they charge $70 to fiddle with your lock, but it's all about the free beer.

i have never met so many locksmiths in my life. they drink copious amounts of beer, attack u if u have canapes, and are rough, unpolished, but quite funny. at least that was the impression i got when i worked at a locksmith's convention held at sofitel on thursday. going around with trays of canapes- roast duck pancake, vegetable samosas, char siew pork on coriander fritters, chicken spring rolls, vegetarian nori rolls and salmon mousse- i was alternatively amused and exasperated by these happy-go-lucky tradesmen. a group of them stood by the service door, so they could pounce on the canapes once i emerged. i got comments like,

'these aren't half bad, did u make them yourself?'
'THERE'S our girl!!!'
'will you marry me?'
and perhaps most bizarrely, when i was just standing there holding a tray of empty glasses, 'i've never met anyone so violent... and so lovely'.

they make a change from the corporate business types that usually have functions at sofitel, by their willingness to joke around with us, the lowly staff, and their wholehearted thanks when u get them a drink. they are gruff, warm but hard to handle. tonight they had their end of conference dinner, and man oh man, i realised that i had been working too much when i started to hate people. people as in, customers. and so thoughts go like this:
some woman: 'could i get another coffee?'
me: 'i'll check' [bitch].
double bitch when i went round the tables later and she hadn't even drunk it.

so yes, hospitality. do it enough and u hate people.
that being said, i am working again tomorrow. sunday rates, good money, why not.