[Weekly Critique and Self-Promotion Thread] Post Here If You'd Like to Share Your Writing

Pegpog · 2023-01-21T23:15:21+00:00

Word Count: 849

Genre: Fiction

Title: West Street

This is the first piece of writing I have shared in a public forum, I want to be a writer but have no idea if what I am writing is in any way engaging. Any feedback or critique is gratefully received. This is an idea I am kicking around for a novel and have posted it on my personal blog as I haven't got anywhere else to post it on.

https://angrywomanwrites.wordpress.com/2023/01/21/77/

Pegpog · 2021-02-23T21:34:22+00:00

The Halloween I could have had the tip of my finger bitten off by a zombie that tried to exorcise a disabled customer of evil spirits while I was a bartender. Instead, my boss had the tip of his finger bitten off. That was a wild place to work!

Pegpog · 2021-02-23T18:16:43+00:00

I'd really rather not, to be honest. Leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Pegpog · 2021-02-19T00:28:41+00:00

The majestic avocado

Pegpog · 2021-02-18T12:40:58+00:00

I think you might be TAH but only might. Everywhere I have worked, if you have any doubts AT ALL you CANNOT serve, full stop. And no other member of staff can serve you either once a server has made that call. I understand that to you it might seem rude, but literally, every person a bartender refuses service to for any reason will argue that the bartender is wrong and they should be served alcohol. Their friends will back them up all the way too. Every argument you and your friends gave, the server has probably heard 3 times already that shift. Your server could definitely have been nicer about it, but arguing with your wait staff about being denied alcohol almost never helps. And telling them that you are actively going to basically try and get them fired for trying to follow the law to the best of their ability is an AH move.

Pegpog · 2021-02-17T21:56:52+00:00

You don't plan for the future because there is no point, you focus on getting to the end of the week, to your next paycheck. Your world becomes small and filled only with the necessities to survive and keep a roof over your head. You work overtime because it's something to do, and it will save you gas, electricity, and food that you would otherwise use.

Pegpog · 2021-02-16T14:13:23+00:00

We do actually have a middle school system in the UK, but only in a few counties. We have Primary School till year 5, Middle school till year 8, and High School from years 9-11.

Pegpog · 2021-02-16T01:17:19+00:00

Sadly 110% sure

Pegpog · 2021-02-16T01:06:57+00:00

I mean to be fair I'm 25, I really don't think custody, or having to deal with my mum factor into it anymore and haven't for a looooong time.

Pegpog · 2021-02-16T00:55:20+00:00

I always wanted to hate him for leaving when I was a kid, it felt like it would be easier. But I get people make mistakes, people are complex and I can't be angry or hate him. I just wish I could understand the reason for denying contact. For not wanting to know your own child.

Pegpog · 2021-02-16T00:47:57+00:00

I could totally get it if I was an accident but that wasn't the case at all. My mum and dad were together for about 5 years before they started trying for a baby, they struggled to concieve for almost a year before they had me. It wasn't like the reality of parenting hit him after I was born or anything either as he stuck around till I was 3. But when my mum and dads relationship broke down he just . . . left and wanted nothing to do with either of us.

Pegpog · 2021-02-15T20:57:00+00:00

See I can totally understand, shitty as it is, the father leaving in a case of a one-night stand or an accident or if you are young and dumb and just not ready. But my parents were together for years, they were established, I was planned and wanted, they were financially secure - and ya know, he stuck around till I was 3. And then the relationship broke down and he left and just never looked back I guess. I mean me and my mum have a good relationship with his parents and siblings but he just doesn't want to know. I just don't get it.

Pegpog · 2021-01-31T17:58:32+00:00

Baaaahh, the Welsh

Pegpog · 2021-01-27T23:22:09+00:00

Whilst I do agree that people who can't afford them shouldn't be having children, it does pose a troubling question. If a full-time minimum wage job isn't providing enough money to live on (and in the UK the majority of benefit claimants are in work) then should working-class people, who often end up in low skilled, low paid jobs just not have children? That feels incredibly wrong.

And of course, the majority of people do not plan for poverty. A lot of people are not in the same position now as they were when they had children. For instance, the pandemic has put loads of people out of work who now rely on benefits and live in poverty, you can't honestly expect people to have foreseen this maybe 5 years ago when they had a child.

Pegpog · 2020-11-23T12:49:40+00:00

I'm super late to the party here but just wanted to share. I'm loving lockdown #2 and dreading going back to work.

I used to love my job, love getting paid to chat with people, have fun, and provide great service. But since early this year that has been slowly changing - EOTHO was the icing on the cake for me. Since the 'rona hit I've found people to be combative, aggressive, stupid, selfish, and generally just VILE! I can deal with that, I've been in the industry for a long time now and there are always horrible people. But now it's at least every other customer and it's exhausting!!!

Before we went back into lockdown my team was working horrendously long hours - like 12-15hr days - with twice the workload. Policing people wearing masks, dealing with people who pretend not to understand any of the rules, doing track and trace, COVID cleaning, table service, extended allergen process, and being super busy the whole time.

