tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30961965096222869502024-03-07T07:51:39.077+00:00A (Sometimes Potty Mouthed) Pub Landlady's LifeA pub landlady's life is always interesting,certainly exhausting and never boring! This blog contains often personal bits and peices, I talk about where I live; Salcombe and whats happening in and around it. It will take you through my days and may well help you understand life from the OTHER side of the bar!Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.comBlogger320125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-16040082318256582622019-09-10T19:00:00.000+01:002019-09-10T19:00:18.414+01:00It's goodbye from Me and it's goodbye from Him<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liz & Tim aka SOH - Scrumptious Other Half</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So it was on the 21st August 2008 I sat down and thought what a good idea it would be to write a blog about life as a pub landlady here in The Victoria Inn, Salcombe and yet here I am sitting down writing my last ever blog post some 11 years on. With over 300 blogs written and tens of thousands of people reading them over the years!! I even won an award from the brewery for it in the early days!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now with just 55 days to go until it all ends it seems incredible that the time has gone so fast! Has being a pub landlady been what I thought it be? Much of it yes, but I've said it before and I'll say it again, nothing could prepare me for the hard-work and yes, some tears that went with it. But my goodness, we've had some laughs along the way and many bloody good times. We've won scores of awards, been put (twice) in the Best Licensee of the year by the BII. The Vic earned consistently the Taste of the West Gold award for the last 6 years for our produce, cooking and service and ultimately overall Best in the West a couple of years ago. Those being just a couple that come to the front of my thoughts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I want to say personally to Jim Sloan our Tenanted Operations Manager at St Austell a huge Thank You! We cannot thank you enough for always being there for us and supporting us in our quest to become one of the best pubs in the South West. With Adam Luck (now retired) who was a Director also supporting me when a few years ago I had crazy ideas ranging from boutique B & B to pizza ovens to other things that never got off the back of a fag packet, but eventually (& pretty much to shut me up I suspect!!) he supported and helped to grow the idea of the top floor of the pub as it is now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Without fail most Bank Holidays & peak times has seen the pub flooded, electrics going bang and various other catastrophes that had me weeping or raging, yet still somehow battling through it!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've welcomed stars of stage & screen, some known to me, other's had to be pointed out. My absolute favourites were David Dimbleby, Mary Berry, Matt Tebbutt, Ian Wright and last but not least Nick Knowles! I swooned and blushed like a 15 year old over him! Even Prince Charles got a Man Creche badge from me - do you remember those??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've made fabulous friendships with so many of our customers & met some lovely, lovely people. People have made it part of their holidays and routine at Christmas and NY to visit, and already many have said thank you to me for making their visits & memories soooo special. I know the Vic has also been very special to people for having shared times with loved ones no longer with them, and I am privileged to have played a part in that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then there's been the Christening's, Birthdays and Marriages - notably our own! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've also booted a few out with my now infamous '<i>Get out of my Pub</i>' expressions! 😁 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've battled Trip Advisor and spent hours answering every single review, good and bad, I <i>almost</i> even managed to curb my sarcasm and caustic wit! 😍</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But without doubt and this is the toughest thing to say goodbye to, our super lovely team of people over the years that have supported us. The ones who've worked so hard, smiled and slogged themselves to achieve everything we wanted to achieve. Without our wonderful boys and girls - front of house, kitchen, cleaner and holiday team - we would not have been as successful as we have been. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The baton of being the next Boss of the Vic goes to Jess, and I leave the pub knowing she's in the most capable pair of hands possible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lastly, I couldn't have done any of the last 11 years without my very own SOH by my side. My very Scrumptious Other Half, the brains of this business, the experienced publican who knew what was right and what wasn't. The one who diligently ensured the finances were in order, who got the best deals, who read the trade press and ensured we stayed ahead of the game. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me?? I did a lot of 'hello darling' and I'm going to miss you all dreadfully </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Liz x </span></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-91721247701358658772019-07-28T18:59:00.002+01:002019-07-28T18:59:43.001+01:00Wow - almost August already!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Good heavens, we're into double figures! 99 days until retirement and I just know this time is going to whiz by! I'll probably only have a couple more blogs before I shut A (sometimes potty mouthed) Landlady's Blog down, as I'm going to be a bit busy to write much come October - so make the most of me while you can. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There has been conversation of me doing a blog when I retire, but I'm probably not going to. You can keep up with me though on Instagram - <b>allthingslillibet</b> and also on Twitter - <b>fabfrom56. I</b>'ll probably give facebook a miss too once I'm retired, I've so many books to read.............. 😁</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway, we know for sure now that the Vic is going to become a Managed House when we have retired. It seems that not many people know the differences so here's a quick (very quick) lesson;</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A Tenant (us) pays rent and runs the pub as their own business, buys all drinks from Brewery (landlord) and keeps profits made </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A Managed House is part of the brewery estate, the Manager runs the pub on behalf of the brewery and brewery keeps profits made</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The very best news is that Geordie Jess (<i>OUR</i> current Manager) is going to be the General Manager of the Vic for St Austell and we are very assured of her continuing to do the fantastic job she currently does. We're also assured by St Austell that little will change so you can rest easy in still visiting your favourite pub and continuing to have a great time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway, suppliers have been told, notice has been given to our website people etc, etc, but best of all.................we've started planning our first year of 'freedom' from the shackles of employment!! Before you ask - lots of lay in's, time to explore where we live better and lots of foreign travel! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But first of all we have a summer season to get through and the last half term of the year after that.SOH has started turning out the office and storage etc, and has been firmly warned that "none of that shit is coming home"!!!!! Needless to say bits have already sneaked in 🙈🙈🙈 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had a super treat last week from Salcombe Gin, they invited us in for their Gin School. Not the first invite we've ever had but we've just not been able to go on other occasions. We have been huge supporters of Salcombe Gin from the very beginning and that has been reciprocated by their friendship and support of us too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you haven't been to one of their 'schools' I highly recommend. Informative, fun and best of all, you come away with a bottle of Gin that you've made! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, there we are - 99 whole days to go................ </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mostly I'm very excited and looking forward to it but just every now and then I get nervous of the unknown. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nervous of no structure of a working day, sad at leaving a great team who support us and anxious of a life with no regular income, but mostly excited!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Until next time my lovelies </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">Liz x x x </span></span><br />
