malcolmstrachan
Introduction
Easy going person looking to work again, and meet new people
I joined expat.com on 18 February 2021.
Expat experience
Worked as Chef to operational staff of a refinery
beautiful country
Poor country left in mess when French left, or least never looked after once French left when they did, poor people but wonderful people
Managed the start of the closing of catering operation with oil refinery
Not a lot to be done on this project,
Poor management from my employers side as it was joint venture
Managed the start of take over of soft services due to issue to start, but was always difficult
Not a lot really very difficult from day one as too many people knew better
was difficult operations to work with, too many self centered people
Managed catering operation to open the EU embassy in Somalia
Difficult operation to manage to get anything done
Monkey's could break in your home
I was more or less settled in Switzerland until covid changed my working status.
I was in Basel and found very peaceful place to live, easy going and relaxed pace to live
Some say food is expensive, yes that as a pounds and pennies yes expensive but you pay for quality,
Managed catering operation of Oil Company
Was rotational 30 days on 30 days off
Over ran by cars was first there 2008 and you could walk around easy, but money took over
Worked for Renaissance SOAG in two sites in the Helmand area of the country
Busy times managing different site, tent living no Glam camping here
Hot and Cold weather,
Worked for Renaissance SOAG in different Site around the Country
Busy times managing different site, highlight being 45,000 meals in one day
safety in my latter weeks there because issue
Worked first for Es-Ko with the presidential security details then with PTI Catering to the Canadian Military
Dusty and busy City, but i still say one the most beautiful cities i ever been except every building is riddled with bullet holes
safety in my latter weeks there because issue
Managed the port side of a two camp operation,
Catering to American Military personnel, Es-Ko Company, Did not see much due to being on fixed site
Car trips meant your arse needed blast protection
Worked on opening the first of many camp units as they Military call them that was going to follow in the years ahead
Catering to American Military personnel, Es-Ko Company, Manta had wonderful life style beach and my apartment had open living maybe a day slept in Hammock, but Blues eyes when unknown there
Many poor people but not unhappy plus with American arrive beer went from 50 cents to a $ overnight, end of that remote town living
Worked here this was start of my Remote site or Contract Catering career as I was to find out but all started with being asked if I wanted Chef job in Zagreb
Catering to Military personnel, Es-Ko Company
the shock of being asked what My plan was for the snow removal never had that question at chef school
chef position with 3 place while there, Lighthouse, Hooks then Tapa's, Tapas was highlight as it was a international menu
Beach again, and my wife left me so little peaceful time for sure
visa issues because people thought they could
Executive chef position with Chapter Viewpoint, food based on recipes from the State of New Mexico, wonderful menu able to work with and update service
open space golf, MTV music SnowJob,
nothing to dislike easy going place some say the mill smelled but it never bothered us
Executive chef position for First Nations People,
First Nations People made sure you had to work and manage people, not always easy but give you the skills of people management, then i played football in Kamloops and help junior side win Canadian National with a with tough Scottish tackling
Cant say dislike but local people staff made you focus always as you never knew of they turn up
Tried to Settle down in Mississauga with Executive Sous Chef positions
Busy place and good staff and they worked hard
Company employed wrong people in some positions made easy operation difficult
Back to Minaki for summer season, pretty much the same as last summer
enjoyed the season there, also played football and was asked to try out for the Winnipeg indoor football team,
Looking for what be next work wise,
Four Season Nevis had not long opened so enjoyed the quality of the service along with quality golf
Golf Beach social enjoyment
My wife at the time did not enjoy the gecko with free range of the house
Back to Minaki as family and settled in to career as Sous Chef,
Settled in my career enjoying wonderful foods and service, nice cabin by the lake
it was seasonal work so you knew movement was going to come
Back to Scotland for my daughter to be born, and spend time working off shore, on a Oil Rig enjoyable but I still had Chef head and cooking staff food of contract catering was not for me, also had time as Head Chef and Old Mill Inn
My daughter was born on our return to Aberdeen, so good times for sure,
was never settled as i was still very much as chef mind
Minaki Lodge,
A busy and wonderful remote Hotel managed by Four Seasons at this time, fresh lake fish,
remote but enjoyable experience
Bofinger Restaurant,
A busy and wonderful theatre restaurant in the heart of downtown Toronto, enjoyable city,
it was one the coldest winters that year in Canada, so had to get the correct jacket, that was all
Benmiller Inn,
Beautiful country Inn in the heart of the countryside next to a river which i forget the name now, with a enjoyable town of Goderich to enjoy a beer after cycling too
little remote for 20 something year old but very pleasant all the same
Periwinkle Restaurant
Beach was always a good point but also work was fun and enjoyable even though busy place
this was only a short term contract, as i was moving to Canada so no negatives
Worked at Elbow Beach Hotel
Beach was always a good point but also work was fun and enjoyable even though busy place
Winter time was slow
Start of my working away, 9 hour drive back to Aberdeen on a good day,
Quality food service started to learn about food quality that would stay with me
Looking back the pressure but at the time it was a pleasure only
Start of the working routine finish school straight to work, no child labour laws then
learning and learning
My school work was second place if that high I was not interested in School work