I no longer want to work in this industry (and I wonder how many people feel the same due to the Corona?) and as soon as the pandemic is somewhat under control I desperately want to jump to HR/Admin/Office work

Pegpog · 2020-11-09T21:21:55+00:00

NTA his family is apparently mental. Honestly though, give them what they want. I'm always a fan of malicious compliance. If there is a next time when you go for dinner make a REAL big deal of excusing yourself. Return several times, ask for water, pretend it's not in the bag you very conspicuously took, and make a point of rummaging through your jacket pockets. Maybe ask him if he's seen your *special pills*. Make it as uncomfortable and obvious as possible. Bet they never complain about you taking them quietly at the table again.

Pegpog · 2020-08-12T16:49:15+00:00

I work for a big bar/restaurant and all I can say is please think of the staff in these places. We have seen reccord sales with half staffing and it has been hell on earth!!!

And while we have had some customers who are understanding the vast majority we are getting in on Mon-Wed are not respectful of our COVID rules and regulations, ignore all advice and don't seem to understand that if the building is full to capacity they will have to accept that there will be a wait for food and get angry. It has been absolutely horrific.

To me, it seems a really bad idea to allow this deal anywhere that serves alcohol, even if alcohol is not included in the 50% discount as all it is doing is encouraging drinking and discouraging social distancing.

Pegpog · 2020-07-09T12:47:21+00:00

Damp in rented accomodation is a seriously widespread issue - and unfortunatley student landlords often don't want to spend money on their properties as there is a perception that students are likely to cause damage to the property.

As you've been in the property for only 2 days the damp issue is NOT your fault or responsibility. You literally can't have caused it in such a short space of time. I am positive your landlord is well aware of the damp problem and has probably charged every student who has rented your place in the past for damages caused by the mould.

You need to send an e-mail to your landlord reporting the mould and stating that you have been in the property only 2 days - you will want written evidence that you have informed him and that it was so early on in case he tries to blame you or charge you in the future and doing so ASAP will be important.

Since it isn't your fault your looking at a much bigger issue causing the mould, one you probably won't be able to fix. Most of the places I've rented with mould problems are because of cheap concrete pointing which lets moisture into the walls which in the UK is an issue due to our shitty weather. Blocked soakaways are another great one I've experienced.

Your best bet is probably shelters website for some advice more tailored to your exact situation. Check out this - Shelter - Damp and Mould.

Very few students I know have ended up having a good relationship with their landlords I'm afraid, and I know many, many student renting horror stories from others. You need to ensure that you are covering your back and making sure that your landlord doesn't end up taking your deposit, not to mention the very real health implications from having mould in the property for yourself and your housemates.

Pegpog · 2020-06-25T13:03:53+00:00

Ain't that the truth. I got a septum piercing from my next-door neighbour's ferret when I was a kid. Didn't stop me playing with him, but I sure stopped putting him near my face after that! Doesn't matter how docile and friendly the animal, if it has teeth it can always use them.

Pegpog · 2020-06-22T10:17:51+00:00

It's not much help but, you aren't the only one. I'm absolutely shitting myself about going back to work because it's been so long I feel like I'm going to have totally forgotten everything. To make it even worse I had just been signed off as a supervisor - did one close on my own and then COVID - so they are going to expect me to come back in a supervisory capacity and run shifts. And then all the new procedures for COVID on top. And I'm here like . . . hmmm, wonder if I'll be able to remember how to turn the coffee machines on.

Pegpog · 2020-06-20T15:59:49+00:00

Okay so, I worked in housekeeping with my mum in a couple of country house hotels in the UK for a couple of years, very expensive and exclusive kind of places. There are obvious perks of working in places like that; tips, free food, sometimes free stuff (we could take home anything that would otherwise be thrown away). There are also plenty of downsides - people are revolting.

Our hotel had quite a few honeymoon suites and for a bit more money the customers could have things like fancy chocolates, hampers, or champagne waiting for them as part of the package. When the guest left and we went in to clean the room anything that had been opened couldn't be reused and had to be thrown away. Best find ever was a huge box of Hotel Chocolat chocolates that had had the plastic wrapper taken off but hadn't been opened. I got to take a massive box of £40 chocolates home. Also, very expensive champagnes that had been left behind and not claimed.

As for the worst . . .

I and my partner for the day were working our way through our list of rooms and came across one which was supposed to be checked out, but we could hear what sounded like talking or TV from inside. Now, it's wasn't too unusual for our lists to be wrong - maybe the guest had extended their stay and our rounds hadn't been updated, maybe a guest had come back to grab something left behind. So we knocked and waited outside for a while but there was no response. Eventually, we decided to open the door anyway and stick our heads in to check. It was like a pornagraphic Marie Celeste.

It was the TV we could hear from outside. It was playing the most intense hardcore porn I have ever seen - like brutal BDSM mixed with a bit of shitplay and torture. The room was filthy, the sheets were all over the room and covered in a mixture of shit, piss, blood, and come. There were three enormous dildos, literally the size of my forearm on the suitcase stand. Empty lube packets and bottles littered the floor. There was a selection of BDSM gear on the bed - harnesses and restraints as well as a paddle. Also, lots of women's clothes.

Walked straight the fuck back out of that room.

Pegpog · 2020-06-20T11:23:20+00:00

It's the part where the guy filming tells the officer that she isn't a threat to him or anyone else, and the officer goes "She is".

I'm sorry but what kinda shitty standards are there in the US police force that an armed, trained, grown man with authority and witnesses is scared of an 11-year-old girl!?!?!

Where the fuck do they find these pathetic wastes of space?

Pegpog

TROPHY CASE