Work can drive you up the wall

I had just moved departments, having worked for a restaurant manager who insisted I carry more plates than physically possible. In my new job, however, the banqueting manager urged me to carry only the number of plates with which I was comfortable. "Better to be safe than sorry," he preached.

It was to be my first attempt at silver service but I felt I was ready for the challenge. That evening I marched out proudly, with my oval silver platter bearing 30 steaks in a thick, rich, onion gravy. The platter was precariously balanced on my arm and, although it felt like a lead weight, I managed to serve all 30 solemn, pinstriped businessmen. There was not a stray drip of gravy nor a badly positioned steak in sight. Success? Not quite!

On the way back to the kitchen, the platter became infinitely heavier and began to slip down my arm; but with fork and spoon strategically moulded in my free hand, I could do little to stop it.

"Aha!" I thought. "If I could just push the platter against the wall, I can put my arm underneath to re-secure a safe position."

I rushed towards the wall adjacent to the kitchen door. The edge of the platter hit the wall as planned; but I realised that the plan was not infallible when the other end flew up to rest flat against the wall.

The platter seemed to be suctioned into position because try as I might I could not get my nails between it and the wall to lever it off. I had no alternative but to hold the platter up against the wall, as thick gravy and onions oozed downwards.

I glanced around for help, only to face the 30 businessman looking on unamused and my manager, who had frozen in horror at the other end of the room.

For the next few weeks, I was relegated to serving apple sauce and clearing up!