My First Days Work of 2021

Before yesterday my last day of work was at Cheltenham 2020 and since then I've barely left Port Talbot apart from job interviews and getting my Covid jabs. Since then Stadium Hospitality has nearly opened back up a few times but been postponed at the last minute. So anyway yesterday I had my first days work of 2021, Golf firmly remains as something enjoyable is unappealing to play and not at all interesting to watch, plus at £167.00 for a round it has become laughable. It was the first time I'd been on a long distance train journey for a year and given that it was just after 06:00 I didn't notice much difference. Newport looked rather nice - truth be known I've always had a soft spot for Newport, the most polite way of summing up Newport is that its the South Easts equivalent of Neath but more friendly. So getting into Newport at 07:30 I headed out of the city centre heading for Celtic Manor hotel / golf course. Newport was just waking up, the sun hadn't made it over the hills yet and a 3.6 uphill walk was enriched by a lovely view.

Reaching The Coldra was the sign I was rapidly approaching the edge of town and my destination. A left turn took me up a sharp climb - seriously sharp as despite being below the M4 for all of the walk I suddenly had to get above and cross it. All I knew about Celtic Manor was that it was a bit posh so I was mildly surprised to find that its so close to one of the busiest sections of the M4. I arrived at the entrance which is the rear of the hotel (the hotel faces away from the M4 in a rather bizarre if we ignore the noise and pollution it isn't really there kind of way) and it was time for the major challenge of the day, navigating the site.

I had been told to head to car park 2 to pick up my accreditation and there were shuttle buses from there to the rest of the site. I found car park 2 and it was empty of cars, buses and check in sites. Realising this was not the place I was meant to be I headed in to the hotel for directions. Alas I was at the rear of the hotel and headed into the trade entrance hoping to find a reception or security office to ask directions. Apparently it was too early for security and I couldn't find a check in area for casual workers so I opted to head back out and go in the front of the hotel to try for directions at reception. There was no direct way from the back to front entrance by foot and I had to travel by narrow road via two car parks (none of which was car park 2) and a kiddies play area. When I reached the front I entered reception and was given directions but also told it was inaccessible via foot.

For anyone whose never been on a golf course, one of the main key features of one is that its designed to be traversed on foot. I headed off armed with directions and passed a few golfers on the minor courses. When I could get no further I commandeered a golf cart that was laying around with the key in the ignition. I reached car park 2 and left the cart at the security desk advising it had been left unattended and keeping quiet about my lack of drivers license. After picking up my staff pass I jumped aboard the shuttle bus to my workplace for the day which was in hospitality at the clubhouse overlooking the 18th green.

Most of the workforce were from the same company as me and I recognised one or two faces from working Cardiff City matches. Sadly it was a bit of a tame day, we were a restaurant of twenty tables and we never had more than six tables full at the same time all day. Plus we only had two tables at all for the duration of afternoon tea - I know afternoon tea, I was unaware this had been a thing since 1910. We were let go at 19:00 as it was dead, in the hospitality area on the 18th hole of a European Tour event.

I got a lift to the front gates and headed back into Newport as the sun still shone in the summer evening. The view of Newport was better on the way back as you could see more of the bridges and gentle glow. The night life was getting into gear at this point as I passed many a pub and people heading into town. A few elderly revellers were out and had donned headshields. Newport's pubs had their outside drinking areas packed as I reached the station with ten minutes until the next train. The way home I saw how public transport had really changed as passengers were asked to sit in the window seats so staff could traverse the train. Strangely on a Great Western Train on a Friday evening there were barely ten people to a carriage.

Hopefully this day is the first of many as the hospitality industry reopens however to prove some things never change on checking my emails I had received the offer of a few shifts at the football IN NORTH ****ING LONDON.