For Phoenix, every day is Boxing Day

‘Tis the season to be jolly. Sorry, I'll rephrase that - 'tis the season to book casual staff and be assured that they are all competent, only to find that only six out of a promised 15 arrive and that many of those attending have had only a brief training session in the delights of silver service.

As we have a commitment to a series of functions for more than 18,000 covers in the month leading up to Christmas, we have taken the step of carrying out some fairly intensive on-the-job training with some of these staff, and I am pleased by the results.

Our waiting team, numbering nearly 100 on some nights, has flourished and, with the exception of a few grumbles from our regular staff at carrying new staff in the early days, is now working as an effective team, with lay-up, service and subsequent prep for the next day getting quicker and quicker.

We have had a multitude of events running throughout the country, such as a six-day event for Mercedes-Benz in the middle of a very remote proving ground, and a dinner for 80 in an equally inaccessible venue - this being in the heart of London and difficult to get to with our lorries and event kitchens.

This highlights the logistics part of our job, as it is vital for event caterers to have the right equipment in the right place. Also vital is the packing away after the function, to ensure that some of the equipment can be moved straight on to the next event, sometimes only hours away.

Our pack-up after the Christmas events will be significant, as we are then shut until the New Year. Our team is lined up for a stress-free New Year's Eve as the council which owns the Guildhall in Northampton, where we would normally provide a bar for a huge dance event, has decided to keep the venue free, in case they need it to provide teas, coffee and sandwiches to rescue services following the civil unrest that we are advised is about to beset the city.

Furthermore, we hope to have signed a deal for a new yard and premises, so our kit should make a seamless transition from our old premises, by way of the Christmas events, to unloading into a new warehouse.

Finally, to all our suppliers, thank you for your support over the past 12 months. We look forward to an even busier year ahead.

**ROBERT ALVAREZ is proprietor of Phoenix Catering event caterers in Towcester, Northamptonshire

**Next diary from Robert Alvarez: 27 January 2000