I’ve known him for about five years. I’ve seen him often, probably at least once a week. We’ve probably said hello or good morning, but for the most part greetings have been non verbal. The nod of the head, a smile. Acknowledgement of presence. Recognition. Things like that.
I’ve seen him only in one place. The Commons Coffeehouse on Ernest De Silva Mawatha. He goes about in dark blue overalls, doing his thing, which could mean painting, moving things around, and attending to maintenance work that I was mostly clueless about. It’s normal there. Like the security guard helping people park or take out their cars, opening the door etc. or the person at the counter taking an order or someone serving the guests.
A few days ago, I was sitting in the back garden, writing. Faustace Emil Fernando didn’t greet me. He simply asked, ‘don’t you want the fan?’
I have been there enough times to know which switch works for which fan. I had tried the switch that turned on the fan nearest to me. It hadn’t worked. It hadn’t bothered me either. I had forgotten all about it.
So I smiled and told him, ‘I tried the switch, but it didn’t work.’
He smiled back and simply said, ‘we’ll make it work!’
And he did. Now that’s something that I have come to accept as ‘The Commons’ touch. You don’t have to ask. The staff notices. They ask or simply sort out the problem. If there’s one.
Faustace Emil Fernando took less than 30 seconds to ‘make it work.’ I was impressed. So we got to talking. Not immediately, but a few minutes later, i.e. once he was off for the day.
He was born in Borella and attended All Saints College and later moved to St Joseph’s, Grandpass. His father had worked in the Welikada Prison.
‘I went to a Roman Catholic School and studied in the English medium. We spoke English at home. We were the last English medium batch, so we were all automatically promoted, whether or not we did well at exams! I was the fifth in a family of seven children. It wasn’t easy for us. I never had time to secure qualifications. The family needed money and all of us had to contribute. We all went to work immediately after leaving school. So, just as my older siblings had done, I started working immediately after my OLs.’
His first job, interestingly, had been in the hospitality industry. He was hired as a helper who worked in the maintenance section of the Koggala Beach Hotel.
‘The problem was the distance. My younger brother had a garage in Nayakakanda, Kerawalapitiya. So I worked there for a few years before getting a job in Kuwait. It was in maintenance. I was essentially a plumber, an electrician, a carpenter; in fact I did whatever I was called on to do. I learned on the job.
There’s a trace of restlessness in him. After working for 15 years in Kuwait, he returned to Sri Lanka. The main reason was the war in that country. He had bought a van and launched a school service which he did for 10 years.
‘I always liked hotels. So I came to the Commons.’
Again, it was all about maintenance. Anything and everything including helping out the waiters on occasion when short-staffed. He worked, he saved, and thought of starting his own business. So Faustace purchased an acre of coconut land and started a livestock operation. It was tough and he has since put that project on hold until he eventually retires.
He returned to the Commons five years ago. I asked him about his work.
‘I do everything on my own to the extent possible. There are of course times when something happens that I can’t handle. In such cases we contract outsiders. But when it comes to things like wiring, painting and plumbing, that’s my job.’
If something doesn’t work, he does his best to make it work.
Faustace has had his share of misfortune. He remembered in particular an accident that happened 10-15 years ago.
‘A van moved into my lane. I am surprised that I am alive. In fact others were also surprised. I injured my kneecap but somehow I walked or rather limped to the police station. The officer told me that I should go to the hospital.’
Then there are regrets. A few. He recounted how his son had recently told him, ‘Dadda you were very rude when we were small.’
‘It had never occurred to me. Now I feel sorry.’
Finally, he spoke about life lessons and advice he gives his children:
‘Be honest. Honesty will take you a long way. Do your job honestly. That’s how I have conducted myself throughout my career. It’s a character trait that probably comes from my father’s family. It’s in my blood. I believe that when we place all our trust in God he will look after us.’
Faustace Emil Fernando 61. ‘I am 61, but I am fit, thank god; I have no major ailments.’
He will work until he can work no more. He will notice things that seem out of place and he will put them right. If something doesn’t work, he will make it work. Good for the Commons. Good for the customers. For Faustace Emil Fernando, it’s just one of the many things he attends to on a daily basis.
[This article was published in the Daily News under the weekly column title 'The Recurrent Thursday']
0 comments:
Post a Comment