Geeking out, exhausted, and overwhelmed. Last March 22 till 24 was the most unexplainable high I experienced this year. Here's why:
The Cafe Renovation is in full swing. We have the fund saved up and we are going for it.
Backing out is not an option. The plan is to replace the roof completely. Summer will be merciless as the heat index is expected to rise and southeast Asia is experiencing an El Niño.
Come Sunshine
Our former roofing is a transparent polycarbonate. It was the worst. The low ceiling can't handle Sun's heat just penerates in your skull. We managed to dampen the heat with rattan covers. It provided an added vibe to our dining area. It does its job but is not as efficient as a fully covered ceiling.
Come Rain
Last year was La Niña season and we got hit pretty badly. Leaks everywhere, and water sips every nook and cranny. A lot of merchandise was destroyed. We've experienced indoor flooding, and maintaining and cleaning is a burden. We got blamed for practically flooding the whole building. It was an ordeal.
The Masterplan
Totally remove the old roofing. Replace it with a new metal roof, and slap some insulation sandwiched over a nice wooden ceiling. Easy right? Well...
We need to consider the electrical layout and new lights. The hauling of materials, equipment and manpower. Everything in 3 days! Doable? Yes, with added hiccups.
Why in 3 days?
So while all this Renovation is happening we have a Renesance Faire over the weekend. It's a perfect opportunity to close temporarily and divert our energy to operate the Food Booth. It was our first time to set up a booth and we are just winging this one out. This is an unexplored territory for me and I only have the slightest idea of what to do. The plan is simple: To have a quaint little coffee corner with happy customers managed by 2 staff, while we'll go and enjoy the event. I swear. I have never been so wrong in my life.
WE ARE SWAMPED! Grabe! Dinumog kami which is nice and all but like I said, I did not expect this kind of crowd. We have a long queue that reached the queens stage and orders are pouring in NON-STOP from opening till closing. 2 staff are tasked with meals, 2 for beverages, and one staff who handles the orders. It was not enough. We did not even have the chance to sit down and have a break on the first day of the event. Oh! I forgot to mention! We need to hike a mountain and bring all of our stuff, tables, and chairs to the venue. Setting up was a challenge setting down was just torture haha!
It was our first time and I learned a lot. I'm used to doing things in a controlled environment. Having a food booth is a different kind of monster. Everything is mobile and fast-phased. The customer flow, the kind of food you'll offer, and the quickest way to do it. I'm amazed at how my staff handled everything smoothly. Adjusting right away without direct supervision. They know what to do and have a sense of urgency. I'm lucky. Also, I'm proud to have my fiancée for taking charge and keeping everything in line. I could not do it without her. I love you so much!
Honestly, my mind was on the cafe renovation and half was on the Renfaire. I would like to split myself into two and handle both projects. What am I thinking? Both are demanding and I'm glad I pulled through. I will definitely NOT do that again. If you wish to check the awesomeness of it all feel free to look up #RenfairePH It was fantastic. The landscape of the costumes in the sea of pine trees feels like you are in a video game.
Rest and Recreation
After everything, We had the observance of the Holy week and usually, we're closed during this time of year but since the renovation lasted 6 days instead of 3 days, we opted to operate. Now I'm craving to travel again to recuperate but we still have a wedding to tend to and my dear readers I have not done a single thing about it and It's April.
So, I'm taking my precious time trimming the guest list and exploring alternative ways to have an intimate wedding that won't break the bank. I get to talk to friends and the advice that I got was helpful enough.
So there you go! That's my adventure so far. See you in my next post cheers! I'll just watch some summer isekai release muna. :)
