Eight o’clock and it’s a fine day. I’ve had a good night’s sleep, eaten my breakfast and now I’m keen to get going! It was nearly dark when I arrived yesterday so I didn’t have time to socialise. I expect it’ll be pretty much the same crowd as last year and it will be great meeting up again. I appreciate having a nice long rest during the cold winter months, especially now I’m not as young as I was, but I do look forward to June!
I’m Maggie, by the way, and this is my tenth – no, eleventh – season here in Minehead. It’s a good place to spend the summer and most of us come back year after year. The work can be backbreaking at times but the boss is fair, the digs are clean and comfortable, the food’s plentiful and the company’s fantastic! It’s not a bad way to earn a living.
Did I hear someone shout? Yes, we’re off. We all walk to work together, it’s not far and it gives us a chance to chat and catch up on what we’ve been doing since last September. Most of the faces are familiar. There are always one or two new ones, of course – that little lad over there looks scared stiff, it must be his first time away from Mum and Dad, he’ll soon settle into the routine. Oh, good, Vera’s gone over to talk to him; she’s very motherly and will take him under her wing, show him the ropes.
I miss old Jack already. He retired at the end of last season, been here thirty-two years, can you imagine that? We gave him a smashing send-off and he had lots of presents from the regulars. He’s found himself a lovely retirement home in the country, in Shropshire, I think. Funny that, you usually retire to the seaside, don’t you? But Jack said he’d spent so long by the coast that he fancied a change.
Here we are, back on familiar territory, ready to start at nine prompt. Oh no, I’m next to Joyce. I like nearly all of my workmates but she’s a moody mare. Oh well, I suppose I can put up with her for one day; I’ll be quicker tomorrow and find somewhere more congenial.
Oh, look! There’s Freda! Cooeee!! How are your legs, dear? She has trouble with them sometimes and has to go on light duties. She doesn’t seem too bad at the moment: the rest must have done her good. And there’s Bill – we had a bit of a thing going a couple of summers ago when we had adjoining workstations until the boss said it was interfering with our performance and separated us. He’s so handsome, slim but powerful if you know what I mean, with long dark hair. I wonder if the boss would notice if I sneaked in next to him tomorrow?
It’s fairly quiet today. Of course, the schools haven’t broken up yet so there aren’t that many families on holiday. Business was really bad a few years back, everyone seemed to be flying off to Spain or Portugal for the sunshine, and management thought they might have to close down. Things are better now, thank goodness, whether it’s because people haven’t got the money to go abroad or what, I don’t know, but the traditional British holiday seems to be making a comeback and holiday camps are on the up again.
Time for lunch. Sometimes we’re so busy we have to eat on the hoof, but we’re able to have a proper break today. I’m sure this salad stuff the company provides us with is healthy but, occasionally, I fancy something a bit naughty! I really miss Janet to have a natter with. She’s been my best friend since she first came here, oh, it must be four years ago, but she’s just had a baby so is out of action for a while. Her daughter is absolutely gorgeous with big brown eyes like her Mum’s.
Gosh, it’s warming up. Good job I’ve brought my sun hat. One year, Bruce refused to wear his, thought it wasn’t the right image and he suffered terrible sunstroke. He had to go and rest in the shade with a damp flannel on his head. It took him a few days to get over it. He put his hat on quick the next time the sun came out, I can tell you!
Four o’clock, time to pack up. It’s been a good first day, steady, not rushed off our feet, and I’ve seen several regular customers. That’s one of the things I like about this job, renewing acquaintance with holidaymakers who return every year, especially the children – even if some of them can be little devils…
I feel a sense of satisfaction, we all do, at a job well done, particularly after what the boss said last night when he welcomed us to another season in Minehead: “I’m proud of you lads and lasses, you look smart, you welcome the clients, you give a professional service. This year, I’ve entered you into the competition for the Best Team of Beach Donkeys…”
Wonder what’s for supper tonight?
I’m Maggie, by the way, and this is my tenth – no, eleventh – season here in Minehead. It’s a good place to spend the summer and most of us come back year after year. The work can be backbreaking at times but the boss is fair, the digs are clean and comfortable, the food’s plentiful and the company’s fantastic! It’s not a bad way to earn a living.
Did I hear someone shout? Yes, we’re off. We all walk to work together, it’s not far and it gives us a chance to chat and catch up on what we’ve been doing since last September. Most of the faces are familiar. There are always one or two new ones, of course – that little lad over there looks scared stiff, it must be his first time away from Mum and Dad, he’ll soon settle into the routine. Oh, good, Vera’s gone over to talk to him; she’s very motherly and will take him under her wing, show him the ropes.
I miss old Jack already. He retired at the end of last season, been here thirty-two years, can you imagine that? We gave him a smashing send-off and he had lots of presents from the regulars. He’s found himself a lovely retirement home in the country, in Shropshire, I think. Funny that, you usually retire to the seaside, don’t you? But Jack said he’d spent so long by the coast that he fancied a change.
Here we are, back on familiar territory, ready to start at nine prompt. Oh no, I’m next to Joyce. I like nearly all of my workmates but she’s a moody mare. Oh well, I suppose I can put up with her for one day; I’ll be quicker tomorrow and find somewhere more congenial.
Oh, look! There’s Freda! Cooeee!! How are your legs, dear? She has trouble with them sometimes and has to go on light duties. She doesn’t seem too bad at the moment: the rest must have done her good. And there’s Bill – we had a bit of a thing going a couple of summers ago when we had adjoining workstations until the boss said it was interfering with our performance and separated us. He’s so handsome, slim but powerful if you know what I mean, with long dark hair. I wonder if the boss would notice if I sneaked in next to him tomorrow?
It’s fairly quiet today. Of course, the schools haven’t broken up yet so there aren’t that many families on holiday. Business was really bad a few years back, everyone seemed to be flying off to Spain or Portugal for the sunshine, and management thought they might have to close down. Things are better now, thank goodness, whether it’s because people haven’t got the money to go abroad or what, I don’t know, but the traditional British holiday seems to be making a comeback and holiday camps are on the up again.
Time for lunch. Sometimes we’re so busy we have to eat on the hoof, but we’re able to have a proper break today. I’m sure this salad stuff the company provides us with is healthy but, occasionally, I fancy something a bit naughty! I really miss Janet to have a natter with. She’s been my best friend since she first came here, oh, it must be four years ago, but she’s just had a baby so is out of action for a while. Her daughter is absolutely gorgeous with big brown eyes like her Mum’s.
Gosh, it’s warming up. Good job I’ve brought my sun hat. One year, Bruce refused to wear his, thought it wasn’t the right image and he suffered terrible sunstroke. He had to go and rest in the shade with a damp flannel on his head. It took him a few days to get over it. He put his hat on quick the next time the sun came out, I can tell you!
Four o’clock, time to pack up. It’s been a good first day, steady, not rushed off our feet, and I’ve seen several regular customers. That’s one of the things I like about this job, renewing acquaintance with holidaymakers who return every year, especially the children – even if some of them can be little devils…
I feel a sense of satisfaction, we all do, at a job well done, particularly after what the boss said last night when he welcomed us to another season in Minehead: “I’m proud of you lads and lasses, you look smart, you welcome the clients, you give a professional service. This year, I’ve entered you into the competition for the Best Team of Beach Donkeys…”
Wonder what’s for supper tonight?