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I’ve been working in the events industry for some time now and thus I know a thing or two about how venues operate. It has been immensely frustrating dealing with this private venue that has been chosen for a wedding we are organising in November.
First some background… Generally speaking, a venue has a specified beverage list that includes the normal bar stock (softdrinks, spirits, beers, etc), the wines available and the champagne available. Should you, as the client, wish to bring in a wine or champagne that is not on their list, the venue normally charges you a corkage fee per bottle. This corkage fee is more-or-less around R50 per bottle of wine and R200 per bottle of champage, obviously prices vary venue to venue. As a client you can also request the venue to bring in the champagne or wine for you, but this can be tiresome and expensive.
Back to my story… Our bride requested to see if it would be more cost effective to bring in the champagne and be charged a corkage fee, or to have the venue bring in the specific champagne. Now the venue is not part of the “main stream” wedding venues so from my conversation with them, I assume they are unaware of this industry norm.
I phone the guy and spend a good 20 minutes trying to explain what I mean before the line mysteriously goes dead.
Me: The bride wants to see which route to take so please can you let us know what the cost would be if you [the venue] were to purchase the champagne as opposed to us sourcing the champagne and paying a corkage fee.
Him: Whether you bring in the champagne or we source it, there will still be corkage fees applicable.
Me: Thinking to myself…Uhm! Are you out of your mind! That doesn’t seem at all fair!
Me: That isn’t the norm as a venue would normally charge a markup on the price paid per bottle. How can you expect the client to pay the price per bottle and then still pay your exorbitant corkage fee?
Him: That’s the way we work. If we were to put a markup per bottle, it would be a 100% markup.
Me: What?! That’s absolutely crazy!
And the line went dead…
I did manage to get a hold of him a little later on, once I managed to curb my temper, and he agreed to get a price per bottle of the brands the client wanted. I’m hoping he does some research between now and giving me the price per bottle because if he comes back with the words “price per bottle plus corkage fee”, I will not be held responsible for my actions.
I had this yummy dessert at Kong Roast at The Buzz Shopping Centre in Fourways on Friday night when I went to dinner arranged by RubyLetters.
It is listed as “Berry Meringue” on their dessert menu and is priced at *R38.00 per portion. It is meringue topped with a berry infused cream and finished off with a tart berry compote.
My Thoughts
The sweet meringue was wonderfully complimented by the unsweetened cream and the berry compote. The creamy meeting the sweet made it perfect to indulge in – not too rich, not too sweet, just the perfect middle ground so no guilty feelings. I did think that the cream could do with a bit more berry infusing as it tasted like plain whipped cream to me. (That could just be because my tastebuds were over indulged in the piece of meringue I ate first.)
Rating: 5 out of 10
Try it and let me know what you think!
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
*The price is correct at the time of publishing
My experience with the security at the Sandton Gautrain station yesterday has left me in a seriously bad mood. My ranting on twitter did not make me feel any better, so I’m hoping this post will.
My previous experiences with the Sandton station have been pleasant. I drove into the underground “drop off/collect” area, waited in my car until I got the call from my Boss to say he’d arrived and that he’d meet me in this area, and then we’d leave. The security guards would write my car details onto their clipboarded-sheet when I arrived and would make notes or cross me off when I left. See…very uneventful and hassle-free.
Yesterday was different. Yesterday was a nightmare!
I arrived at the underground area and a security guard came up to my car to tell me I was only allowed to stay there for 15 minutes. I told him I wasn’t going to be leaving my car and asked whether this rule still applied. It did.
I understand the reasoning behind the “15 minutes parking or else your car will be clamped” rule, but doesn’t that apply to the people who are going into the actual station to meet family, friends or colleagues? Surely that doesn’t apply to the person that is staying in or standing next to their car?
My 15 minutes were perfectly timed by the security and he came to my car window. He told me that I needed to move my car because I’d been there for 15 minutes and that if I didn’t move my car the people monitoring the CCTV cameras would think that I’d just given him a bribe to stay parked. I stupidly asked him whether he was suggesting I drive my car out the parkade and back in again. He said I should. I then told him that that would be a complete waste of petrol and that I didn’t see the need to move when the collection area had a total of five cars in it. He became very aggressive with me so I wound up my window, mouthed very rude words at him, and proceeded to drive out to the “drop off and go area” on the street.