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-42350414169011670992019-06-16T20:32:00.000+01:002019-06-16T20:32:14.230+01:00Going Out with a Bang - Not a Whimper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The one thing I've been insistent with since the day we gave our notice in to St Austell is that our standards will not slip - right up to the very last day we serve our last meal or pull our last pint. Incidentally, that's Sunday the 3rd November! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But it's more than that for us now, I want us to go out with a BANG not a whimper. I never want anyone to say 'well I knew they were leaving'!!! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSse2VAurLT1EttlE3Iqu6enaq2wcM_0qa2jqvrbvdppCx6043xlkvQTehfIqU-ors3ccsrUnyx8hOQFng6RhWW20TmpNWUTOACXaLmYHoBVMP_obSKFhYcSJnuUgTO2FyHFj2XJBiq4/s1600/62321137_2732374106834010_3189993831328120832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSse2VAurLT1EttlE3Iqu6enaq2wcM_0qa2jqvrbvdppCx6043xlkvQTehfIqU-ors3ccsrUnyx8hOQFng6RhWW20TmpNWUTOACXaLmYHoBVMP_obSKFhYcSJnuUgTO2FyHFj2XJBiq4/s320/62321137_2732374106834010_3189993831328120832_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So after discussions with Senior Chefs and Manager Geordie Jess, we've decided to throw everything thats great about our local produce to our last ever summer menu. Firstly, we've a super lunch time addition to the lunch menu - a Summer Seaside Treats with everything thats wonderful about the food we've served over the years at the Vic. Fantastic fresh Lobsters and day boat fish from local fishermen. Gorgeous juicy Scallops, Crab Bisque and Mussels. How about Chips with Lobster Butter???? </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Puddings are quite exciting too - where would we be without Tim's sticky toffee pudding. Thats an absolute given that it stays on the menu till the end, but we've also got Salted Caramel Brownie, a fab Sous vide Pineapple with Raspberry Sorbet and a gorgeous wobbly Chocolate Panna Cotta. ALL made in house by our team of chefs too - not bought in! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The flowers have been refreshed at the front of the Vic as well as the pots in the back of the pub. But my goodness, we've not needed to water them much have we!!?? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We're starting to say goodbye to customers now too, the ones who have their set times that they visit who always come into us whatever the weather. The ones whose holiday wouldn't be complete without a visit (or 3) to the Vic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was Nick Price and his family last month. Saw them at the Winking Prawn (my fav place) where I'd gone to have lunch with a friend. Had a super conversation about their visits to the Vic over the years and then Mrs Price asked me if she could have a hug - saying 'Thank you for the memories'............blimey, much of that and I'll be a permanent blubbering wreck but what a lovely thing to have said. Said with such sincerity and meaning too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then there's the Crighton's - we've seen their children grow from little ones to tall young people and it was with real sadness we hugged and said goodbye. Loads more as well, lots of family who've been loyal customers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's going to be a lot of this over the next couple of months especially, but I'm really looking forward to seeing them next year when I'm in town as a lady of leisure!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So on that note, we've been inundated with enquiries from you all about what's happening to the Vic after November.......... in all honesty we really don't know yet. As soon as we do know the Brewery's decision and I'm able to, I promise that I'll tell you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A last thought, do any of you remember the time we showed the World Cup from the upstairs window of the Vic while the Music Festival was on in 2010??? Got me into a spot of bother it has to be said, but thats what memories are made of! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Till the next time my lovelies, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Liz - Licensee </span></span></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-32586723275932204452019-05-07T17:17:00.001+01:002019-05-07T17:17:18.018+01:00Memories.......<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As with anytime in life you start to finish something, you start to think about what you've done in that time - what you've achieved, people you've met (people you'd rather not have met!) experiences and lessons learned. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWR4GFlTzDsmFg_ZHzEebWWHTwygTHNIkkzYo6dmVEv7CJxUtZiIdaD9n-UqNocnfy4eVvZwbgAVQnHvAgjcmwJRf6sZZa7d9YWp6prnsoyX9m2ZazwPgu3t6U9KqaMPnOf3VHDYE33Bs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1ace.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="131" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWR4GFlTzDsmFg_ZHzEebWWHTwygTHNIkkzYo6dmVEv7CJxUtZiIdaD9n-UqNocnfy4eVvZwbgAVQnHvAgjcmwJRf6sZZa7d9YWp6prnsoyX9m2ZazwPgu3t6U9KqaMPnOf3VHDYE33Bs/s400/fullsizeoutput_1ace.jpeg" width="87" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was sat looking through some pics the other evening and I realised with huge gratitude what lovely people we've had work with us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Let's start with Glo - Our first Manager of the Vic. Right from the word go, our Glo was the backbone of our business, when we only had 8 team members in our first week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Glo had worked at the Vic for a while and had a wonderful work history in working with customers, and her customer service skills were second to none. Exemplary in her approach to the Vic, everything had to be of the highest standards - Glos' standards - and woe betide anyone that didn't work to those standards! One look was enough to quieten the most trucculent of the team. But Glo carried people with her and would never ask anyone to do anything she wouldn't do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Glo became a very good friend to me over the years, we shared many shifts together and the early days of Sunday lunchtimes with us behind the bar on Sundays with sounds of the 60's on the playlist will live with me for ever! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">She also didn't like having her photo taken so I hope she won't mind be nicking this from her Facebook page!!! