Tuesday 21 October 2008

Settling in

And so we are............ settling in that is! We are having the most amazing time here in Salcombe - the views in the sunshine are breathtaking and the sound of the yachts tinkling in the wind is amazing! The Victoria Inn pub is just fantastic and we are gradually finding all the little nooks, crannies and oddities that make her special. The fire in the huge grate is lit and blasts out some REAL heat - phew! The log burner is the next big test.....

Local people and traders have made us feel so special and welcome and I love walking down the high street saying hello to a variety of people who know me by name but me and my memory will only ever (probably) know as love or darling............

Some local 'lads' have been back in a couple of times, and locals have eaten with us - so all in all a good start as far as attracting local people back in. The tourist element has been really quite good and staff reliably tell us that trade is not normally this good at this time of year! Half term next week so it should continue for a while yet. We are ALREADY half way booked for Christmas Day - unbelievable!!!

As for BT - don't even begin to wonder - suffice to say I'm sat in the fabulous Salcombe Coffee shop doing this blog - I dispair of them EVER getting us access :(

My lovely Tim (SOH) and I are enjoying setting up the business together and are working quite harmoniously - well almost.....?!? The office we share is something of a bone of contention, but our very good friend Jo will be staying the weekend with us and her organisational skills will be put to the test - once again!! I miss M & S and Sainsbury's - but withdrawal symptoms are gradually de-creasing, and the local shops - butcher, grenngrocer and fishmonger are quite amazing!! I miss my old localas - but I know there are new locals to make friends with.

So dear friends - until the next time... :)

Wednesday 15 October 2008

2nd week

Phew what a week its been.......! Mostly great but certainly frustrating and still hugely stressful - all thanks to BT & HSBC...! STILL no computer access at home (this Friday is connection day - maybe!!!)and can you believe it I sat talking on the to HSBC for almost an hour on Monday refusing to get off the line until they sorted out our issues. SOH had been dealing with the bank - but as I said to the them - Tim is a lovely man - but I'm not nice at all, particularly when money is concerned! Is it all fixed? Almost.

Apart from that - we are settling down in our new home and I'm sure we've made the right move. Locals are great and some have been back in after our open evening last week - by the way nearly 100 people turned up and whats more STAYED!! Lots of visitors still around, and on Monday about a dozen Plymouth based sailors - great, reminded me of Portsmouth - and they drank, oh boy did they drink....... hoorah!!! James is cooking some great food and I shall look like a telly tubby if I keep eating as I am :) Glo our Bar Manager is just fab and I think I have found a new friend!

Lisa Beaney came to photograph us all yesterday - and she made us and the pub look beautiful (difficult job on me but easy on the pub). Even a pic of 'Bobby' a visiting gorgeous little dog......... I'll put some photo's up as soon as I have access at home. Lisa is sooooooooooo talented you really must check out her web site - thank you Lisa we love you more than ever!!

Anyway, thats all for now - almost at the end of my half hour session - more as soon as possible x

Monday 6 October 2008

Hello Salcombe

We've arrived - we're here in sunny (!!) Salcombe................. and what an odd few days its been as well............. I'll try to sum it up briefly. Very stressful, extremely tiring, hugely exhilarating and some fun thrown in for good measure.

We still have no internet access (Thanks BT) so I'm in yet another internet cafe - but this time in our new home town. So this is brief today to say the least. Our new pub the VICTORIA INN is absolutely fantastic... what a place. The staff are amazing - they have welcomed us most warmly and kindly. The location is to die for - I have never seen such amazing views of sea and countryside all in one place. The people in the town have been SOOOO welcoming, we apparently even got a mention in Church yesterday! All the shopkeepers have said hello and wished us well - as have the other publicans. Trade has been amazingly good considering we have come in at end of season and yesterday my gorgeous SOH cooked almost 60 lunches - I was so proud of him and the team.

Then today - we got our first New Year booking.................. hey hey!!!! :) Beth is a bit lost still as she still can't quite fathom out where she is and where she can lay her head with ease just yet - but every day will make it easier for her. Thursday is our 'official' welcome evening - so we look forward to that with great excitement.

Thats all for now - but there will be loads more to tell as the weeks go on and my internet access becomes easier.