MY SECOND WEEK AT POT BLACK

After much begging I eventually persuaded Mick to let me do a second week at Pot Black rather than working in school or at a care home. Phew! I thought but little did I know what they had in store for me!?

I started off with the normal job of cleaning the tables so they look like Wembley as Ian says to me. Like last week this would be my job for the first few hours of every day. Monday afternoon Ian had made a list up for me of which pockets had to be mended. He said it would take me all afternoon and it did! By the end of it my hands were weeping but it didn't matter that much as I new I had done a good job of them.

I was beginning to realise why Mick had agreed to let me do another week when Ian told me I had to clean all of the windows in the Club! Along with the normal jobs the day brings this took me the rest of Tuesday and my hands were softer than the Mum in the fairy liquid advert!

Wednesday came and I wondered what was in store for me today. When I met Chris I was pleased to hear we had alot to do on the computer for the next couple of days. But first we had to do the beer order again. I started off by doing the stock take too see what we needed to order. Then we went on the Internet and ordered the Beer.

After we had ordered the stock we needed Chris got me to type up what he remembered of the Darts game. His memory was very blurred as he had one too many that night. We went through the results of the doubles and singles game's and put them on the website. Then I wrote up a few Customer Profile's about some of the regulars of the Club.

After spending quite some time on the computer Chris decided to give my eye's a rest and showed me how to Re-Tip a couple of Snooker Cues. After showing me the rope's he left 2 of the Cue's in my hand's. I then re-done the Tips myself and done a pretty good job of them too! This was a good thing to learn as it helped my self confidence and will no how to do it in the future.

I then helped Chris create a poster for the Newmarket Race's Day Out and some of the Snooker Competition's which turned out ok. When I had the odd five minutes spare I done some of the littler jobs around the Club like Washing up, Glass collecting and even learn't how to use the till!

So my time at the Pot Black Club has come to an end. Ive had my up's and down's but overall I have really enjoyed myself, learnt alot about the amount of effort and dedication needed to run a Club successfully and in the process have made a few older friends!

**** NOTE:- George has been very keen and undertook any tasks given with great enthusiasm.

We had to slightly adjust his ways towards work but for a 14 year old he has done exceptionally well. All the staff have took to his pleasant and friendly attitude and he has been good with the Club's customers. If he put in the same principles when he leaves school any future employer will be well satisfied.

Mick Wall,

U-19'S SNOOKER COMPO

Just a quick note for all you under 19's who qualified through to the next round of the competition, congratulations for getting this far! The next group stage has been on the notice board for a few weeks now and although some of you have played a couple of games alot of you haven't started! We know some of you have had studying and exams to do which OBVIOUSLY takes priority but now you need to crack on to qualify for the Quarter-Finals and more importantly the MONEY STAGES!!! There are no second chances now, only those 8 players with the most points in their groups will qualify, so you need to play the games to get the points!!!

Games must be played by Monday 20th July!!!!

'NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT!!!!'

From the Bristol Evening Post (purportedly!):

Outside Bristol Zoo is the car park, with spaces for 150 cars and 8 coaches. It has been manned 6 days a week for 23 years by the same charming and very polite car park attendant with the ticket machine. The charges are £1. per car and £5. per coach.

On Monday 1st June, he did not turn up for work. Bristol Zoo management phoned Bristol City Council to ask them to send a replacement parking attendant. The Council said "That car park is your responsibility." The Zoo said "The attendant was employed by the City Council... wasn't he?" The Council said "What attendant?"

Gone missing from his home is a man who has been taking daily the car park fees amounting to about £400 per day for the last 23 years...!

MY WEEK AT THE POT BLACK

Hi. My name is George Newman I am 14 years old and I am currently at Benjamin Britten High School. I have been a member of the Pot Black Club for nearly a year and enjoy playing Snooker with friend's, family and anyone who wants a game. When I was given a letter informing me about Work Experience I thought it would be an interesting and exciting experience to work at the Pot Black Club. Mick Wall the manager said that this would be possible and once the school agreed that it would be a viable placement I looked forward to starting.

On my first morning I arrived at the Club at 9:00am to find Ian anxiously waiting for me with a brush in his hand. The Snooker tables I'd normally enjoy playing on would now be my first chore! Like most of the punters I didn't realise the work involved in keeping them clean and ready for action. I had to brush, baize, polish and iron all twelve tables which would have to be done every morning, the thought of which broke me out in a sweat! Before the Club opens for customers in the morning all the drinks fridges need to be filled at which point I was taught about stock rotation in order to make sure none of the products go out of date.

I learnt how to do a stock report which involved adding up all the different varieties of drink and seeing what we needed more of. This is done by counting it up in dozens. I would need this knowledge later on in the week for when I would be doing the beer order for real.

