Cambodia 2009

More photos

2009-11-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

An Amazing Experience

2009-11-01T05:33:00.000-08:00

Firstly apologies for the delay in putting our final post on here, it has been a bit of a wirlwind since we got back!

Just as the title says, what an amazing experience. The whole trip met exceeded our expectations in every way. The travelling was tough going it took almost 24 hours from Manchester to our final destination in Siem Reap but it was worth every single moment.

During our time there we worked with a fantastic group people who have such passion and determination for this wonderful cause. The work we completed whilst we there included helping to build a rain water collection unit so that the children would have clean, safe drinking water, build a bio-diversity garden so that the children could use this as part of their classes, complete the pathway between the 2 schools (not an easy task digging up all of that grass) and painting one of the main classrooms. During the week there was a lot of shovelling and carrying of sand, gravel and cement but there was also a lot of laughter. Although it was school holdiays whilst we were there a lot of the children were with us, helping us for most of the day. They had a great time teaching us Khmer and we enjoyed teaching them English. We played games in between working which was great fun. We spent one afternoon making face masks and teaching them origami. We enjoyed it just as much as the kids!

We thouhgt it may be very upsetting seeing the children but it was the opposite they're so happy! This is such a beautiful country and the people were warm and welcoming. It was an extremely humbling experience which was worth every minute and to see what the money raised was used for was amazing. The hardest part of the whole week wasn't the lifting or shovelling it was saying good bye to the children on the last day! There was a real sense that you would miss them and when you look at the photos you really do!

We hope to go back and do another trip soon. We have only this week arranged for posters to go out to our associates for our Spirit to Serve our Community Day next Friday, during Global Customer Appreciation Week. On the poster we have included the list of items which the school needs which we will be collecting and sending to Pepy so that we continue to support their efforts and support the children and families of Ruun Village!!

There are more photos on another post but there are so many that please get in touch with us to see more or find out more information on Pepy and their efforts!

xxxx

Cambodia here we come!!!!

2009-09-19T14:10:00.001-07:00

Well, it's 10pm we have checked our itinerary, we have our passports, not sure if we have packed correctly but we are off tomorrow morning regardless!!

Be in touch in a week!
Lots of Love
Lou and Nikki
xxxxxxx

Louise's Back to the Floor Fundraiser

2009-09-19T14:04:00.001-07:00

SATURDAY

(Just would like to let you know, I have never worked in ops so this is goimg to be fun!)

6:30 am – Wake up to prepare to do my double shift (I can’t remember the last time I was up this early on a Saturday!!

08:15am – Report to the house keeping office, I am working with Sue (one of our housekeeping supervisors – phew!) I find out Sue and I have been allocated 12 rooms, that’s cool, will be fun!

08:30am – Sue and I begin our shift. It’s fun, I’m loving being taught how to make the those hospital corners, I will now use those sheets that my Mam bought without the elastic corners!

10:00am – Oh no! Sue has informed me that we need to pick up an additional 9 rooms due to absence, my back and feet are already aching, how bad is that??!!

11:45am – It’s lunch time. OMG! My feet are throbbing. I have hours left to go! The associates are loving it though, don’t think they ever though I would do it!

15:00pm – I have another 2 hours left and 5 rooms to do, Sue is really encouraging, think she can see I’m flagging a little but she is keeping me going!

17:00pm – Finished my 21 rooms! I have 30minutes till my next shift!! My feet have almost given up already and I have muscles in places I have not felt for a long time, not a good sign!

17:30pm – I have clocked in at C&B – I’m off to clean glasses and set up for a private dinner, feet are still sore, I have flat shoes on how can this be?!

22:30pm – The dinner finished 1 hour ago and we have cleared up and re-set for tomorrow morning, I’m off to the Broughton Suite Bar!

01:00am – I have finished my long shift, although I feel tired I have thoroughly enjoyed my day! I even made tips on the bar!!

I enjoyed every moment of the day, it might sound like I was wining all day but seriously, Sue will vouch for me, I really enjoyed it and would like to thank all those associated that worked with me and put up with me asking them questions all day (still not got my head around Micros!!!) I do think Nikki had the right idea by spreading her time, I will definitely do that next time!

