After some discussions with the owners our duties at the hostel to pay for our stay were decided. Jo was to work on the bar and I was to work on reception and do house keeping.
Bar at Yamba YHA
Each week we have a discussion about which hours we are doing and we never quite know what is going on. As a rule we are supposed to work 2 hours a day each and in return we got to stay. Some weeks we’ve worked 2 hours per day other weeks we worked the weeks’ hours in just two days and had the rest of the week off! One week Jo even worked my hours as I was working extra hours elsewhere (my hero). The work has been fun and simple so far and the hostel owners are great fun to work with.
After dropping off lots of résumés (as they don’t call them CVs!) I managed to get a job as a waitress in a little cafe overlooking the beach called Pippi Cafe. The staff are friendly and one of the owners was an ex-pom called Mick which amused me no end whenever anyone says G’Day Mick! The work is hard on my feet and has very few breaks but is good fun. It is a small cafe and I mainly work the breakfast shift (8-3 or 6.30-2).
Pippi Cafe, Yamba
I’m having to learn how to make coffee and what all the different types of coffee are. I’ll probably just about get the hang of it when I leave! The cafe is located above main beach in Yamba on the hill and had a fantastic view when walking towards it.
I love the walk to and from work at the cafe especially early in the morning as the birds are singing, the sun is shinning and the views are supurb. Jo and Charlie (the hostel dog) would often come up at the end of my shift and wait for me. When I finish, Jo and I have iced chocolates and Charlie gets a nice bowl of water.
Jo has got a job as a glassy at the local pub, the Pacific Hotel. He’s got some nasty late shifts coming up but he’s enjoying meeting all the locals up there. The pub has stunning views of the ocean and so Jo enjoys the day shifts a bit more when the punters are a bit more sober and he can take in the view.
The owner off the pub also owns the “Bottlo” (off licence). Alcohol in Oz can only be purchased from a bar or a Bottlo and so it was a popular little spot. Jo will be picking up some shifts in there too which means he can work slightly better hours.
We are both loving being back in Yamba and its good knowing that we are saving up a bit more money for later on in the trip whilst keeping the costs low. Our hours mean we’re not spending as much time together at the moment but it is only for a month or two. Jo seems quite happy passing his time without me by going surfing with the hostel owners and playing with Charlie.
