Life's never Perfect

I had to give it up, the job in the kitchen that is, because, whilst the cooking is not a big problem for me, bringing multiple meals to completion for service together is. I don't have that particular skill. All is not lost though; The boss at that bar/restaurant said that he is going to consider calling me back in the winter when it is much quieter so that I can learn all that is necessary, under less pressure, to do the job to the point when he can leave me to it and have a day off. So, I must have made an impression on him somewhere along the line that was favourable! I want to learn, I told him that and it seems that he actually feels that I may be worth teaching, which has done wonders for my ego. What I did learn in my time with him I am continuing to practise here in the apartment as best I can bearing in mind that I do not have commercial equipment etc. but the end result is much the same using his commercial techniques. In the meantime I need another job!! And quickly.

Did I just say quickly? Wow!! News about my employment situation travels fast here in Torremolinos. Between the last paragragh and this one I received a phonecall to tell me that a bar up in town is looking for staff and I have highly respected names, courtesy of the call, to drop when I go to see the owner shortly ( it's 1400hrs here at the moment.)

Bill is now on a ward, and has been since Monday, which means that visiting times are now open so just as soon as I can cadge a lift with Ann I'm going to visit him. I think that she tried to arrange something for me last Tuesday but I was working and missed her attempt to call me. Erica has found me on Facebook and we have started communicating together, my first bit of news for her being about Harry having had a heart attack last week which put him in ICU in Málaga hospital.

Katia left Spain last Thursday and I have received a flurry of calls from Lary enquiring after my situation since, some prompted by her. She and I had started talking together on Skype, in Spanish, quite regularly and I'm looking forward to seeing her online again when she gets back to Omsk. I say that because I know that she is stopping off in Italy to visit friends there first and I'm not sure when she is actually going home. Of course, life online will be much easier when, and if, I can get the phone back on; having to go out looking for a temporary WiFi connection is a real pain. It's far better to be on 24/7 so that nothing is missed by way of emails and IM etc.

Right. It's 3pm and I'd better get ready and go and see about a job.......

......got to go back at 7pm to see the owner who wasn't there.

While I'm waiting for the clock to go round I've put a chicken in the oven and last week's bones are ready for turning into some sort of soup. The other day I went to Fuengirola with David to look for some swede but we didn't find any because it's out of season. You probably know that but we didn't. That means that the Haggis that he has caged in his freezer will live another month or two. We had intended to treat ourselves to Haggis, neaps'n'tatties cooked by him but, instead, I got to cook and turned a couple of Kipper fillets into a creamy Kedgeree. They were bought at the Scottish Butcher in Fuengirola Market Hall where I also got a couple of Chump Pork Chops for myself which I had him cut an inch or so thick for me and one is on my menu for today! Can't wait! The trouble is that I have to. I'll get the interview over and done with first, then find a WiFi signal and get this posted and then settle down back here for the evening, get my plancha (griddle plate) out and try to produce a restaurant style (which is all, really, only about presentation) Pork Chop meal because I've had it drummed into me this last week or so that "La Plancha" is the ONLY way to cook. So my cast iron, domestic, griddle plate is being pressed into service for practise, the grill and frying pan being totally ignored.

Interview, such as it was, is done - they wanted waitresses for the terrace not barstaff so I've called into Teresa's and logged into her Internet Hotspot to get this uploaded before I go home, raise the drawbridge and cook an awesome chop. But first there is a wee vodka to finish.

Finally for this post, thanks to all, anonymous and otherwise, who have written to me lately.