So lets start from the last blog update up till the present.
The tour companies really have stuck the boot in to the island for Oct with regards to flights and package holidays. After the first week of Oct allot of the hotels started to close which is a big problem for the hoteliers which in turn has a knock on effect to the restaurants, shops and bars. Most of the people who were coming in to the resort after the first week were staying all inclusive as that was a majority of the hotels that were left open on the tour companies books. On the old road come the end of the second week of Oct there was only myself and Yoyo's open along with Angelina supermarket and Dennis next door to me. Not good at all. I remember in my first 2 seasons that everywhere was open till the very last week of Oct. After the 16th of Oct the only accommodations still open were Meandros hotel and Antonis apt on the old road. The season is meant to be 6 months from start to finish but its being cut shorter and shorter every year down to nearly just 4 months which for businesses with high rent and staffing costs means they only have 4 months to make 6 months costs, difficult.
Anywhoo, my last few weeks went really well, better than i expected considering how dead the resort was. Had nearly all new customers which is a bonus as most of my repeat customers had come out in Sept as they couldn't get out for Oct like they usually do due to flights being stopped in Oct. So again Sept was a major bumper month compared to previous Septembers due to this fact.
Dog relaxing in the bar during the last week open, awwww, she's had the snip LOL.
No this isn't a bat, its a little kitten that appeared in Oceanic during the last week who has now been re-homed in the UK, cute little thing, still prefer dogs.
And as always the last sunset before i left for the UK, BOO, HOO!
Now every year i put up a sign once I'm closed. I always pack away the bar in the dark of night as you never know who's watching to see what i pack away. So at 2.30am on my last night i got to work taking all my lights down, packing furniture away and making sure its all secure and tucked up cosy for the winter. This year i forgot to put my winter sign up and actually had it in my bag and found it when i got home, so here is the sign that should be on the bar now but its in Wales instead LOL.
So as the headline says "Oceanic is no more" for this season that is. I know maybe some people on the island will be thinking I've done a runner as one minute the bar was open and the next it was all locked up and i had gone but I'm afraid not, its business as usual and I'll be back next season, so that's put that rumour to bed for the winter. Also it seems my bar is getting a lot of attention while I'm not there from people who never actually come in to see me when I'm there and open, strange eh? Don't worry, I'll be back in 5 months so you can come and see me then if you want, I'm always there to welcome new customers with open arms LOL.
So now to summaries the season, i opened, i worked bloody hard, i had my best season so far (yes again), i closed. Think that's about it.
Oh yes, i forgot one more thing. As i have always written on my blog, the bar isn't about me, i just open up. make and serve the drinks and you my wonderful customers create the atmosphere each and every night. Without you the Oceanic is nothing. Its down to you that Oceanic is as successful as it is. Your conversation, your laughter and your company. So this is a huge huge massive thank you to all the the friends and customers old and new for making 2013 such an amazing season. Your the reason i continue trying to improve Oceanic as you deserve the best i can give you, many many thanks once again.
Oh yes, the news about the bar, well, the whole bar is having a full make over before next season, new floor being laid, new walls with new wall art, new lighting, new ceiling design, new bar signage, new bar, new frontage, new inside design, new weather proofing and wait for it new furniture, WWWOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH! In saying all that the concept is staying the same, just good music and good drinks with great prices, so its still going to be a comfortable chill out bar but hopefully even more comfortable than the previous seasons. As i always say, No TVs, No WIFI, No Entertainment, No Karaoke or Quiz, No Gimmicks, No stress, No hassle, just a plain, simple, friendly bar for customers to relax, chat and enjoy.
And just to prove the bar has "NO WIFI" Helen has had a sign especially made for Oceanic.
I had been planning for weeks to surprise Helen with my arrival back home, i told everyone i was going home on 27th Oct so nothing would get out, i had Helen pestering me day after day to go home on the 25th before the weekend and i had to stay calm and plan it well insisting i wasn't coming home till the Sunday. I booked my flight home for 24th to Manchester, booked a hotel room in Manchester for the night as i arrived late, booked train tickets home for the 25th to surprise Helen as she got off the train from work. This seasons home coming was better than any before, the sight of my beautiful girl so excited to see me as she run towards me was the best feeling ever. It was so good, i almost had a tear, nope, it was a piece of dirt in my eye ha ha.