On Wednesday I met Chris (the Computer Whizz). He introduced me to the Pot Black website and familiarised me with how to make and edit new posts including adding photo's and artwork. Chris then told me that I would be doing my own posts later on. Before hand I had to do the real Stock take and along with Chris devised the beer order for that week. We then used the Internet to order the beer, taking care that we ordered the right stock and for it to be delivered on the right day.

On the Pot Black website they have customer profiles which are questionnaires answered by some of the locals of the Pot Black Club. With the knowledge that I gained earlier I was left to publish one of these profiles on my own. (Which can be seen earlier on this page)

Ian and Chris both taught me the importance of maintaining the Club which is done in many different ways. Ian focused on showing me more of the maintenance side of things. E.g dusting glass shelves, washing up, cleaning coffee tables and cleaning the trophies (Which are now Gleaming!) All of which keep the appearance of the Club at a high standard. Also to keep the customers Keen, the tables need to be kept in excellent condition. Me and Chris went to check the pockets of the tables and found one which was loose. He then showed me how to re-leather and re-attach the pocket to the table.

On Friday morning whilst I was cleaning the tables the beer order arrived. I then had to go and check that everything we ordered had been delivered. Thankfully everything went according to plan and all the stock arrived correctly.

Overall I think I have learnt a lot about some of the key things that need to be done to run a Club successfully. Most of all communicating with customers and staff. I have enjoyed every second that I have spent here (even cleaning the tables) as it was a good experience for me. The staff(Chris, Ian, Chrissie and Irene) have been very nice to me and have made my time here a lot easier than it could of been.

Thank you Mick for giving me the chance to work in your club and I would be grateful if I would be able to spend my second week of Work Experience here.

CUSTOMER PROFILE

This next customer is truly one of the best and would do anything for anyone (aslong as it didn't involve work!) Gottsy has always got a smile on his face, probably due to the fact that all he does is play golf all week. For all the ladies out there beware if Darren adds you as a friend on Facebook, this probably means the wedding bells are just around the corner!

Name:Darren Gotts

Age:29

1. Whats your drink of choice?

A bottle of the finest water.

2. Whats your favourite food?

Anything full of fat.

3. Who are your sporting idols and why?

Tiger Woods, we've got the same swing.

4. Who would you most like to have a dinner date with?

Jennifer Anniston.

5. Name three things you would take on a deserted island?

Golf Clubs, My laptop, Dog.

6. Whats the best thing about Pot Black?

The Barstaff.

7. What would you change if you managed Pot Black?

I would get more female Barstaff.

8. Name a part of your body you would change and why?

My left leg, its older than me and wally put together!

9. Whats your most embarrasing moment?

Harrod catching me tensing in the upstairs mirror.

10. Who are your favourite Pot Black customers and why?

Harrod, then there's always some one to take the juice out of.

11. Worst sporting memory?

Harrod getting a hole in one on the 9th hole.

12. Something you want to do before you die?

Get a hole in one myself otherwise i will never be able to live it down.

13. Chrissie or Rene's Rolls?

Is the a difference??

14. Favourite Member of Staff and why?

Gemma, She makes thursday nights entertaining by telling us all about the embarrasing things she has done in the past week.(Last five minutes)

15. Anything you would like to change in the club?

More water in the fridge.

BIG MONEY SNOOKER COMPO

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW)

CUSTOMER PROFILE'S

Mick & Alf

This month's customer profile's are two of the club's more elder statesmen. Here every Wednesday Alf and Mick spend hours trying to pot a few balls and right the wrongs of the world. Lets see what they think about us.

Name: Mick
Age:75

1. Whats your drink of choice?
The one on the house.

2. Whats your favourite food?
Steak and kidney pudding.

3. Who are your supporting idols and why?
Most Olympic champions, as they get there on a shoe string.

4. Who would you like to have a dinner date with?
Gordon Brown, so i can tell him some home truths.

5. Name three things you would take on a deserted Island?
A Snooker table, Balls and Cue.

6. Whats the best thing about Pot Black?
Friendly Atmosphere.

7. What would you change if you managed Pot Black?
Nothing.

8. Name a part of your body you would change and why?
At my age, all of it.

9. Whats your most embarrassing moment?
Walking in a house by mistake thinking it was my friends house.

10. Who are your favourite Pot Black customers and why?
Most of the people I meet there, as they all are friendly.

11. What is your happiest sporting memory?
England winning the World Cup.

12. Something you would do before you die?
Spend all of my kids inheritance.

13. Chrissie or Rene's rolls?
Who ever is making them at the time.

14. Favourite member of staff and why?
Can't pick anyone out. They all have a sense of humour and are friendly.

15. Anything you'd like to change in the club?
Why change a good thing.


Name: Alf
Age: 72

1. Whats your drink of choice?
Tea

2. Whats your favourite food?
Sea Food!!

3. Who are your supporting idols and why?
Johny Wilkinson for kicking the last minute drop goal against the Aussie's in their own back yard winning us the world cup.

