Week 4- Mutzig and NYE 2005
03 /1/06

Its been a fun week this week. The 2005/6 NYE party went really well, its finally started dumping some serious snow and I had my best ‘oh-my-god-I’m-such-a-blagger-behind-this-bar’ moment.

First off, I’d like to say sorry to Ella and Wendy, (real names Elaine and Ellen – or possibly the other way round.) I got confused about whose name I’d pulled out of the hat to buy for the Secret Santa because I always call them by their nicknames. I ended up buying for Ella when I should’ve bought for Wendy. So, slightly late and knowing she loves chocolate, I wrote Merry Christmas on her wall in Mars bars.

Mutzig Night Blagger
Anyway, I seem to be doing OK at the bar work thing. We had a few of our regulars turn up and try to do the Mutzig challenge on Mutzig Thursday. Basically, it involves getting everyone to drink as much Mutzig (a 6.9% strength lager) as they can. I put a black marker line on their hand every time they buy one, then generally by 3 or 4, as they sway while trying to focus on their hand, they can’t believe its only been that few.

To cut a long night short, I ended up working on my own all night and with the help of their efforts, took one of the highest night’s takings this year AND had them dancing on the tables by the time they left (the only time it’s happened this season!) Not bad considering I was barely able to pour a pint a few weeks ago!

(By the way the winner drunk ten pints and had to be peeled, eyes closed and grinning off the sofa. The best woman drank 6 and the record from last year is 16 pints apparently.)

NYE 2005
I swore I’d never ever work on New Years Eve night; it’s a time for family, friends and partying. But, if I ever do again, I hope it’s like this year. Our theme for the evening was ‘Bling night’ although it kind of morphed into a general 70s, 80’s and anything cheesy night.

As we’d all be working behind the bar all night, me, Iain, Jonny and John (general assistant) were all ‘Blinged up.’ As was the bar, which had a definite ‘Bling’ edge with all the champagne we’d brought in.

To be honest, most of the night was a blur of drinks mixing, pint pouring, bad dancing and generally getting into the flow of keeping people pissed and having a great time. We had two New Years celebrations, one at 12pm French time, then another an hour later with the BBC on at Midnight GMT.

About 4am just a few staff were left and we shut the bar. Iain produced a bottle of champagne each for all of us working that night so we all kicked back with some cigars and welcomed 2006. It was tons of fun and pretty much everyone had a great time.

Add to that the fact that it was dumping down with snow outside (and did for a couple of days) and it’s all good. The sun was out today which combined with the snowfall meant there were perfect conditions out there. I Love 2006! Lets hope it’s started as it means to carry on. Happy New Year!

Secret Santa