It was a high pressure kitchen.
It was always busy and service was relentless.

The team that we had then was great. We worked hard and played hard.
Many of the chefs were on working holiday visas and had done time in regimented European kitchens.

Our German boss/head chef was tough and direct, but always fair.

When I knew I was leaving, I gave my boss 6 months notice because I knew how hard it would be to find a replacement.

I was not wrong.

The turnstile of chefs that came through the next few months was wild. Many didn't last longer than a fortnight.

I really liked one of the chefs that came through.
English bloke.
Hard worker, great communicator, good sense of humour. Seemed pretty solid.

One Saturday morning, he rocked up for work in a T-shirt, shorts and thongs. His eyes were red and bloodshot.
"I'm so sorry. I can't do it"

He had trauma from working in some kitchens in Europe and had taken some time away.

He thought he was ready to come back, but the high pressure must have triggered something and he was having panic attacks before work.

I gave him a hug. My boss and I both wished him well.
We both knew the feeling.

This cleaver was left behind by someone else.

He had applied for a senior position (mine), and had told my boss he was definitely on board.

One Sunday, he just never showed up.
We were so worried. We called his phone, left voice messages. We even called his mum, who lives in another state.

She eventually called us back and told us to stop trying to contact him, and that he would contact us.

That's when we knew that he wasn't coming back.

We waited 2 weeks before we divvied up his knives.

@dilmandila The tools left behind by chefs...
I also have a cherry pitter and a fish spatula😅

Fish spatula guy was a dick.