Around this period of my Life, I'm finding it hard to remember Certain Dates etc, What I can Remember is, I left The Sandringham Hotel around the Early to Mid Summertime of 1982 and went back to Butchery, for the Easier Hours, No Work on Sundays and all Bank Holidays Off!
I worked for (at that time) a Big Chain of Butchers "The Co-op", it was their Main Shop in Great Yarmouth's Town Centre. There were as I remember 2 other Butcher's Working there, the Shop Manager & his Deputy Manager, I cant remember who the Deputy Manager was, but I can vaguely remember the Manager, not his Name though, he was a Right Smart Arse, as I remember, and I did not get on with him that great!
As I recall he was a Right Big-Head and thought he Knew everything about everything, I think he liked Rock Music and thought Soul/Funk Music was a Load of Sh*t, I remember buying "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious five, around this time, and he thought it was the Biggest load of Rubbish , he had ever heard!
At this time I was still Biking to work, I lived in Gorleston, which was about 4 Miles from work, so I got plenty of Exercise, I used to bring the Bike through the Shop when I arrived to work and put it in the back room, I don't think we had a Back way, to the Shop, as it was Joined to the Main Co-op Shop! so everything including the Meat Deliveries had to come through the Front Door
The actual Butcher's shop is still in the same place as it was nearly 30 Years ago, but the Co-op Shop/Brand has long gone, and the Shop itself is now Closed!
As for the Music around this Period (as I said previously), Rapping/Hip Hop had just begun, and one of the Biggest Releases then (and Now), was "The Message" by Grandmaster flash & The Furious Five, that was something New around this Period, Music Wise!
As a Group GMF only ever Released 2 Studio Albums, although they had plenty of Compilation Albums, over the years!
Around July of 1982, I was getting on Alright at The Sandringham Hotel, but things were starting to get a bit awkward, As I said in Previous posts, my Head Chef was my Former Teacher at College, a few Years earlier, and when I went for the Interview, I did state about not Working too many Nights, which he Agreed to!
Anyway with other People off work (sick) and things picking up, I was being asked more and more, to work Nights here and there, which at first was not too bad, but after about 1 Month, it was Happening all the Time, so in the end I had to go and see the Head Chef, now I cant exactly remember what Happened, I think he might of said "its Tough" but in the end I had to see the Hotel Owner, who asked if I could stick with it, for a little while!
This I did do, but in the end, it was just liked I worked all the nights I was working, so in the end, I handed in my Notice and left within a few Weeks!
I remember the Head Chef was not too happy, but I did get a Reference from him, although He did have a little dig about Working nights, and he also got his own back a few Years later!
About 5 years after, this incident, I was Working in another Restaurant, as Second Chef (although this night I was Acting as Head Chef, as He was off Duty) when I was asked to go out into the Restaurant to meet Somebody, who said he knew me!
So when I got into the Restaurant, I was Surprised too see the Head Chef from The Sandringham having a Meal, which I had Cooked, this was the first time I had seen him, since we Worked together.
To my Surprise, in front of who ever he was Dining with, started to go about how I had cooked his Meal and it was not how he had taught me at College (years previous) I believe he had eaten "Beef Stroganoff"
I had used Fresh Cream in the Dish, which he never did! Most Chefs do things slightly different!
My answer to him was "I work here now and this is how my "Head Chef" wants this dish prepared and Cooked, so this is how I will do it! and then I went back into the Kitchen, I bet he did not leave a Tip that night!
He did not like that, and I think that was the last Time he spoke to me, but on saying that I cant remember the last time I saw him!
HAPPY DAYS!
As for Music around this Period, CHANGE had their Third Album (out of 6) Released, it was called" Sharing Your Love"
It was their 3rd most Successful Album in the U.S, The Best Track on Album was "The Very Best In You" it reached Number 16 in the U.S R&B Chart!
Of course "Changes" first Album featured Luther Vandross on Lead Vocals.