4. Who would you like to have a dinner date with?
The Queen or Shirley Basscy.

5. Name three things you would take on a deserted Island?
Swiss army knife, Good Book, Wind up Radio.

6. Whats the best thing about Pot Black?
"You look after the Old people"

7. What would you change if you managed Pot Black?
Rest room for the Old Codgers.

8. Name a part of your body you would change and why?
At my age it's too late for a change.

9. Whats your most embarrassing moment?
Meeting Princess Margaret.

10. Who are your favourite Pot Black customers and why?
Just those players who enjoy it and don't take it too seriously.

11. What is your happiest sporting memory?
Henry Cooper fighting Cassius Clay.

12. Something you would do before you die?
A trip to New Zealand for one!! (Be nice to have some time to myself)

13. Chrissie or Rene's rolls?
Rene's, with side order or chip's.

14. Favourite member of staff and why?
Mick, he's of the same age group!

15. Anything you'd like to change in the club?
The Service!(Only joking)

(Published by G.Newman on Work Experience)

JIGSAW

After another impressive draw this week, here is the Pot Black 'B' Dart Team that is taking the summer league by storm.....well a slight breeze anyway


DSCN0826 Jigsaw Puzzle

WALLY'S WAFFLE (ABOUT TIME)

It's been a while I know, but having got parole for good behaviour I'm back in circulation. The thing is you go for a short holiday paid by her Majesty and what do you find when you get back out? The country's gone to the dogs! Everyone who I met inside wished they were in that new open jail in London, where the cash you can earn is unrivaled, he privileges tremendous and let out every night! It's right in the centre, so there's plenty of tourists to rob as well! What's the name of this "den of iniquity", hold on it's coming! Yea that's it! Westminster!!! What a great example of CRIMS THOSE LOT ARE!!

Sat down at my desk yesterday and got a phone call from a lady from some recently made-up department in local government asking if a youngster could come down the club and play snooker and they pay for it! Why not I said! But why don't they pay for there own snooker? "Well there's this NEW scheme out to integrate poorer family's into the community and develop social skills and the young lad said he fancied a game of snooker! So rather let him play on the streets and maybe get into crime they can apply to do things like this!" I then got on the defensive and said " Hold on , Seeing my tables getting ripped to shreds my some scruffy little urchin " "Has he ever played snooker before!" "Oh yes she answered, he been down there several times before!!!!!

So lads, if you've spent all your had earned paper money on fixing your bike up, or buying your little brothers birthday present and haven't any wedge left to pay for a game of snooker let me know and I'll give you the number to RING!!!!

AND I SWEAR TO GOD THAT IS A TRUE STORY!!!!

SATURDAY NIGHTS IN JUNE

Pot Black is always trying to find something for our lovely customers to keep them occupied at the weekend. The next few weeks is no different. Here is a run down of what is on in June,

SATURDAY 13TH JUNE :- POT BLACK SERIES OF POKER - We have reached the half way stage, Heat Six of the tournament but it is not too late to take part if you've missed out so far. With the new rule of only 9 of your 12 results count, players still have the chance of playing 7 and with the new Joker system you can soon catch the leaders, so come have a go! Prize money can be won on the night as well as at the end of the year. Last years Grand Prize was nearly £1500.

SATURDAY 20TH JUNE :- QUIZ NIGHT - Ever popular, 60 questions, lyrics round, picture round and you even have a chance of picking the categories you know best. We have had different winners over the past month proving ANYONE can win. If your really thick you could still walk away with a profit in the spot prize rounds!!!

SATURDAY 27TH JUNE :- P*SS-UP POKER - Strictly for P*ss Artists! £10 entry plus 2 £5 buy-ins if required. This poker night is limited to the first 16 paid up Alcoholics! (very popular the last time we held this so get ya names down quick!). Each player starts with a 1000 chips and between 8.30pm and 10.30pm every emptied pint glass will earn you 200 chips and every emptied short a 100 chips. All money shared between the last 3 Drunks!!!!

ALSO Don't Forget the £10quid jobby 6pm onwards on Saturday and Sunday nights on the snooker tables.

DREAM TEAM FINAL TABLE

Another season over and done with and another 6 Pot Black Managers in the Money. Simon Blyth's Dyslexics Untied took top spot. The side being Gomes, Carragher, G.Neville, Shorey, Bosingwa, Arteta, Young, Gerrard, Van Persie, Tevez and Crouch. His 3 subs were Lampard for Gerrard, Cahill for Arteta and O'Shea for G.Neville.

Here are the other winners:-

S.BLYTH - £178

CAT - £140

JNR - £105

S.HOSKIN - £75
R.LINCOLN - £50

R.LONG - £30

View table to find where you finished!!!!