‘‘I work hard. We were brought up that it is a privilege to have a job.’’
Noon, and rush hour, in the picturesque village of Portobello on the Otago Peninsula.
Portobello Hotel publican Tony Reid is taking a break from his 100-hour-aweek labours to soak up the sunshine and the view before returning to the kitchen to cook lunch. Eight cruise ship buses head past destined for the wildlife park, but only one might stop at Reid’s pub.
Reid and wife Sarah – and daughters Rosa, 2, and Doreen, 12 weeks – are about to complete their first year running the pub. It has, they say, definitely improved their lifestyle – Reid was formerly a deep-sea fisherman.
‘‘We can create our own destiny,’’ he says. But he thinks people presume it’s easier than it is.
‘‘You’ve always got that ‘he’s so lucky’ attitude in a small town. If only they realised the stress of it all: I work hard. We were brought up that it’s a privilege to have a job. And you’ve got to have a go. And I get to meet awesome people every day.’’
Reid says the biggest pressure comes from money: paying wages and covering the huge mortgage. They employ 10 staff in the pub and expect to take on three more in their recently opened adjoining icecream parlour. Locals are key to the pub’s survival. ‘‘When people aren’t walking in the door it’s just so hard not to think ‘Oh no!’,’’ Reid says. ‘‘But if you don’t put yourself out there and don’t do things, it can only be tough.’’