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The vacation is coming to an end as we all put on our serious faces and prepare for the guests’ arrivals in two days. We’re all testing our serving skills out on the owners (Sally and Stuart) and the managers (Candice and Paul). The cooks are trying out their new menu and so far it looks amazing! It includes baby octopus canapés, a beautifully presented lamb rack and coral-shaped macaroon deserts. Woody helped the chefs create some fantastic driftwood/shell plates. I was quite impressed by all the creativity.

Woody was really nervous and a bit frustrated that he would have to serve dinners twice a week – something outside his job description. I think he’s got his confidence back a bit because he just came over to give me a kiss and said, “I’ve got this shit!” I’m glad he’s changed his attitude about it. I’m sure he’ll do great at it like he does everything else once he gets more comfortable with it all.

We all alternate and have to do two days of fine dining serving per 10-day shift regardless of your position – housekeepers, dishwashers, guides alike. This involves studying wine that is

paired with each portion of the meals, memorizing the detailed canapés and multitasking conversing with guests while serving tables of approx. 10-35 people. Hopefully my bad memory serves me well!

Last night, Woody and I slept really well. It’s finally cooling down. We did a sunrise snorkel trip at The Blue Lagoon, a short kayak ride up the reef. Woody was the guide today. He did really well! As soon as I hopped off the kayak into the chilly morning water, the first thing I saw was a three meter reef shark that had swam up to check me out. As soon as he realized I had noticed him, he swam off under a coral bommie (the large coral underwater islands).

It’s been another amazing day in this little outback world!