Here I parked my car and stood a little distance away from it trying to spot my boss. About two minutes later another guard comes to tell me that I’ve left my car unattended and he’s going to clamp it. I’d had enough. I completely lost my sense of humour. I argued a bit. I told them my car was not unattended because it was still in my line of sight. I told them they should get their manager for me. I told them they should arrest me. I gave up! I got in my car and proceeded to drive around the block until I managed to spot my Boss who was infuriated with me because I wasn’t ready to pick him up. This infuriation lasted about a minute which is the time it took to explain the last twenty minutes.
Don’t get me wrong. I understand these guards need to be strict because some people take advantage of the free parking at the station in order to shop at Sandton City. And I admit that I shouldn’t have parked in the “drop off and go area” on the street. What I can’t understand is why the guards aren’t taught to be polite. I wouldn’t have thought twice about moving if I’d been approached and told “Sorry ma’am but the allocated time to park here is up and due to our rules and regulations, you will need to move.” Yes, I may still have had a word or two to say, but I would have been happier in complying. The other thing I can’t understand is why I was told to move when I was still in my car. The parking lot wasn’t full. I wasn’t taking up four parking spaces with my car. I wasn’t doing anything.
Am I the only one that has had such an awful experience?
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
There I was minding my own business, reading some of the blogs in my Google Reader, when I happened upon this post on Being Brazen’s blog. And now I have the severe case of “I wants”! I wonder whether Gary will let me do this in our house?
Take a look! You just have to!
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
This happened to me! Although it wasn’t an ex boyfriend. And I didn’t look as bedraggled like she does.
This moment of horror happened to me while I was at the Rooms on View expo that took place in May this year. The entire day had been spent running between our offices and the Sandton Convention Centre delivering brochures or relieving my boss to “man our stand” when he had to attend meetings. The boss called me in a panic around 5pm saying that he needed a few bottles of champagne to be delivered before 6pm. I then rushed around the office trying to get the last few office related things done before taking a few bottles out of our stock and running to my car. I managed to get to the convention centre in time but now had to carry the bloody heavy box of champagne bottles from the underground parking all the way to the exhibition space. It was a mission! I managed the tortuous trip and arrived at our stand red-faced and out of breath. After placing the box on the floor, I stood up and was met with the perfectly made-up face of a girl I used to go to school with. You know, the popular girl with the perfect teeth and the perfect skin and the perfect hair and the perfect everything. I tried to divert my gaze as if I didn’t spot her but it was too late! I had been seen! In all my red-faced, breathless, unglamorously dressed glory. I allowed for a quick conversation before urgently mentioning that I just had to go because there was still a lot to be done blah blah blah. And I hot-footed it out of there as soon as I possibly could!
What was your “moment”?
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
I saw this meme doing the rounds and decided to steal borrow it from Madi’s blog as I’m hoping it will spur my brain into writing the blog posts that are currently stored up there.
1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
All bills as it means less money to spend on shoes 
2. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
A sushi restaurant up the road from our house
3. What do you really want to be doing right now?
I’d love to be lying on a beach watching the waves lap against the shore
4. How many schools did you attend?
2 primary schools and 2 high schools
5. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
It was one of the last few clean things in my wardrobe (our domestic didn’t come to work last week so we’re working with almost bare wardrobes)
6. What are your thoughts on petrol prices?
It’s ridiculous that it costs so much just to fill up my relatively small tanked car
7. First thought when you woke up this morning?
Oh crap! I snoozed when I was supposed to be up early!
8. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
I must get to work early in order to get that quote sent in time
9. Do you miss being a child?
Not entirely… I miss the freedom the most
10. What errand/chore do you despise?
Going to the pharmacy each month and having to stand in the dispensary queue
11. Get up early or sleep in?
Sleep in! I love my snooze button!
12. Have you found real love yet?
Yes
13. Favorite lunch meat?
Chicken
14. What do you get most times you go into a grocery store?
Milk and chocolate
15. Beach or lake?
Both
16. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
I think for some it is but I look forward to being married
17. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
Desperate Housewives
18. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
No one actually. We’re all famous in our own right!
19. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
Yes
20. Ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
Nope. Never even picked up a fire extinguisher.
21. Ring tone?
3OH!3 – Starstrukk (lyrics go – nice legs daisy dukes…)
22. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
Uhm…not sure but the strangest place I’ve rinsed my mouth is under the bath tap because Gary was using the basin to shave.
23. Somewhere in South Africa you’ve never been and would like to go?
I’d love to see the Namaqualand daisies
24. Do you go to church?
No but used to go every Sunday for eighteen years
25. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
New career
26. How old are you?
25
27. Do you have a go-to person?
Yes
28. Are you where you want to be in life?
Almost
29. Growing up, what were your favourite cartoons?
Gummi Bears, Duck Tales – the classics!
30. What about you do you think has changed the most?
My stress levels and the way I deal with stress
31. Looking back at high school were they the best years of your life?
Some of them were, some of them weren’t
32. Are there times you still feel like a kid?
Of course
33. Do you have a pager?
Nope
34. Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager?
Sandton City…sadly
35. Were you the type of kid you would want your children to hang out with?
Yes
36. Who do you think impacted your life the most?
My parents
37. Was there a teacher or authority figure that stood out for you?
Nope
38. Do you tell stories that start with “when I was your age”?
I do!
39. What was the first new car you purchased?
A Toyota Yaris – it’s only 2 and a bit years old!
40. What is the scariest thing that has happened to you as an adult?
My emergency appendix operation last year
41. What advice would you give to someone about to get married?
Hmmm…tough one! When you argue, make sure you don’t go to sleep angry!
42. What’s your favourite room in your home and why?
A toss up between my bedroom and the lounge
43. What advice would you give someone starting their first job?
You will be the skivvy. You will be the one to run around doing the dirty jobs. But learn from these “errands” they will mould you to be a better manager and team player.
44. If you could go back and change one thing you did, what would it be?
I wouldn’t change anything because that would change the person I am today.
45. If you could go back and change one thing someone else did, what would it be?
I would change the way my first boss spoke to me! The insults still hurt even after years.
I’m not going to tag anyone! If you need blog fodder then consider yourself tagged!
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
Many of you know this easy-to-make dessert, and possibly even how to make it. I made this dessert for a family lunch we are attending tomorrow and thought I’d share the recipe with you.
Ingredients:
1 x tin caramel (R15.99 each)
1 x 500ml cream (R25.99 each)
1 x bar mint chocolate (R17.99 each)
2 x packs tennis biscuits (R6.49 each)
Method:
Grate the chocolate. Beat the cream until stiff. Add in the caramel and mix again. Gently mix/fold in 3/4 of the grated chocolate. Then find a suitable dish and layer some tennis biscuits on the bottom. Then spoon on some of the cream/caramel/grated chocolate mixture and smooth over. Then sprinkle some of the extra grated chocolate over this mixture. Repeat the layer of biscuits, layer of mixture, etc until the mixture is finished. Then garnish the top with crushed tennis biscuits and the grated chocolate, cover with cling wrap and refrigerate.
*You can substitute the mint chocolate with flake for a more chocolatey taste.
*For more decadence, buy an extra tin of caramel and melt it slowly over a low heat in a saucepan. Then spread it over the cream/caramel/grated chocolate mixture before sprinkling over the grated chocolate and then layering the biscuits to repeat.
Girl Guides is live! And I’m a reviewer!
Basically, Girl Guides is a group of local ladies that get together monthly to discuss new or improved gadgets over a glass of wine or, in my case, a decadent dessert. We then review these gadgets and show how the girl-next-door can use them to her advantage. It’s kinda like a book club but oh so much better!
I must say that I am super excited to be a part of this new venture. I look forward to reviewing the gadgets according to my very high, very OCD standards.
What are you waiting for? Click on the logo above and visit the site! Tell us what you think. Tell us how we can improve. Tell us what gadgets we should be reviewing.
*Please note that the site is still very new so there may be a glitch or two. If you do experience any please let us know.
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