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5199FMfds3q56B19lvrK3bpZkIXCw2n-1edVKCT4xzDE6JGZFdbMW5qS5HCO4WecIcfQGivaDPMG_XgTxY5aq66zCI_xrg-O0LU5Si-96UjqjsLumfz6VMaqayU3Ipb7_D_2MeOzfS6Q/s1600/45474472_2266623420075750_5263221794042544128_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5199FMfds3q56B19lvrK3bpZkIXCw2n-1edVKCT4xzDE6JGZFdbMW5qS5HCO4WecIcfQGivaDPMG_XgTxY5aq66zCI_xrg-O0LU5Si-96UjqjsLumfz6VMaqayU3Ipb7_D_2MeOzfS6Q/s320/45474472_2266623420075750_5263221794042544128_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">When Glo decided to leave us she left huge shoes to fill, one or two didn't quite make the grade for very long, and then along came Rob! Gorgeous, loveable, kind and hard working Rob - pretty useless on the computer but bloody wonderful with staff and customers! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">I was told (after the event thankfully!) on a night where we were beyond full that a customer insistent on a table eventually drove calm, unflappable Rob to retort he would look to see if he had a table 'up his arse'!!! 😂 😂😂😂😂😂</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Rob made staff parties lively affairs and he could often see the humour in things that I fumed at. Another person capable of taking staff with him, rather than 'boss' them about. The pic of him and I is one of my all-time favourites as he stepped into the breach in the kitchen a few times and he caught me as I was 'taste testing' the Sunday joints! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Rob became a surrogate son and would feel comfortable coming to talk with me if he was unsure where life was taking him, and I admit to crying buckets when he said he was leaving us for a life with his family in his beloved Brighton. Even now, customers ask about him (and Glo). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2BqIRDFoiNG6XEeOS1QUKBv8EVIgkHejbZjp-E0HX0OBI9ySUPzUpUo9FIwU2rCBX8qStRlZkCy_Fztoyig7dzJUJHEZShJ2RoPFJQfEAOquuJUeprIdYcmscSO9laf62VvNV5J3pGs/s1600/12801442_10156566022090585_7403032188380334834_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2BqIRDFoiNG6XEeOS1QUKBv8EVIgkHejbZjp-E0HX0OBI9ySUPzUpUo9FIwU2rCBX8qStRlZkCy_Fztoyig7dzJUJHEZShJ2RoPFJQfEAOquuJUeprIdYcmscSO9laf62VvNV5J3pGs/s320/12801442_10156566022090585_7403032188380334834_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Then thankfully and so, so luckily for us, Geordie Jess was already working for us as an assistant Manager and with a little coaxing took on the mantle of what is to be the last Manager of the Vic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Ahhhhhh Jess - what can I say that's printable and repeatable! I had finally met the woman who could out curse me and outdrink Rob!!! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQHTqpk8FuYYeiK7hMCC2KSIq8IvxxTOcB46Ls9CBi7LLE9NFV79x3Pr18LFzWJOLcmLdNd1LD0qlGZdPDnzIkaibpCsepc48aL3l1mNCPYYvkW3cEbQ4mhVDSjPt5D3vjND28R5BSo4/s1600/39922671_10215562235916321_6265866971397488640_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQHTqpk8FuYYeiK7hMCC2KSIq8IvxxTOcB46Ls9CBi7LLE9NFV79x3Pr18LFzWJOLcmLdNd1LD0qlGZdPDnzIkaibpCsepc48aL3l1mNCPYYvkW3cEbQ4mhVDSjPt5D3vjND28R5BSo4/s320/39922671_10215562235916321_6265866971397488640_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Seriously, in Jess we have all the qualities of both of the best of Glo & Rob, and she knows her way round a computer thankfully!! Loads of experience in pubs and hospitality, she has thrived and blossomed on the responsibilities she now has. SOH and I have at last been able to truly take our foot of the gas occasionally knowing that her all round capabilities at running a pub means we once again leave our pub in safe hands when not here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">I've built a wonderful friendship with this young woman (I'm her Devon Mum) as has SOH and what an absolute superstar she is. Her down to earth Geordie approach has been like a breath of fresh air and she's another Manager who works her absolute socks off, and expects the same from the team. Not afraid to tell it as it is, and like me she has an intolerance of idiots, but she has the proverbial heart of gold and I'm very, very fond of her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">And now I'm crying (God 5 months of this to go yet - I'll be an emotional wreck!) as I think of these very, very special people who have helped us shape our business to be as wonderful as it is, our gratitude to them is immeasurable! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Thank you </span>Glo<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">, Rob and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Jess 💖</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">More about the team next time, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Love always</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Liz x</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-41996241159191328992019-04-15T15:22:00.001+01:002019-04-15T15:22:52.052+01:00RETIREMENT!!!! <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought I'd look up the definition of retirement and this is what I found:-</span><br />
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<span data-dobid="hdw">retirement</span></div>
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<i>noun</i></div>
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1. <span style="font-size: x-small;">the action or fact of leaving one's job and ceasing to work </span><span style="color: #878787; font-size: x-small;">"a <b><u>man</u></b> nearing retirement"</span></div>
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<tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="font-style: italic; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">synonyms:</td><td style="padding: 0px;">giving up work, stopping working, stopping work;<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean firstly MAN - where's the woman in that and secondly, it's all a bit 'stopping' isn't it?? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9OQdQnQTJxxp6f7l2nONTCNGjM5_UwHVOZ8gCooytPdSpF2tuZ4gnX0hvXoLtbuwpjgALxEULCc5aQRbWpDsi5YvTK8E8xpBs2aa2cV1SbZY3cBWdfDmmiCSerUIeFoMP694ryEiNpg/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1a4f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9OQdQnQTJxxp6f7l2nONTCNGjM5_UwHVOZ8gCooytPdSpF2tuZ4gnX0hvXoLtbuwpjgALxEULCc5aQRbWpDsi5YvTK8E8xpBs2aa2cV1SbZY3cBWdfDmmiCSerUIeFoMP694ryEiNpg/s320/fullsizeoutput_1a4f.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I have to say, almost the first thing that anyone asks when they know we're retiring is 'what are you going to do'??? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interesting isn't it the perception you have to be 'doing'?? It feels like I've been defined by my work for the last 44 years. My role, the work I've done, the money I've earned, the job satisfaction, the striving to be the best, the success and the failures, the struggle to fit everything in...... it's all going to change. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As some of you will know, I have not been in the best of health for the last year or 2 and now SOH has had a bit of it as well, so whilst we still have big plans to travel they are just on hold for a little while until we see how we both settle down in terms of 'wellness'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the reality is just starting to hit us (me 😁) that in 7 months we will no longer be receiving any earned income!! I think we're going to fall into the category</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of 'not rich but not poor' or as people like to say 'comfortable'! Whatever that may mean?? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the moment it's really easy when you have a pub to get stuff from work - want some fish or a couple of steaks?? Oh I'll just pop to the working kitchen. Need a bit of shopping - I'll nip to the local shop and get it on account. Need things a bit bulkier, oh, add it the cash and carry list. Well that will stop in 7 months won't it?</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_cDyS01fMxdd5mUg86-oVuIKap0mwgtAkZPIbg1sN4zjG9UjITR7VrVV-8Gflna48M5gbCOvuoCP0S8T39a7KcN_d6zw6iibCUQfzcimZa-CJi53VFEM5sq4P_kB60ylf6pKCnvHA_I/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1a51.