Last Sunday, I spent my morning rushing around our tiny house before work trying to find anything to do with anything that would suit a "fairy tale/nursery rhyme" theme. I ripped up some tights, wore some bogan jean shorts and a green top, put on some brilliantly bright green make-up and eyeliner across my face, tangled my hair, made a cardboard sword - and there you go, I was a Lost Boy from Peter Pan! Why, do you ask I decided to where this this to work?? Well, like I told the many customers throughout the day - Because we can!These last two months would be much different if it wasn't for this incredibly fun loving place, Little Creatures. It's vibrant, loud, quirky, fast-paced, and simply put - completely different than any hospitality job I've ever worked in. In a time where I had to say just one too many goodbyes and questioning my time in Perth - this job came about and the people I met just picked me right back up from the ground. I found myself in a world of backpackers and Australians alike, all working their butts off and having a blast doing it at the same time. We have fancy dress themed Sundays and are encouraged to be ourselves at work and dress as we please. Little Creatures is HUGE. Everyone talks about how "quiet" it is now because of wintertime, but the brewery still averages about 12,000 seated customers per week in this small town of Freo.
It's funny - I've found that Western Australians are afraid to step out into the "cold" weather of 60 degrees F in June ... I can't begin to count how many absurd comments I've gotten for wearing a tank top during work by Aussies who stroll into Creatures wearing what I can only describe as heavy duty ski jackets.
We were told that during the week between Christmas and NYE of this year, Creatures had a turn over of more than 67,000 customers!! I can't even begin to imagine this. During my first few weeks as a "newbie" my job was to help deliver the drinks and food throughout the ENTIRE brewery....and when it's busy, you are literally expected to SPRINT. Aka. the job description - runner. So there I was sprinting up and down staircases, across the "great hall" to the outside area back to the front patio, through the brew house next door...back up the stairs...I felt like I was running a marathon each day! I was exhausted and burnt out, but then again I had an incredible workout schedule fit quite nicely into my days...so I wasn't really complaining. What really got me through the long days were the people I worked with. After every shift there is always someone sitting outside waiting to have the long awaited, refreshing "staffy" drink with. It's a great way to meet people and start a social network. It's probably why Creatures works out so well, everyone seems to be great friends...and even if not, you always look after each other and work as a team.
As I mentioned in my last blog, I'm now bartending as well - which has brought a whole new twist to work. I love it! If you come visit, you'll still see me running around like a mad woman...but I can pour you a pint and recommend a nice beer or cider to match your palate :) I'm now starting as a waitress (more up my ally), so we'll see how that goes. So, in this ever slow moving "city", things are working out pretty well. I still have my amazing roommates from Amsterdam (Roy and Isabelle) and most of the original bbq gang....Emily, Josh, Solene/Clemont (France) and Nick/Linda (Germany). We're missing both Edgar and Minnie (Mexico), but they are both now enjoying warmer climates - so I don't feel too sorry for them! I also have a workplace that I enjoy going to each day. The last week or two, I've actually been asked to leave Creatures with my coworkers....hahah after one pint, they just can't get us to go away!
I wish everyone back home could visit.....if only I wasn't half a world away. Click on the link and check it out, I'm hoping to find a way to ship some Pale Ale's home for Christmas!
Missing everyone to pieces, see you in two months :)
