End of month report

RE: END OF MONTH REPORT

This month has been a hectic one. The housekeeper has brought in good news for everyone.

Comments from the guests has been really encouraging. Some said our hostel has got character. We were even rated higher than some European and Australian hostels.

This credit goes to Teo Hong Kiat for the hostel and Louis Kwok for the lounge area. The hostel was said to make one feel at home. The colour used are soothing and gave a clean feel.

The cafe / lounge makes one feel active. Although a little cluttered but it is lively. It is a good mix where the sleeping area is comfy and the activity area is lively.

The housekeeper is asking for a pay rise, better benefits and a beautiful companion. A refusal may spark a strike. Directors are adviced to look into this urgent matter.

A proposed solution by an industry expert is to give the housekeeper a paid trip to Melbourne to visit Wille or Newcastle to visit their designer, Hong Kiat. It will solve all problems if food and transport is catered for as well by the company. Board need not bother about accommodations.

The next best solution, according to the same expert, is to agree to a week's paid leave for him to recharge. The board is to decide soon as the outcome of a delay would be unimaginable.

Apart from the small issues with the housekeeper, the overall situation is under control.

End of Report

Extension of SMU

There's a mini SMU going on here. Now with us there are 6 SMU students. Poland, Denmark, Turkey, Finland and Mexico.

Never in my dreams would i have thought that i could be meeting people from all over the world...not until the emergence of The Hive.

So i have been busy with helping them source for a proper accommodation and clearing up the necessary laundry.

As you would have read, the past weeks were really a test of our planning and "fire-fighting" skills. The army has really trained me well. Being a TCO (Training Co-ord Officer) and being the housekeeper are quite the same. Last minute screw ups. Frantic running around solving these screws. Happened in camp. Happened at The Hive.
Although, ya, we get stressed out but we managed well. Lessons learnt from these situations and it all adds up to the experience level.

For one, I realised that Koreans are very very very nice if you are nice to them. You give them 100% and in return you get 300%. Exprienced that first hand. You can take that from me.

Well, anyway, for those who are reading, Cafe @ The Hive has opened. It is not opened to the public as yet but to friends of The Hive so relish the exclusivity when you can. Comparing it to places like Mr Bean, Starbucks and Coffebean, the rates are cheaper. And we have cable TV to top it up.

So i hope to see the cafe doing as well as the hostel. Need ya support people!

It's overflowing here!

No kidding man. We are packed with guests on this very day, 3 Aug 2005

11 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 3 = 24

Ok...we only have four room so where the heck are the 3 guests sleeping?

In our Internet area.

We have two groups who booked the 2 dorms and 2 couples taking the two private rooms. A Danish couple walked in this afternoon when i was away and they said wanted to stay with us. Although they were told that we are full today and will only be able to give them a proper room tomorrow, they suggested to take the lounge for the night. They said they like it here and they do not mind spending a night there as long as they can get a bed the next day.

Then later in the evening a lady turned up. Told her about our situation but she looked drained and she also didnt mind sleeping in the Internet area.

Sure i was happy they like the hostel but i want them to have a proper room. But there was no way i could give them a room tonight. The best i could do was to bring down the mattresses for them, which i eventually did.

Spent 6 hours re-arranging the furniture in the lounge with Dennis. This is so to accommodate the opening of the cafe. Shagged us out completely and the dust is causing me to have a really bad nose now.

Not having enough sleep for the past few day is bad enough. And i had to prepare for 10 people on 1 Aug and after that rush for another group of 10 the next day. Tomorrow is going to be a killer. After the group leaves, i need to wash the linen and iron them.

Yeah you would say that this is good news. That business sounds good. Hopefully things takes a turn for the better now and then i would have an excuse to hire a helper. Heehee...time for me to take the back seat.

Updates coming up later....for now (0130hrs, 4 Aug) ...going to Mustafa to buy bread for tomorrow.