As I said before, its getting Harder to remember some of My/Our Life back then, I was still Working as a Chef at the Casino, I can recall around late Autumn time in 1984 and the Second Chef "Steve" had been off Work quite a Long Time with some sort of illness!
This I remember, seemed to go on for ages, and the Head Chef "Peter" was Working Longer and more Hours to Cover "Steve"
I recall one Day at Home, getting a Phone Call from Peter, asking me to do more Hours, I agreed to do some but not that many, as by this time my Kids, Nathan and Natalie were around 6 and 4.5 Years Old, Checkout the Photo from around this Period!
This Extra Work went on for a Little while, then one Night, I was asked by Peter to do some Shifts On my Own, when He was Off, this meant being in Charge of the Kitchen and having about 2/3 other Chefs Working under me!
This I did for a While and I got on Great.
So to cut a long Story short, I ended up getting Promoted to "Second Chef" with More Pay and roughly the same Hours, I believe I had to Work an extra Shift during Friday Day Time as well as the usual evening Shifts!
So what Happened to "Steve" I cant remember why he was off Work, but He did end up Leaving, I cant remember if he left on his on accord or if he was Sacked!
But for the first Time in my Life, I had made it to "Second Chef" this also Meant for about 3 Days a Week, when "Peter" was off Work, I was in Charge of the Kitchen!
Now for some Music, Back in March of 1977, Tavares Released their 5th Album on Capitol Records Called "Love Storm"
The Album was Produced by Freddie Perren, and it Contained 3 Successful Single Releases, all reaching The Top 25 in the US Single Charts.
But the Best Track on the Album in my Opinion was the 4th Single Release, and this was the Least Successful Track, it did not even reach Top 50 US Singles!
This is a Great Track and one of Tavares Best Ever Tracks!
Apparently this was going to be a Duet with Butch and Tiny on Vocals, but Freda Payne was in the Adjoining Recording Studio, and Suggested Her and Chubby did a Duet! The rest as they say is History!
It was now 1984, I had just Spent Christmas at Home with my Wife and Kids, after leaving my previous Job (Offshore Chef) about 4 Days before Christmas '83.
I cant be exact, but I think I only had about 2 Weeks out of Work before I found my next Job!
It was only Part-Time (but I knew it would become Full-Time in due course) I was going to Work at a Casino in our Town, as a Chef, the Place was Called "King's Casino"
I Remember at the beginning I was Working, once or twice a Week, I was taking care of the Starter's and Sweets, there was only a Small Team of Worker's, including the Head Chef called "Peter Culley" and a Second Chef named "Kevin Huggins" there was another Trainee Chef and about 2/3 Chaps doing the Kitchen Porter's Work.
I enjoyed the Job and Work, although there were a Couple of Draw Backs, one was, I was Working Night's again and two, I Lived about 4/5 Miles away and I still had my Bike, so I was back Pedalling again!
When I say I worked Nights, the Hour's were a 5pm Start and "Last Order's" were at 11.30pm, so by the Time we Cleared up etc and I Cycled Home, it was around 12.30 am, not too great for a Married Man with Kids, but I did get 6 out of the 7 Day Times off, although we did Work Friday Morning as well, as the Night Time.
I recall Cycling back and forth to work, that time of the year, it always seemed to be Raining, so I had my "Yellow Water Proof Coat and Trouser's" for Bike Riding, they used to make me Sweat "like Hell" most times, but at least I had My "Personal Cassette Player" that always Helped me to pass away the time on boring Journeys!
It was Written by Al Green, Willie Mitchell and Earl Randle, Surprisingly, it was Never Released as a Single, I would say one of Al Green's Best, but He has so Many Fantastic Tracks!
The Album went to Number 1 in the US R&B Charts, the Track was Re-Recorded by several Different Artists over the Years!
Checkout the Live Version, Recorded in 2002 in New York City, What a Performance!
Download the Track! Check out the Great Lyrics! Talking: God blessed our love. Even in the morning, when I rise, I say God blessed our love. And every morning, when I rise I can just see heaven all, all in your eyes Makes me know this is not an everyday love, no, no We've got something I'm sure we can be proud of Oh, we've got so much, so much love We've got so much, so much trust Can't you see a halo, a halo, I can see a halo hovering over us Chorus: oh I just can't believe it baby but, God blessed our love, I have to say it this evening that God oh God blessed our love if you've got something to be thankful for you oughta just say, hey, hey, hey, God blessed our love, I have to say it this evening God oh God blessed our love oh yes he did Let me say I could just stand up and tell the world, oh baby That you're mine, all mine, ah yeah You love is heavenly designed And I just have to say that I like kissing you I like, I like hugging you I like squeezing you, wanting you, holding you, loving you I'm glad I'm still lovin' oh baby Let me say when people, yeah, people, yeah, start to criticize Well it don't bother me, no, no, Cause I know God, God, God is on our side yes he is Chorus: let me just say God, God blessed our love I have to say that God oh God blessed our love (Until Fade)
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.