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_cDyS01fMxdd5mUg86-oVuIKap0mwgtAkZPIbg1sN4zjG9UjITR7VrVV-8Gflna48M5gbCOvuoCP0S8T39a7KcN_d6zw6iibCUQfzcimZa-CJi53VFEM5sq4P_kB60ylf6pKCnvHA_I/s320/fullsizeoutput_1a51.jpeg" width="291" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm actually (honestly) looking forward to being a bit of a housewife again. I was always pretty good at budgeting and whilst I've never been much of a cook I'm looking forward to having another bash at it all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what WILL we do with ourselves in retirement??? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The answer is, right now we have absolutely no idea! We've made financial plans, we have a home in Salcombe, we know the first couple of months will be spent tying up the ends of the business - but after that?? Who knows?? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGkXDFFnXqnjQO6sa2Ir2MwGLtisQnhpYU1dF6dQnDlqEqyBC1OtvRCCMrI3EDcctrqsyWvu9_4KxuAP83zKr6Zn4UEut8IiQDN9TdgBJ1PraircCnNf88YmyQ-GF2ORxB2Vsmt0pZCY/s1600/Zz9V23QVSlSZ6uNXa1OJDA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGkXDFFnXqnjQO6sa2Ir2MwGLtisQnhpYU1dF6dQnDlqEqyBC1OtvRCCMrI3EDcctrqsyWvu9_4KxuAP83zKr6Zn4UEut8IiQDN9TdgBJ1PraircCnNf88YmyQ-GF2ORxB2Vsmt0pZCY/s320/Zz9V23QVSlSZ6uNXa1OJDA.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm guessing that there'll be a bit fair bit of lounging around to start with, long lay in's, some gardening (lettuces in that pic starting to look good in the greenhouse) getting used to spending long periods of time together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SOH will be doing his First Responding a bit more, but I already have a number of jobs lined up for him that we've been putting off. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm already brushing up on my 'proper' cooking skills - we can't live on the dozen or so things that I'm really good at!! So Amazon are doing quite well at the moment with books like this! Thanks Jack Monroe - I'm LOVING this book!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are we excited about retirement?? Are we a bit nervous? Yes & Yes, but it's just another chapter in OUR book isn't it?? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Till next time, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much Love</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Liz x</span><br />
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-9538184804618021112019-01-15T21:13:00.001+00:002019-01-15T21:13:38.110+00:00Happy 2019 Everyone! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14nF-vI4GAtgNt0GuEPpTx9DDgtm51BWrY5UDPYuSvLxQD3RiVb2AfqOPkk9VwuopvoNZ7qnjSvp1c_S98dmh1XY3vkyXbnwQ8yNa6WEnGSSeTOvyhhpdONPQuIVe2wuSxsCgeGFX5iI/s1600/49444727_2399639133440844_6026283379115163648_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14nF-vI4GAtgNt0GuEPpTx9DDgtm51BWrY5UDPYuSvLxQD3RiVb2AfqOPkk9VwuopvoNZ7qnjSvp1c_S98dmh1XY3vkyXbnwQ8yNa6WEnGSSeTOvyhhpdONPQuIVe2wuSxsCgeGFX5iI/s640/49444727_2399639133440844_6026283379115163648_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staff party at the BEGINNING of the evening!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, that was a most peculiar Christmas and New Year in Salcombe. Certainly one of the quietest Christmas periods we've ever seen........... Christmas is traditionally quieter here than NY but this year was something else altogether. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm not sure what is to blame: Brexit, the weather, cost of being here or what?? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We do know that the local shops were reporting footfall down by up to 20%, which seems to be in line with national averages of around 15%, but of course if people are not coming to Salcombe to shop then they're not going to be going in the pubs to eat and drink.........</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">New Year was a different one mostly - we were very, very busy as anticipated but there were no fireworks this year and why we're not quite sure. At midnight there couldn't have been 30 or 40 people in the Whitestrand carpark whereas normally it is thronged with people. Even the Police didn't hang around. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, our fully booked NYE was a huge success and I was mightily proud of my team as always. The magician (Magic Mark) was brilliant and The Old Gaffers were just superb with a very appreciative audience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've had some horrible incidents in Salcombe over the last few weeks, petty vandalism which we're just not used to in this glorious part of the UK. One of our window boxes was destroyed for no good reason and other damage incurred at the same time by (we think) the same mindless yobs! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The town is certainly undergoing change right now: The Co-Op has arrived in Salcombe and appears to have been quite well received, Sea Chest is closed down and now being renovated - but for what we don't know. The KA is undergoing a major refurbishment as we all said a sad goodbye to Neil and Claire now they have retired and the old Lloyds bank is currently being gutted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Scaffolding seems to be everywhere in Salcombe and we understand that the green light has been given to major car parking works in the current Shadycombe car park??!! But whether that is fact or the great Salcombe rumour mill is anyones guess! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On top of that we've been able to have no flipping fire in our wonderful fireplace due to a brick having been dislodged. There was much shaking of heads and mutterings of a 'very big job'!! (Gawd help us!) But good news, apparently we shall be having scaffolding erected next week and hopefully to get it fixed as soon as possible! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPN4muEjzmeCA1GoDEdPG4x7bF_pV9uonok7d89LySXZ2WDi_WOme8Lah9iyRl-p7Bke7WeT9Jj_4Vi5PYYVGnO7F64xpUkESa6XulCpCochuTZhnf_HUWPKvwx_TJpV2ot56qkgjSjT0/s1600/49348006_2380887038649387_5480820002787426304_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPN4muEjzmeCA1GoDEdPG4x7bF_pV9uonok7d89LySXZ2WDi_WOme8Lah9iyRl-p7Bke7WeT9Jj_4Vi5PYYVGnO7F64xpUkESa6XulCpCochuTZhnf_HUWPKvwx_TJpV2ot56qkgjSjT0/s320/49348006_2380887038649387_5480820002787426304_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now then, good news and about the wonderful Gin collection we have! <span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41);">Fabulous new additions to our gin selection have arrived! This bumps our number up to 55 gins on our bar!</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41);"> As well as the 'normal' Salcombe Gin we now stock </span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">ALL of the limited edition Salcombe Gin varieties, Arabella, Mischief, Guiding Star and Finisterre. Blooming 'andsome they are too! Selling well too.............</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We've had a few 'Celebs' in town this season, Rod was rumoured to be in Timberland, and one or 2 others who my team knew but I had no clue as to who they were. We had a footballer from back when as well as Jim Davidson and Monica Galetti from MasterChef was in town. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Our revised Winter menu will be in place shortly and we hope there's going to be no repeat of the Beast from The East as promised. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Stay warm and snuggled up my dear friends and readers, </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Much love till my next ramblings,</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">Liz x</span></span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-44484616535897587292018-12-14T20:43:00.001+00:002018-12-14T20:44:15.494+00:00Pub Landlady's life???? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are times that being a Pub Landlady definetly is not all that!