying my best to get by with me mum being sick....

I can say though - even though my scrapbooking is on hold at the moment - I have been asked by a friend if I could make and design her Wedding Invitations - she looked at all my scrapbooking pages, menus, and name cards and buffet cards and stuff on my Facebook - and she loved them and asked me to make em! WOW!! She doesnt get married until ANZAC day next year - so I should be able to manage making them as she wont be needing them till later in the year so I can get them done in the Uni Holidays between semesters....which is when I do most of my scrapbooking now...lol.

Anyway best get some sleep now, its almost 3am! I have to be up by 8.30am or so to get into Uni to go on a site tour of the Westin Hotel - hahaha I wonder if I will get to see Dane at all since his work is right across the road...doubt it! How bad of me, I shouldnt be thinking of my Summer fling when Im getting over my Winter fling - I really need to stop getting involved with Italians....they are breaking my heart!

I will leave you with a photo I took from outside my works head office in the Auckland Domain yesturday....I had a meeting with my boss - he is just wonderful! I couldnt ask for anyone more better than him.....I walked away feeling alot more confident with myself and looking at my career more better. I even managed to tell him one of my weaknesses and that is I dont know how to sell myslef in job interviews...he said its ok Bronwyn, you know that, youve identified on that and we can work on fixing that. Isnt he great?? Yuh I think so!! I told him so...haha! I think what also made me feel good was him sayng how much I was wanted there and how much they need me na enjoy me and are happy with my work. I am one of their best even if I have only done four functions in the past 5 months! Having said that, about not being able to sell myself, I didnt get my job there because of that....it was because of my CV was excellent and my name haha :p

Night!!