Tuesday
26th August/ Wednesday 27th August 2003
Week 27, Days 154/155
One of the things I've enjoyed most about Nando's is the training. When
we go away for day courses, it honestly feels like a day off. The first
one we did, Health & Safety was a little boring but Food Hygiene
two weeks previous was great due to company and a lecturer that was
a fruit loop. And once more, the workshops were even better.
The two days saw Les, Phil and I head to Birmingham once again for the
Buddy & Introduction to Management Workshops. Both were run by Marcello,
from Nando's HR department. I met him back on my Induction day in London
in July. He's been working for Nando's for 4.5 years and comes from
Brazil. We were also accompanied by Ash (Short for Hitesh) who is at
the Nottingham store but will be movine to Leicster. He was on our previous
training courses too and is a riot. It being a small and cosy workshop,
we got away with being silly and Ash took the prize for acting as one
crazy, idiotic nerd, when getting up to be Phil's trainee in his example
of how to train a Nandoca (Nando's staff).
We then went to our hotel next door. I was sharing a room with Katie
from Liverpool who I had met the Saturday before, but she wasn't there
yet. Les and Phil have had a bad history with hotel rooms and it looks
as though the jinx continued. They went off to the room and as I was
being allocated mine, they both say 'We know were's close friends, but
not THAT close!' - turns out their room consisted of a double bed and
one extremely small child's bed besides it. As the girl couldn't sort
it out straight away, she had to assign another room that also had a
double room and then wait until they left for dinner to get someone
to unzip the beds to make two singles. The same happened to my and Katie's
room.
After a quick rest (though for Katie and I it was a long chat about
life and the like), we met Marcello, Ash, Les & Phil and went off
to dinner. Marcello informed us that Kim from HR was also in Birmingham
and we were meeting her. We met her at the bar next to her hotel and
a few guys from the new Birmingham Nando's at the Bullring were there.
So we all joined in for drinks. For the second round Ash shouted us
tequilas - boy, did that bring back memories! I officially have a UK
tequila buddy now (don't worry Rob, you're still my Aussie one ;) ).
From there we moved on in search of food. We ended up by the canal at
a very nice place, whose name I forget but something like Bar One. The
food was great - I went for a rocket, walnut & caramelised pear
salad with gorgonzola cheese - it was so sweet it was like a dessert.
Though that didn't stop me and I also had the peach and almond tarte
with creme fraiche. Music was good, company too.
With our bellies full, we wandered over to Reflex, the '80s club, to
party the night away. There we were met by the managers from the Broad
St Birmingham Nando's who were having their managers' dinner that evening
- so it became one big Nando's event. I boogied the night away doing
my cheesy dance moves (as I do). We all got into it - and the air guitars
too. Dave (Patrao for Broad St) was well into grooving, and we got into
the whole line dancing kinda moves, ie, following each other, not the
country type. Katie and I headed back about 12:30am.
The next day was equally fun. We were joined by Jackie & Charlie
from Solihull, Ben from Broad St and Nikki from Trafford Centre (moving
to Liverpool with Katie though) and by the afternoon, we were all arguing
and yelling over one of the tasks we had to do. It was all productive
I assure you. Am very much looking forward to the next course in two
weeks!!
One at a time Ash!
Sprung!
Phil, Les & Ash know how to par-tay.
Indra spreads the Nando's hospitality around.
Part of the gang - Ash, Katie, Les, Marcello, Indra, Phil & Caroline.
All photos ©Vanessa T. Martins, 2003.