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">THIS pub landlady does a lot of the things that SOH absolutely does not like doing, like; replying to Trip Advisor reviews - especially the odd rogue ones that can be so damaging to business's (2 removed by TA in the last month!) whilst trying to keep my sarcasm in check (!), dealing with occasional staffing issues (no onsite HR departments for THAT!) that can give sleepless nights, trying not to let anxieties affect me when you can count the number of people walking down the street on one hand and therefore not coming in the Vic and last but not least worrying about loved members of team when they're very unwell. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But then there are the moments that make this job magical. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of those was a couple of weeks ago when our very own Jessie Day went and married her Ben and became Mrs Watson. Jessie has worked for us for about 8 years now and it's been a real delight to watch her bloom into the wonderful young woman she is today as well as a trusted Supervisor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We were thrilled to have her wedding reception at the Vic and the entire team worked like Trojans to ensure she had a reception to remember. So many, many congratulations Jessie and all our love to you and Ben for a long and happy life together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">SOH has had a bit of revamp of our wines and has had a totally brilliant idea of introducing Wine Flights. Three 100ml glasses especially chosen by us for you, and with a choice of red, white or sparkling - so something for everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of his better ideas I would say, but he would say (of course) naturally!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We're always looking at mixing up our offering here at the Vic so we've plans for a wine tasting in 2019 - keep your eyes peeled for details. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoD3_ssSUYbsdKziiBM1VI2wDyWihtpkcAkgBhkM1VYEpms-UbyV7QuNlr28F2mw8nucxvmk1RKWm6RqSm5oCR_xk18uLTDosuXqpUd7uilzjQewxmA-2k-7JUIuwcNULFwlfqOrI6eY/s1600/xmas+jumpers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoD3_ssSUYbsdKziiBM1VI2wDyWihtpkcAkgBhkM1VYEpms-UbyV7QuNlr28F2mw8nucxvmk1RKWm6RqSm5oCR_xk18uLTDosuXqpUd7uilzjQewxmA-2k-7JUIuwcNULFwlfqOrI6eY/s320/xmas+jumpers.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Christmas is once more not that far away and today was National Christmas jumper day so of course our great Front of House team entered into the spirit of the day. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoD3_ssSUYbsdKziiBM1VI2wDyWihtpkcAkgBhkM1VYEpms-UbyV7QuNlr28F2mw8nucxvmk1RKWm6RqSm5oCR_xk18uLTDosuXqpUd7uilzjQewxmA-2k-7JUIuwcNULFwlfqOrI6eY/s1600/xmas+jumpers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The pub of course looks spectacular as the tree is up and the Vic is decorated to a brilliantly high standard as usual. It looks magical when all the lights are lit and the tree looks exceptionally beautiful this year - I love this photo of the little girl looking at the tree. For me that's the magic of Christmas and all the angst of the everyday life of a Pub Landlady disappears.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Until the next time dear readers, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Much Love, </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b> Landlady Liz x </b></span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-84769539120902526422018-10-08T17:32:00.003+01:002018-10-08T17:32:49.277+01:00Hola Rioja<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, at last in September SOH and I eventually made our way to Northern Spain to go and meet Roberto from Bodegas Santalba and find out where the utterly gorgeous Rioja that we sell comes from. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOXePCC6ssybfwi2RNA359dXcbIHnDfI1LRy2Ofeaci6yuQF9Kdl9tC6ubRpvChRkT0usDtlAAXk35VkeAi154073YOVkVLnugHZ_7tjfXy_Ons9yWFwy5DXj95BEeewgf4WMGa4JBAc/s1600/IMG_3485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOXePCC6ssybfwi2RNA359dXcbIHnDfI1LRy2Ofeaci6yuQF9Kdl9tC6ubRpvChRkT0usDtlAAXk35VkeAi154073YOVkVLnugHZ_7tjfXy_Ons9yWFwy5DXj95BEeewgf4WMGa4JBAc/s320/IMG_3485.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have been so lucky in our jobs as publicans to go to various suppliers of both food and drink and look at the process - Champagne in particular (twice) - but this was a much awaited visit and already postponed once from earlier in the year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first part of our road trip was the Brittany ferries crossing from Plymouth, and I have to say that we were both VERY pleasantly surprised. Not by the bunk beds it has to be said, but by the general high standards on the ferry, the food and drink and entertainment!! Excellent and probably something we will repeat again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Arrival at Santander after about 22 hours was slightly delayed, but we made a fairly fast escape from the boat and onto the road to Brinas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A sweet little village in the province of La Rioja. Now SOH does NOT like travelling with a sat nav - he finds it hard enough with me! But only a couple of wrong turns and a little bit of colourful language from both of us, found us in this delightful village and a hotel set right near to the river. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDiXVtdOxsKalpqVYWNmTjU9avP3MwenlbT-0ScLbEzE417PwtkIFl4NSze1YCTxfviHQSKH4g-oVYvXWnzrGLHIbgzvqYqFfdr59ykbaC6PE9-w2XRiix3RPYBhZqiQE5TloX-HAbV0/s1600/IMG_3610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDiXVtdOxsKalpqVYWNmTjU9avP3MwenlbT-0ScLbEzE417PwtkIFl4NSze1YCTxfviHQSKH4g-oVYvXWnzrGLHIbgzvqYqFfdr59ykbaC6PE9-w2XRiix3RPYBhZqiQE5TloX-HAbV0/s320/IMG_3610.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The following day we did a little sightseeing, before going out with Roberto and enjoying his hospitality in his home town of Haro. Haro is known for its fine red wine and every year the Haro Wine Festival is held where locals hold a wine battle!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The little bar we went to offered the most exquisite tapas and authentically local too - hence I ate a Pigs Ear - absolutely NOT like the type we sell for the dogs in the Vic!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But the following day was an absolute highlight for us. We've sold Roberto's wine for about 8 years, when he came to the Vic and talked to us about his wines. Since then he's been to Salcombe for a visit with his wife and family, and we keep in regular contact on social media. So going to see the grapes and the winery itself was just super. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OSqmuPuYBuMcEzFQPS2agTghmddgCcGeBvZU4pgrrQGSm3nnKlH7gp1z-iADOuQJrGSPBwyqn5mAjxTyGWgDV_8rsXHWR7dMIW_CD94HdwRmNy88YAsNn7Az_mMh5wYeEoifC1Y_jHI/s1600/IMG_3639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OSqmuPuYBuMcEzFQPS2agTghmddgCcGeBvZU4pgrrQGSm3nnKlH7gp1z-iADOuQJrGSPBwyqn5mAjxTyGWgDV_8rsXHWR7dMIW_CD94HdwRmNy88YAsNn7Az_mMh5wYeEoifC1Y_jHI/s320/IMG_3639.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Santalba is a family run operation and you feel that from the off when Roberto told us about his Father Santiago starting the business in 1964. In fact the name of the winery is a fusion of the first name and surname of him; Santiago Ijalba. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I always find it fascinating to see the grapes that will be used in the making of the wines or Champagnes, and to see this here at Santalba was no less special. Roberto explained that the time we were there was absolutely crucial as to not wanting too much rain otherwise it may affect the harvest. The care that Bodegas Santalba take in monitoring and selecting their grapes certainly show in the finished product. Their grapes are also harvested manually!! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEp02Jurf_5XcWmwL1tFraiqnRRJP4VvLiAMj0_5yl0YaoDUDPI1oaJwShyphenhyphennd7nnJqckJeLI4Ap7tLkHoJZ3sUfWcSO5ad3J-dZgEe2-OS3LOXGnBoKiceltHw3ecXhzjVi6AjGLMYXxA/s1600/ffc6bd55-cce6-5a63-25b5-ca020b34b923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="659" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEp02Jurf_5XcWmwL1tFraiqnRRJP4VvLiAMj0_5yl0YaoDUDPI1oaJwShyphenhyphennd7nnJqckJeLI4Ap7tLkHoJZ3sUfWcSO5ad3J-dZgEe2-OS3LOXGnBoKiceltHw3ecXhzjVi6AjGLMYXxA/s200/ffc6bd55-cce6-5a63-25b5-ca020b34b923.