A Moveable Feast

The first day

Ok, so life is no longer a beach. Eventually I am part of the working people again as of today after hanging around more or less lazy in various parts of the world for the last two months. What shall I say, it is 1 a.m. and I just got home, but I want to write my impressions down now directly, to be able to see how they evolve in the next weeks.

It was a real rollercoaster day. I did not want to get out of bed this morning, and was really reluctant to go. Bad ideas crossed my mind, making all kinds of plans to get back to the normal life I had before. I realize only now how much damage some people have done during my last stage to my enthusiasm about life #2, and I somehow regret, that I didn't stop that experience earlier. But fortunately this restaurant where I started today is different. No yelling, shouting, running, bumping to each other. Very friendly and respectful people, actually I would guess 60% women, everybody is concentrated and calm. I was assigned to the garde manger station, where all the starters are prepared and plated, and it seems like I will remain there for a while (instead of the fish station), which is very fine with me, as I have two extremely professional AND friendly girls working with me, who explained very patiently everything to me. So the morning service was my highlight of the day, I was soooo reliefed that it is clear that I will not go through the same experience again as during my stage. Which doesn't mean it's going to be easy.

Lucily, I have only a 12 minutes walk from the restaurant to my home, and so I tried to sleep between the two services, but I was too excited and couldn't. Then the dinner service. Complete frustration, booked out restaurant and all clients arriving at the same time. The sous chef had decided that during the service I should just do the amuse bouches, which consisted in "burning" little foie gras creme brulées, and decorating them apple sorbet. I felt horrible and completely lost. While the other two girls where plating from a selection of 10 different starters I didn't even manage to get the announcements of the amuse bouche orders correctly, not even to mention being able to help them with the other plates. If I had been the chef and observed me, I would have kicked me out. But then every first day of my so far three kitchen stages has been like this. And so I am hopeful, that after a couple of services I will understand what kind of announcement triggers what action. But one thing is clear, this is a highly desireable place to work for me, and I am glad that I made it into this team. This is a human environment, while definitely very challenging.

Colbie, Carla and all that

Time to move on to a new favourite song, that I picked up on French RTL2 radio yesterday, titled "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat.

I am back in my beloved strike-country since a couple of days.

What's new : actually the strikes are over (for now), it is bitter bitter cold, too much difference to the Carribean, the Colonel G. and with him heated political discussions about the new government have left Paris and the number one topic is the president's new love. Le president is known to love "les pipol" (Frenched "people", the stars), so it was just a matter of time that he was "discovered" with a famous beauty at his side, Carla Bruni, a French/Italian singer and ex-model, they were seen this weekend at Disneyland together...For those not knowing her and having to guess about the significance of this event, just imagine Barbara left George 5 months after he had been elected president, then 2 months later George dates Jennifer Lopez, and this is discovered at Disneyworld. See ? This raises so many questions, and is much more interesting to discuss than the state of economy and social problems of this country. Yes. Make love not strike !

To get an impression of our new current potential future second first lady, admire her in this great performance with Bryan Ferry.

Beautiful song.

I have not written about food and my culinary career and projects for a while, but starting tomorrow this should change, just as my life will change again dramatically. I am very nervous before my first day working in a restaurant, feels like I have a knot in my stomach. Everybody tells me I'll be fine, but it doesn't help... At the moment I just think : "What the hell have I done ?" Need to survive the first days, hopefully I can sleep tonight.

Rolling home

Already my last day in Bequia. But unlike most people here I am looking forward to go home, and I think this is a good sign for my current choices in life. Sure the two weeks here were great, and most likely I will come back one day, probably organize a sailing trip with friends next time around the islands. But come back every year for vacation as so many people I met here ? No, there are too many other nice places in this world to (re)discover.

Durning the last two weeks I survived -without seasickness- a fantastic schooner trip south to the Tobago Cays (above photo), my first earthquake, and the first one in 40 years on this island, 7.4 measured in Martinique (and it is not something I need to experience again), several wonderful scuba dives, and a couple of strong Pina Coladas with good Carribean rum. I was so happy to be able to dive again, one of the best activities I can imagine.

The good thing about going to a dive club anywhere in this world is also that you immediately have a family that "takes care" of you, even when not diving. here you see Tony the captain and James the divemaster, who made sure I had a great time below and above the sea. And on their boat I met some of the nicest English people who never let me dive/eat/drink alone again, until they sailed away...

Will now stopover a couple of days in Germany to enjoy the German Christmas markets before heading back to good old strike-country. It will be difficult to work hard after two weeks immersion the very slow Carribean pace.

I need to finish with the last view I am going to have right now from the bar of my hotel, like every night at 5:30 p.m., Carribean sunset time. Sorry for the postcard "kitch", Eiffeltower pictures will be back soon ;)