I Worked in a Hostel

I was going to do a list on this, for lists reign suprime in my mind... when I remember to make a list to do them.

I finished a job I've been doing for about a year and a half in a place I've lived for over two years. I was cleaner, nightporter, two hour worker, gardener, receptionist and manager (or cat herder).  I've met hundreds upon hundreds of people, and gotten to know a rare few well enough to call friends. I've met some pretty terrible people and some freaking weirdos.

The terrible people really have a habit of sticking out in your mind. The ones that shit the bed, the ones that look at another human and think they can take advantage of them, just for a number on their belt. The people who think, because your nice, its okay to take advantage of that, and use it with out thought to others feelings. Those terrible people stand out, because their so rare, and a sea of kind faces are enough to think of the experience as a whole as something nice. But those were just people, not even guests.

There's always the neighbour(SADIE) up the road, who is insane and calls me 3 times a day with her life sorrows on how I've not sent her enough business. Or the old crotch up the road who shouts at my guests for parking in front of his house despite it being free to park. This same guy who worked for the local government and got our rubbish cancelled for two weeks, out of spite. I'd love to leave the clot of hair I found in the shower on his drive way.

Besides the neighbours there was the building itself. Over 100 years old, and a beautifully cosy place to relax, when it wasn't being held together by dreams and wishes. With a turn over of just under 40 persons a day, everything had its chance of falling apart, if it wasn't the bed frames from the big bastards, it pipes bursting from the wall, a piece of the ceiling collapses and cuts off the power, washing machines breaking, a bed bug scare, bathrooms flooding, fire alarms malfunctioning and the worst, the boiler breaking. Christ. People seemed to think I was a plumber on top of everything else. "No I can't make it hot right this minute. Yes I know you had a long day, but I can't fix it and my plumber refuses to answer my calls, because I spoke to him in a strong tone and this seemed to hurt his feelings. Also he was drunk last time he was here." It was like the house was haunting me....

There were some guests too...
There were people who shit the bed, all over the toilets and defaced the building. There were people who seemed to think hostel meant brothel as well, and tried to shag everything with legs, making everyone feel uncomfortable. There were people who drank waaaay to much and the people who should have had just a little something, if only to get the broom stick out of their arse. Then there was always Marvin.

But it was all the people in between the terrors that made this a good experience. Those who acted like a team for me, or the guests who gave me a break. Sitting in a fire lit room reading a book and listening to the banter between people as they discussed where they were from and what adventure they were going on next is something you really can't shame. Helping someone get the most out of their limited time, or offering someone the opportunity to get their buck to go a little farther. Or even better, dragging a few of the loveliest folk out to the pub to enjoy the nightlife.

A unique experience and nothing is more valuable in life than hands on experience. Lots of problem solving, hands on repair and trying to work with people to make their trip better. I've tried more food than I've ever thought I would and watched some neat tips and tricks emerge, and while I still hate onions, a lot of things have come on my must eat list.

And there were so many gorgeous adventurers that have delightfully stayed in touch, and even if they didn't I know they're doing well in life. It was such a good time and there is so much I got to do, so many really amazing people I got to meet. The hard times make for good stories, but its the good people that kept me staying and thank you to each of of you who made my experience a truly wonderful one.

...

Hosteling is something everyone should try in their lives, it creates a really lovely community with the right persons and working in one was a kind of experience I can't really get anywhere else. Thank you to everyone who made it great! You're all wonderful!

Highest Mountain in the UK

Some of my favourite pictures of the mountain, as per last week's post!

No Where. 

Refuge

The Sensible Path

The Last Time

Far Out

Happy Climber

Green and Red Edge

Rhum, Skye and the Loch

A summit of sorts

Into the Nothing

Ben Nevis 4 Times

I've climbed Ben Nevis (as a tourist) 4.5 times now. Not again. Here are the pictures! 

The first time I went iup was probably the most dangerous time I've gone. But I'm stubborn

3rd Time

Last time, and I could finally see from the top! It was the hardest one to do :)

I am

I am Forged Iron and Leather
I am Cedar and Large
The Ash and oak.

I am raw earth and swift wind.
I am the legs of the wild stag and the spirited horse
The watching wolf and the clever fox

I am the running river and the glassy lake.
I am the mountains and the lowlands.
The Wild places.


I am.....hater of her work phone!!! AAAAHHHHHHHH

All These Stories

Yes Game of Thrones. Yes Lord of the Rings. Yes they are the big ones, but that's not what I want to be like. I don't want my stories to be like anyone. I want my stories to be more than the world, more than the darkness. I want them to be about each other, how each person helps or hinders another and the mechanisms surrounding them can be in any form.

Because I want dragons in stead of a rich and very realistic life event, doesn't make my stories any less than someone else. It makes it just as rich, just as colourful.

There's no stopping people from doing what they do.

I want to do this and structure this.... I will do this.

The Life of Tomato

This is my Monster.

Monster and Me

I love tomatoes and my mother, the garden wizard has a sagely skill of growing nearly forty plants a year. So I wanted to try. The first Six I tried to grow were duds from the super market, though with later information/study facts I realize it was a matter of their conditions.

So I bought a new one. I got it at a local hardware story who'd been at one point a garden centre, but was evicted from its original location by KFC. Any way for the first month it was doing terrible. I like to keep my plants in my room to keep an eye on them, but I gave my room to my receptionist so we had more breathing space for staff. With different sleeping styles and a bit more watering (both of us :P ) it was getting no light an too much water, resulting in a stumpy wee thing.

I put it in the sun room and in weeks it has shot right up! So lesson learned, plants need lots more sun.

Monster is getting moved next week and has since been transplanted into a much bigger pot!

One week after being moved from a really shaded room. (11th of July)

Two weeks a go (17th of July), and a week after the last picture. Note the weather has changed so much in that time.

Some random doodles.

I like drawing eyes and animals... why not do both? The fox I don't know, but I feel like the hare is Curro, from a different story. 

My deep love of Onions!

When the dining room entrance becomes my fart barrier.

Morning tea. Morning tea + Hostel Questions = cold as balls tea. 

More Fox.