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He explained to us that the geographical location in the heart of the Rioja Alto with it's climate and it's soil have all contributed to giving the regions wines their unmistakeable character. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqbl28z68kI_n-kwk-jkEKjLSzYTcm5oGjqFFFhwFPX9kEbnpm8FxTzNAQM5sD4gnVu6vslpRhxJ6D8ZGFY28y_-C0_4LVjNlSwyzfmL9WJ29XeKLnqnUHv3WGh-Bhh8KjH_NpuxNbnU/s1600/IMG_3645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqbl28z68kI_n-kwk-jkEKjLSzYTcm5oGjqFFFhwFPX9kEbnpm8FxTzNAQM5sD4gnVu6vslpRhxJ6D8ZGFY28y_-C0_4LVjNlSwyzfmL9WJ29XeKLnqnUHv3WGh-Bhh8KjH_NpuxNbnU/s320/IMG_3645.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had an absolutely brilliant tour with Roberto (who is an exceptionally busy man - spending a lot of time abroad) and the winery was far bigger than we expected it to be. SOH was in his element as he's a bit off a wine buff and has a genuine thirst for knowledge when it comes to all things to do with our business. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then of course came the tasting! My favourite part of the tour of course! Now, of course to taste professionally, you taste, swill and spit into a spittoon - nope! Not for us, we embraced the tasting with gusto and I can honestly say that it was a very pleasurable hour or two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Roberto very generously gave us a gift of wine and meats and we spent a few shillings on a dozen or so of his very best wines to bring home with us1 </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HdWNzK96E8KVMvOiad1lqWd9N_XA-D4XE_Gu7feMT-IJbyOHwY-5_7JJ_Ryg-d57KhmgLI4Fz4C5chGjtIOEToqiFIJDlA0KLimAxDcCbTnjVTcpJ4fzLZAMDimkidbHOAGfIW49ypc/s1600/IMG_3689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HdWNzK96E8KVMvOiad1lqWd9N_XA-D4XE_Gu7feMT-IJbyOHwY-5_7JJ_Ryg-d57KhmgLI4Fz4C5chGjtIOEToqiFIJDlA0KLimAxDcCbTnjVTcpJ4fzLZAMDimkidbHOAGfIW49ypc/s200/IMG_3689.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This was all followed by a delightful lunch in </span>Sajazarra<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> a hill top setting where the heavens opened, and I mean truly opened, and there was a little fretting by Roberto that it would not be as heavy back at the the Bodegas............. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HdWNzK96E8KVMvOiad1lqWd9N_XA-D4XE_Gu7feMT-IJbyOHwY-5_7JJ_Ryg-d57KhmgLI4Fz4C5chGjtIOEToqiFIJDlA0KLimAxDcCbTnjVTcpJ4fzLZAMDimkidbHOAGfIW49ypc/s1600/IMG_3689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm pleased to say that it wasn't and the grapes have just started to be harvested in the last couple of days </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So all in all a delightful couple of days and we felt very privileged that our friend Roberto took so much time out of his busy schedule to be with us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Following on from that we went to Santiago de Compostela where we had a very pleasurable couple of days before driving back to Santander. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We made lots of memories and felt even more enthusiastic about the Rioja Ermita Crianza that we are so happy to recommend and to sell. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyX7-_-AYHH2tuCY_f-5TTqmaPUUW8eiTzavRO78CjIncIDibZqadMr7G9QKBGy6fOs885prrd6Qd05p8XfzVIdUhM8ktR11pIP7EKyW4uSLpCUsbtcK9Uymm9nysvdVUE__vtZXKr_os/s1600/IMG_3657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyX7-_-AYHH2tuCY_f-5TTqmaPUUW8eiTzavRO78CjIncIDibZqadMr7G9QKBGy6fOs885prrd6Qd05p8XfzVIdUhM8ktR11pIP7EKyW4uSLpCUsbtcK9Uymm9nysvdVUE__vtZXKr_os/s400/IMG_3657.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Till the next time</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Much love</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Liz x</span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-85988593146195301812018-09-24T20:13:00.000+01:002018-09-24T20:13:24.966+01:00It is still 2018 isn't it?? <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij29NNG34qjbDAlLhHFFpumvbocYoGGnopTJn4INb3McL8DzHKsZmJqx3nl070bLjUsmEibSgtzzm5laH-pqUzj4mnPTAezoICx-b6afHgw8WkVhnYXjtDUwTDfdhWBZaqL_qIUBAR1Hc/s1600/mark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij29NNG34qjbDAlLhHFFpumvbocYoGGnopTJn4INb3McL8DzHKsZmJqx3nl070bLjUsmEibSgtzzm5laH-pqUzj4mnPTAezoICx-b6afHgw8WkVhnYXjtDUwTDfdhWBZaqL_qIUBAR1Hc/s320/mark.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stories in the Garden this Summer</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you ever known a year go as fast as this, I honestly don't think I have. Mind you my year has been punctuated 4 times (yes 4 now!!) this year by being admitted to hospital with my ruddy Asthma.......... I've never, ever had a year like it. That's why I'm afraid there's been little or no blog writing - I just haven't felt up to it if I'm truthful, sorry folks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thankfully the team at the Vic have continued to cope admirably without me and it's very comforting to me to know that the Vic is in such good hands. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Secretly, I'm sure there are times they're blooming glad I'm not there bossing them around and being picky about how things are done! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course SOH is still there moving deftly behind the scenes doing all the things he loves to do as the Landlord of the Vic, and jolly good he is at it too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So then, I have <u>definitely</u> taken a leave of absence from my front of house duties until at least Christmas and only then if my health has taken an upwards swing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You may well see me in town first thing in the mornings as I pop in to the pub and have a few meetings and just check everything is as I want it to be, BUT </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">please don't be offended if we don't do the whole 'kiss kiss darling' bit. I'm doing my absolute best to stay away from close contact with ANYONE at the moment as I just can't afford to catch any more cold bugs or virus's and can't bear the thought of a 5th blue light rush to hospital. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiivbpOr00K8noM7mwsCOAaBWYY1B1KAeSiEYwgLVr2CUYcC9MM9AuFxK7QH40yoqWC0dlGJJBjPKfeZ8q1TnIo9uj6TXqQYlHIMwaoLmrJap54FLMKki8PoERvFjfgESE_8OGBiUpuI/s1600/39557925_2117613221643438_2468999453760028672_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiivbpOr00K8noM7mwsCOAaBWYY1B1KAeSiEYwgLVr2CUYcC9MM9AuFxK7QH40yoqWC0dlGJJBjPKfeZ8q1TnIo9uj6TXqQYlHIMwaoLmrJap54FLMKki8PoERvFjfgESE_8OGBiUpuI/s400/39557925_2117613221643438_2468999453760028672_n.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, enough about me and my state of health lets talk about things far nicer like the utterly gorgeous summer we've had.......... what a stunner it's been!! How beautiful is this photo??? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's been so great for all the tourists and the business's, particularly those based on the water. It felt like it would never end, but damn it - it looks like it has! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The days here are still warm and sunny (apart from last week when it chucked it down incessantly!) but that Autumn nip is certainly starting to bite last thing at night and first thing in the mornings. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-_5c8lBs7GxaTAng14xUMj_9wC6_UyZOCuebmONQBl-ABA6ch4cGm3208Bc_E61vlyzakNUIoywK0LvTP4dBsdKJwakvDnizvH9Mmnv0Vbora91WPZbN_sQnvTUTfpjaQ1ffMDkfH2o/s1600/IMG_3436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-_5c8lBs7GxaTAng14xUMj_9wC6_UyZOCuebmONQBl-ABA6ch4cGm3208Bc_E61vlyzakNUIoywK0LvTP4dBsdKJwakvDnizvH9Mmnv0Vbora91WPZbN_sQnvTUTfpjaQ1ffMDkfH2o/s400/IMG_3436.JPG" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Vic had quite a good summer trade and our new garden menu was incredibly well received. We pushed out hundreds upon hundreds of portions of Fish & Chips (now completely gluten free), Curries and Burgers!