So now to whats been going on at home, absolutely bugger all, bored, bored, bored due to crap weather. Well not completely true, as i haven't really stopped since i arrived home. I start at Toys R Us once again at the end of Nov which will be my 13th year with them but i may be on one of my medical trials which this time lasts for 6 weeks. Its a very long study which is great, lots of laying around with 4 meals a day, morning papers brought to your bed, sky TV, wifi, good company and a little bonus of a payment at the end of it. There is a down side to this, well for me there is and that is not being able to go outside or do any exercise, that's the big problem for me as I'm always on the go and not one for sitting and laying around, hate it.
Now then, call me Mr. Normal but isn't Halloween and Bonfire night just 1 day of the year, 31st Oct and 5th Nov. So how can you have Halloween for a whole week and firework displays all week, ITS JUST ONE DAY! Christmas Day (baby jebus birthday) is just one day, we give presents on one day, that's it. I can't go around saying "its my birthday week", no, its also just one day. So from now on if i see a coffee shop, pub or restaurant with Halloween dec's up before the 31st i am going to boycott it. When i sit down with my caramel latte and granary toast i don't want a skeleton stood next to me and spiders web over my shoulder when its not actually Halloween. Also when Halloween is over please take all that crap down LOL.
Talking of Christmas, this lovely (snigger's under his breath) Christmas display is already up in the co-op's coffee shop, this was taken on 30th Oct. Really? Does it need to be up so soon, give us a break.
Myself and Helen went to see the film about Paul Potts "One Chance" it wasn't to bad, bit more of a chick flick but it was easy watching. Before we went to cinema we went for drinks in Frankie and Benny's. Helen had a Cosmopolitan and i had a Non-Alcoholic cocktail and i was shocked. For 2 cocktails, one a short glass and the other no alcohol it cost me £11. What the f.........! Your kidding me right? For the same 2 drinks in Oceanic that would cost £4.85, and it would taste stronger, and its made with branded spirits, and you get the whole shaker of Cosmopolitan (3 short glasses). How can anyone complain abroad about the price of drinks when the UK is a total rip off. Oh yes, and this wasn't in a major city like London, Manchester or Preston, no, this was in the bumpkin town of Carmarthen.
The over-priced evidence, really not worth it.
As i was walking around the shops, browsing, trying to spot the shop lifters and killing time i spotted this sign on the escalators in M & S, The sign says "Take extra care when wearing soft plastic shoes" with the image of a Croc Shoe above it. I think it should say "Take extra care when wearing anywhere soft plastic shoes that look like Croc's, you may look like an idiot" LOL. Sorry, Croc wearers, just a little joke but come on, they're not really a good look with socks or when its raining.
Been getting excited about my next concert in Jan, Depeche Mode. My very good friends Chris & Sandra are going to see them in Leeds this month, so jealous, you'll have a great time. As for my concert my world watched actor nephew Leighton Kyle is still trying to sort the train tickets out to Birmingham, "Come on man, pull your finger out". So for anyone going to see them here is "Never Let me Down" live. It makes the hairs on my arms stand up every time i watch it, it even made them stand up just talking about this part of the concert to Chris & Sandra. Enjoy.
Well folks its back to life back to reality, there's a song there somewhere. So the updates will now be every fortnight as usual during the winter. Don't think there will be many sunny pics or spectacular views to be added over the next few months but you never know, we did have 10 sunny days last winter LOL.
Before i forget, the people who have paid for t-shirts for me to send to them when i got back to the UK they will be sent on Tuesday so don't worry i have got them here
I was left a comment on my last update about the haggis in my fridge, its ok, I had it frozen till that picture then I de-frosted it and ate it. what a great meal that was, I loved it. More please ha ha.
So until 2 weeks time, either from Toys R Us or the medical centre, i shall bid you farewell.
Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out!
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