A huge huge thank you to all those associates that supported the efforts and contributed to a fantastic cause!!
xxxx

Nikki's Back to the Floor Fundraiser

2009-09-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY - and pair black shoes number 1 – old faithfuls’ & comfy!

6pm-10pm The night started well in Conference & Banqueting, I joined the team just as the main course had finished, I managed to serve desert without dropping any and coffee without spilling any! All went calm after the toast, until the room was turned around – then didn’t sit down for hours!

I couldn’t sleep for my feet throbbing!

SATURDAY, and black pair of shoes number 2 – Flat’s, surely can’t go wring!!

Old faithfuls’ now the most uncomfortable shoes on the planet (or so I thought) so the flats came out – bliss!

9am-2pm Housekeeping – OMG I knew this was going to be a tough department, but hat’s off to the team, I don’t know how you do it!! The football turnaround nearly finished me off!! (Ann – sorry about the bins!)

2pm-5pm Next was a crash course on Micros and a stint on the Chimney Bar, then followed by a few hours in Sports & Spikes – It has been about 14 years since I pulled a pint, and only managed to break 1 glass!!

5pm-7.30pm The Chimney Bar! By this point it felt as if the outside tables were about a mile and a half away!

By the time I got home, I was unable to put pressure on my feet and I was even too tired to watch Big Brother!

SUNDAY – And black pair of shoes number 3! There was no way Saturdays pair were going anywhere near my feet!

Flat’s now the most uncomfortable pair of shoes on the planet!

10am to 2pm Sunday Breakfast and Sunday Carvery – How I could

Thank goodness only 3 days – at this point I had run out of back shoes!

Again, I take my hat off you the guys in Op’s, it has been 14 years since I have worked operationally and this weekend has reminded me why I moved into Sales! Thank you for making me feel so welcome (and being gentle with me!) and thank you for your support with my fundraising.

Finally, I would just like to say a huge THANK YOU to Debbie Cavanagh who made all this happen!!

Cheese and Wine Fundraising Evening

2009-08-23T08:13:00.001-07:00

Hello again!

The fundraising is well and truly under way. As you can see from the photos above the cheese and wine night was a great night, there was lots of cheese and of course lots of wine!! The cheese board certainly didn't look like the photos above at the end of the evening, it was delicious!

Nikki also sold some of her cards on the evening, everyone really loved them. I think Nikki will be busy making cards until Christmas with the response she has had and the orders!

On the evening, held at Nikki's house, we raised £100.00 which was a fantatsic effort, thank you to Sian, Becky, Gill, Liz, Claire, Jayne and Carol for supporting our efforts, and thank you for a great night!!

Keep your eyes open for our next blog, Nikki and I will be reporting on our 'going back to the floor' fundraising in the hotel, it's not one to miss!!

Speak soon

Lou and Nikki x

Charity Car Wash

2009-08-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

The fundraising has begun!

Nikki has been busy working away making cards, she has had some great orders so far! The cards are fab, so check out the photos and see the cards and get your orders in before they all go!

Yesterday Kelly Hughes and I carried out a Charity Car Wash at the Preston Marriott. We charged £2.50 per car, you may think that was cheap but we got the cars coming in. We started at 12:30 and didn't finsh the last car until 18:15! I have muscles aching in places I didn't know I had them! It was all worth it as we raised £60.50 and the cars all looked great. The leisure club members and guests thought it was a great idea and we even had guests asking if we would be there today or next weekend! We will do this again, on a Monday night in the next couple of weeks, will update you on the date. Thank you to Tarek, Dan and Rob who drummed up the business for us, thank you for really supporting our efforts! Thank you to all the associates, leisure club members and guests that contributed to the fund, it really will make a difference!

Nikki and I have some great fundraising activities planned. There is a cheese and wine night on Thursday at Nikki's. We are both 'going back to the floor'. I have auctioned myself in the hotel and the department that donates the most money will have the pleasure of my services for a full shift on our busiest Saturday in August, 22nd! Nikki will be working shifts in various departments in the hotel that donate money to the fund!

Keep watching our blog for updates and photos of all the great activities!

Bye bye for now!