I was having trouble getting used to this new way of running a hotel. Tony was one of those people who wanted to do everything on the cheap, and then expecting people to love the food and the rooms. I was absolutely horrified when I went into one of the bedrooms that stood open, and saw the state of that room. The nightfrill was all skew, and the duvet was just put on, without even an attempt at pulling it into some semblance of neatness, and I had visions of Theresa standing at the door and flinging the pillows onto the bed. I pulled everything straight, and had a good look in the bathroom. That was quite clean, but again, the towels were hanging all skew, and the soaps were yet again the cheap pink ones that I had such a lot of fights over with Anne, one of my previous employers!
I thought of walking out, but knew that the Inn had already appointed another chef in the job they had offered me. So, either I went home, or stay and try and make Tony and Theresa realize that you get the type of people that you cater for! I vowed to keep my ears on the ground in case one of the other hotels lost their chef!
Also in the kitchen he had started to economise, buying the cheapest meat and other stuff, and after the third week of struggling with a cheap scone mix that just was rubbish, and meat cuts that was the worst on a cow, and chickens, I told him roundly that he was flirting with trouble. Where he got the meat from, specially the chicken, I just did not know, but knew that I could not cook with such horrible stuff.
So I sat down with him one afternoon, and had a good and earnest talk, in which he first got angry, then full of excuses, then promised me that he would in future get the food from reputable shops. I was relieved!
But then another botheration stuck out its head, in the form of Harry, Tony's son, who, on the Saturday morning, when I was at my busiest, came into the kitchen, and announced very importantly that I have to help him bake some biscuits! On my telling him that I was too busy, he said that his dad said he was okay with that, and I wondered at the ignorance of this people! He knew that I had a thousand things to do, as we had quite a few bookings, and as it was becoming really busy, the touristy season having begun!
Harry went away to complain to his dad, and it wasn't long before Tony appeared, followed by a very pleased looking Harry, and I felt the hair in my neck standing up straight!
Tony wanted to know what my problem was, and I could only stare at him, as he could see that the working spaces were full of things to prepare, and the oven held a huge lasange, and a pan loaded with veggies roasting. One big brawl followed, as Tony at last opened his eyes, and saw what I still had to do before lunch, but Harry was in no mood to be opposed, and started screaming abuse at me and his dad.
He was living with his mother during the week, and it seemed that he thought it was his due to be allowed whatever he wished for over the week-ends, but I just kept a deaf ear, and went on with my work.
I felt sorry for the lad, and later, when all was calm again, I promised that we could make biscuits the next afternoon after I had done lunch, during my off time.
The house is next to the hotel, and I look out onto it when working in the kitchen.