Cheeky monkeys
I live on site along with 30 staff and my day starts at 7am, or even 5am if there are guests leaving early in the morning for the airport.
On the whole, my job is idyllic, living on a 700-hectare game farm near sunny Lusaka. The pace of life can only be described as laid-back. If it doesn't happen today, then maybe it will happen tomorrow.
The lodge makes most of its money during the week, hosting conferences, and I am ready for the delegates who start their day at 8.30am. For the last two weeks we have had a group of Swedish delegates staying.
It's so laid-back that I think the Swedes found it stressful because people here don't always turn up when expected, especially as they had a session on time management.
We often have power cuts at this time of year when there is rain in the air. There only has to be rain 600km away and our power goes off. I believe it's something to do with dodgy poles.
While the conference delegates take lunch I organise events for the afternoon. This week I had to arrange a Christmas party for children from a local boarding hostel.
Poverty levels in the country are high, and so for many people their only formal Christmas party is a work-organised event. Most Zambians celebrate the actual day by focusing on its Christian meaning, which I must admit I find lovely compared with how materialistic and over-the-top it has become in Europe.
For the children's party this week I laid out a table with crackers under the mango trees by the swimming pool. It was a traditional European dinner of turkey. This is a treat as this is the only time of year we can get hold of turkey.
I returned just before the children arrived at 3pm to check everything was ready, only to find monkeys galloping across the table and stealing the crackers.
The delegates go to dinner at 7pm, and this is when I check the chalets to make sure the staff have turned down the beds before joining the guests in the restaurant.
Jack of all trades
In a small operation such as ours we end up being a jack of all trades. I usually concentrate on rooms, reservations and marketing, while my boss covers the food and beverage side. We do, however, cover for each other on our days off.
I also do the billing, debt collection, IT and maintenance around the lodge, and I positively enjoy it. In the UK you train very specifically for one department. For me it was in a front-office role, but I much prefer the variety of my situation now.
I'm off duty by 8.30pm, although I can be easily reached at my quarters in case of any emergencies throughout the night.
Bedtime is usually at 9pm, which may seem early to people in the UK but then we do get up much earlier than you! n
Interview by Chris Druce
Lilayi Lodge, Lusaka, Zambia
Tel: 00 260 1 279 022
Web site:www.lilayi.com
Description: 700-hectare game ranch with 12 thatched chalets. Lounge, bar, kitchen, conference centre and swimming pool on site
Rates: full board from £96 per person per night. Bed and breakfast from £51 per person per night
Just a minute…
WHAT'S THE MOST DIFFICULT SITUATION YOU'VE FACED AT WORK?
In the lead-up to Christmas we had no telephone lines for five weeks (mobile phones don't work at the lodge). As a consequence we double-booked a wedding with 250 guests and a Christmas party for 150 people. The situation was sorted out and both bookings were retained.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS? My temper.
