Thanks Nan
I flunked my first first year at university, leaving around mid January. My girlfriend of four years had left me and I was in a bit of a state. Some would describe it akin to being an absolute pussy, and they'd be right.

Months of sleeping in and being throuoghly unproductive just amplified my depression. Then my Nan died in May.

Not being very close to my Nan I volunteered to write and present the Eulogy in order to get to know her better and connect with her at some level. This gave me focus.

We held the wake at a fabulous restaurant in Worcestershire. Speaking to the owner / executive Chef about the menu for the day it became apparant he was looking for a junior Chef. I've always had a passion for cooking so I let him know I was looking for work.

Low and behold a week or so after my Nan's funeral I got a call informing me I could have a trial at the restaurant. I passed and worked there until I retook my first year in October.

It was the best therapy a young man could wish for. It was like working with a bunch of pirates where a simple mistake (like burning a Soufle) would result in something like a gangland murder trial in a warehouse. Couple that with zealous camaraderie; copious amounts of hard drugs, women and alcohol on an almost nightly basis; it soon rid me of any despression and was the best possible preperation for university.

I've always worked since the age of sixteen, paying my way through college and uni. I'm now nearing the end of a work placement with one of them evil investment banks and have an offer of permanent employment after graduation.

Signing on during those four months between Uni and Cheffing was humiliating and depressing. One sympathises with those stuck in a rut.

Thank you Nan for giving me the best job I could have had and kickstarting my university career.
(jackhiggs no longer a v!rgin as of..., Mon 6 Apr 2009, 14:05, 5 replies)

Great post, mate
Your an inspiration to others - having paid my own way through further education I know how much of a fucking battle that can be. Well done!
( SpankyHanky, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 14:47, closed)

Fantastic story mate.
Silver lining and all that bollocks eh?
(TheColonel, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 16:05, closed)

good for you
after a year (at the age of 16) washing pots and doing the menial parts of the cooking work in a restaurant, the co-owner said to me when I left 'if you can work in a place like this and keep your head above water you'll never have any problems wherever you work.'

and for the huge part, twenty years later he's been absolutely right.

dont know about the humiliating bit though - being out of work is going to happen to you, at some point - and as every other f***er is ripping the p***, why not take advantage of the system you've help pay for with your tax money? at least the rent gets paid and you get a few quid for food.
(tjn whizzing on the electric fence of life, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 16:57, closed)

Absolutely
agree with the pot washing point. Never had to do it but I respect anyone who has.

It was humiliating in the sense that I'd flunked my year and it was kinda like a new low. I'm not under any illusions - I know I may be out of work in the future. I think it was humiliating because it was really entirely my own fault - it just brought it home.
(jackhiggs no longer a v!rgin as of..., Mon 6 Apr 2009, 17:09, closed)

I cooked nights while at uni
If you're living away from home, want to impress the birds later with some top nosh and be fed while at uni, it's the best job possible. Plus, if you ever fall on hard times at any point, you've got a totally seperate skill that you can get hired with.
Oh, and chefs are nutters, but the best kind of nutters.
(knackerz is skinning up, Tue 7 Apr 2009, 7:44, closed)