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In fact our Chefs could often be heard muttering that if they 'flipped one more flipping Burger' they might as well be at McDonuts!! (that is of course the cleaned up version of events!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now the summer is over our Chefs have got all creative again with the return of lunch specials and great new menus. First off though was a huge clean that saw all of the Chefs, whatever their position getting down and dirty and giving the kitchen a super post summer hols deep clean. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But this pic from the summer is my absolute fav of all time! Ever!! This is Norman and Norman LOVES our Tims Sticky Toffee Pudding. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apparently he didn't stop talking about the fact he; 1 - Loved that pud so much and how 'yummy' it was and 2 - that his photo was used in my social media sites! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpDRkNuPOG238CbbkawJM7rCidAYvjoiGDtH5JNA6xGnZM-WBtduIrEkstdrvusLFfZswiEz1zx2FeF4-QImWXZD4RK8gc1cI8zbd182OLUuQYAm2JIztX2QZh-AZlO-68XNZFd-phJA/s1600/39223298_2109821255755968_1761542125914161152_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpDRkNuPOG238CbbkawJM7rCidAYvjoiGDtH5JNA6xGnZM-WBtduIrEkstdrvusLFfZswiEz1zx2FeF4-QImWXZD4RK8gc1cI8zbd182OLUuQYAm2JIztX2QZh-AZlO-68XNZFd-phJA/s1600/39223298_2109821255755968_1761542125914161152_n.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNMKaSyQKgmN1df7mGyPlTp32MuDZCHpaVZZo6AP64Iu5-LBXI1qFvQaeaJVC2_ogIioJrksUrRFgI2DSVqn5MUIHVNmfXP-s5LQN-0S7osfZazQQiJLQhJnyOhuuU0tPjD2Y9sw-j2U/s1600/39159173_2109821259089301_5675543885728710656_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNMKaSyQKgmN1df7mGyPlTp32MuDZCHpaVZZo6AP64Iu5-LBXI1qFvQaeaJVC2_ogIioJrksUrRFgI2DSVqn5MUIHVNmfXP-s5LQN-0S7osfZazQQiJLQhJnyOhuuU0tPjD2Y9sw-j2U/s200/39159173_2109821259089301_5675543885728710656_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The other 2 little bundles of gorgeousness are our own 2 grandsons when they came too visit Nanna Devon and stayed in the Hobbit House - which they thought was great fun! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Looks like they thought the food was quite good too! As well as the colouring pages and pencils we give the little ones. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course we had lots and lots of doggie visitors too, in fact I think town had more dogs than I've ever seen before this year. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxVY8HLPeQ7I3qZ68j5N05idMjv7ZFIMPu3ZqRbatTYpjsfBPbFLt69TZChgrQpE8huzovqPCkXONsBMUaXDm8XWoZfB-B-JYzCZ9aTCrPSBBLILuwkYPdl_6XI43ZADdKy6Gk8eMRxg/s1600/39095598_2108538602550900_7982064013716488192_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="710" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxVY8HLPeQ7I3qZ68j5N05idMjv7ZFIMPu3ZqRbatTYpjsfBPbFLt69TZChgrQpE8huzovqPCkXONsBMUaXDm8XWoZfB-B-JYzCZ9aTCrPSBBLILuwkYPdl_6XI43ZADdKy6Gk8eMRxg/s320/39095598_2108538602550900_7982064013716488192_n.jpg" width="235" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cockerpoos still seem to be favourites and we saw all </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">colours and sizes with of course many, many Labradors and Spaniels as well as a host of others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This gorgeous dog in this photo is Badger who's waiting for his pigs ear!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The owner Carl was waiting for his pint of Proper Job.......... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We managed to get ourselves at last to Spain </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">to meet with Roberto from Santalba Winery - where our exquisite Rioja comes from, but I'm going to do a whole blog post on that next time. So much to tell you and so many beautiful photos I don't want to squeeze it in here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So until the next time, enjoy what's left of the warmer weather and I'll be back soon, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Much love darlings, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">Liz </span><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"> x x x </span></span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-8879437492142626302018-07-21T13:58:00.000+01:002018-07-31T12:24:41.829+01:00Happy Saturday<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBpWv6o8WH3urJSiMH2BiDUX0S22Fd0QfS9JoQw8bLcfT6wGFcZaNZ2xq7D2lqWOs4DF15Na4SzvdT5Av91HufIRSZbBGAsL28UHPOpD_jTKBIxT6dGajh8drN4V8TBO4ojipk77ZAvM/s1600/IMG_2994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBpWv6o8WH3urJSiMH2BiDUX0S22Fd0QfS9JoQw8bLcfT6wGFcZaNZ2xq7D2lqWOs4DF15Na4SzvdT5Av91HufIRSZbBGAsL28UHPOpD_jTKBIxT6dGajh8drN4V8TBO4ojipk77ZAvM/s400/IMG_2994.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our latest acquisition for the Vic! Read about it below</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVc9Efec5TtppqNAG5SuIfFqu6PBTzARHU1vyxTqfm7fZckj3w5npVXNjVQ9Srd9-Yif7l2EE9OM7w82GbXvJVtZeVhYwOHrlX7pp_vAmOzyq_BR40r5wgNFI0lb4TeUqdSGo-TmIiOE/s1600/IMG_2985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVc9Efec5TtppqNAG5SuIfFqu6PBTzARHU1vyxTqfm7fZckj3w5npVXNjVQ9Srd9-Yif7l2EE9OM7w82GbXvJVtZeVhYwOHrlX7pp_vAmOzyq_BR40r5wgNFI0lb4TeUqdSGo-TmIiOE/s320/IMG_2985.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liz & SOH's Hideaway!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Morning all............ nice to have a drop of rain through the night last night, heaven knows our scorched garden needs it - but aren't we having a glorious summer! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I could totally live in this climate, bumming around in shorts and vests all the time. During my enforced rest I have been lounging around in the sun and consequently look as though I've been in the tropics for a couple of weeks - not just sitting in my beautiful garden! </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPjsFdyI9SwfbBl4No4jmajtTuoJS1a87oWr3sIPfOQ8Vm0Z4zxmsGu386s4wV2NLe81SuC-Mnel_SJ3tI9IrK0TUuAC3dGh0sQgbBJ66jnHplo7ADwBXsVTgoQmevYcJZ-N0NHYpd0Y/s1600/IMG_7871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="898" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPjsFdyI9SwfbBl4No4jmajtTuoJS1a87oWr3sIPfOQ8Vm0Z4zxmsGu386s4wV2NLe81SuC-Mnel_SJ3tI9IrK0TUuAC3dGh0sQgbBJ66jnHplo7ADwBXsVTgoQmevYcJZ-N0NHYpd0Y/s320/IMG_7871.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I popped into work last night for a couple of hours and everyone seemed very pleased to see me - customers and team alike. It felt very strange to be back, but everyone has held the fort remarkably well in my absence and I shall only be popping in for 2 or 3 evenings a week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We've got a great new summer menu at the Vic - lots of Burgers and Salads for the Garden Menu in the evenings and super food in the Pub; a wonderful Scallops starter and a seafood Skewer being 2 things that seem particularly popular! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our Head Chef Jon and his team have put together some great ideas, very light and summery. Kids seem to like the Beans on toast particularly!! It looks like we are FULLY BOOKED for NYE this year already, but we are going to hold a waiting list as normal as there are always 1 or 2 people drop out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now you may recall that in the last blog I showed you a paining by local artist Jon Woolfenden who painted a fab pic of the Vic and Fore Street?? Well, I just fell in love with it like I've never fallen in love with a painting before and after a gentle bit of nagging (honestly didn't take much!) SOH agreed to us buying it!! So it has pride and place in the entrance to the Vic.............. I hope you'll all get as much enjoyment from it as we are. He has lots of other gorgeous pics too - so when you see him in the high street painting, do go up to him and say hello. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Schools are out in some areas, particularly the private schools and those in Scotland with the rest of the UK finishing yesterday and early part of next week. So we expect to see lots more families arriving soon - the play area is all ready for them to come and enjoy themselves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg9RF267Q-fJnfi7uC8XPx5iSSbtzUX45p3I0diDxgWve8sYrCHS801tvbMfyveB8yEdS8pue7jmRl9FvPrxgAcqf20jRH8VEO-ffeiMhj5ECO5nmeQDKT-X3JQH6k_cn-q7oX6NF6pc/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg9RF267Q-fJnfi7uC8XPx5iSSbtzUX45p3I0diDxgWve8sYrCHS801tvbMfyveB8yEdS8pue7jmRl9FvPrxgAcqf20jRH8VEO-ffeiMhj5ECO5nmeQDKT-X3JQH6k_cn-q7oX6NF6pc/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a>I went out on the water with some friends last week and it so happens we saw a beautiful boat out in the Estuary that looked gorgeous (well of course there are many of them!) but this is a splendid new venture http://salcombewaterlimo.co.uk You can hire them to take up to 4 of you out, they will provide (spot the deliberate mistake!) <strike>lifeboats</strike> lifejackets and I'm assured that both the boat Baia Vita and Chris who steers/drives (never sure of the boating terminology) is fully checked and licensed by the Harbour master, with Chris having all the relevant RYA qualifications. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Really reasonable cost and what a wonderful way to while away an hour or 2 seeing Salcombe and the surrounding areas from a different perspective! Perhaps a bottle of bubbles to go with you??? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anyway, I think thats about it for now, so in all probability until we come out the other side, I'll say ta ta for now, and I look forward to seeing old friends (and making new friendships) visiting the Vic over the next few weeks,<br />
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Much love as always,<br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">Liz x</span><br />
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</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-40722627100263229492018-05-28T13:45:00.001+01:002018-05-28T13:45:51.519+01:00Almost June?? No, it can't be?!?!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Flip me sideways it really is almost June! Halfway through the year and I've realised I haven't blogged since March........... Well, I have to tell you, this has been one of my worst years health wise and bugger me if I haven't got yet another chest infection - my 3rd this year!! I have been ill almost 6 months now (give or take the odd couple of weeks here and there) so it's right that you know we have taken the decision for me to be semi-retired from the business. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvSM98foBDdRpK3E-DeJpXtkW0uF587rgJY2moQ-vVJZAck_tjVmurysrxiiah8Kh9U0t3LgiaSGN-wKTvnj6gkS5_c9qxNbBjbIF5aOWmG4hh5iGDzg7xeyHW9mKO_0pbGJ9CcPrWeA/s1600/IMG_1587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvSM98foBDdRpK3E-DeJpXtkW0uF587rgJY2moQ-vVJZAck_tjVmurysrxiiah8Kh9U0t3LgiaSGN-wKTvnj6gkS5_c9qxNbBjbIF5aOWmG4hh5iGDzg7xeyHW9mKO_0pbGJ9CcPrWeA/s320/IMG_1587.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You're likely to see me for a couple of shifts over a weekend, I'll continue to drop in and out, issue a few orders, do a bit of 'hello darlings' and then come home to do work like this! Blog writing, computer work, social media etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There comes a time when you have to put yourself first in this life and almost going into Intensive Care this year has made SOH and I re-evaluate my role in this stressful business of being a publican. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of my good periods a month or so ago saw me go on a 'Snow Shoe' walk in the French Alps on a women retreat with my personal trainer Claire Morgan-Hughes of Devon Fit Camp fame </span>http://devonfitcamp.co.uk/the_elegant_you_retreat_from_devon_fit_camp/<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I walked for 6 1/2 miles ups a mountain, round a mountain and then back down a mountain - so I know there's good health in me somewhere, I just have to tap into it, and then hold onto it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So enough about me - how are YOU all doing?? I met loads of old friends yesterday down in Salcombe for the May Bank Holiday - the town has wall to wall visitors right now and everyone seems in jolly good humour! Nothing like sunshine to put a smile on peoples faces is there. Our kitchen has been highly busy the last 2 days producing just under 1,000 meals in 2 DAYS!!! I remain amazed by what they consistently produce and whilst under enormous pressures........ </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our Front of House staff work so hard as well and yet still manage to have a smile on their faces! Such lovely people working with us, we're so lucky!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We're also exceptionally fortunate to have a new Head Chef leading our kitchen team; Jon Bell! Old school Head Chef who cooks with passion and enthusiasm, calls a spade a shovel (he's northern!) has bags of experience in award winning pubs. Jon is a huge softie and we have hit it off like a house on fire, not easily ruffled and just one of life's nice guys. We're very fortunate to have him! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm soooooooooo excited about the menu he's going to bring you in the summer! We also have our Christmas menu for parties small and large (not Christmas Day though) and also New Years Eve menu although we are 70% booked for that event already.............. how amazeballs is that! Those should be on our website in the next day or 2 so check back soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Just a reminder that if you really want to eat with us, you have to book to be absolutely sure of a table with us, and sadly, we now take deposits for all booking of 6 people or more. £5 a head refundable if cancelled within 24hrs notice. We've had to take this step due to people booking the tables, taking potential bookings away from other people and then simply not turning up. People apparently call it choice booking - they book several places and then make their choice on the night.......... I call it bloody mad manners myself! So give us a call on 01548 842604 and we'll do our best to get you a super table at our award winning pub. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The 50 different gins that we have on offer are all going very well, with a couple of firm favourites for sure, but our customers do seem to like to try out some of the </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">slightly more different ones, especially the fruity Gins with brilliant Fever Tree tonics. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">SOH is busy out in the Vics garden today planting up a few more plants, following Judith from Bayleaf </span>http://www.bayleaf-gardening.co.uk/gallery.php<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> having done the bulk of the work in planting up the back of the garden and Potters Nurseries East Allington </span>http://www.pottersnurseries.co.uk/gallery.html <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">having now planted up the front of the pub!, and all very splendid it's looking too! Photo's of that next time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As is this rather gorgeous painting from local artist Jon Woolfenden, painted right outside the Vic, I just think it's stunning - don't you? </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>FIDDLERS GREEN - Folk/Rock/Easy Listening (Fabulous Darlings!!) June 30th @ 8pm and 14th July also 8pm</b></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>OLD GAFFERS - Our local Sea Shanty group (pure brilliance) 12th July and 21st July again an 8p.m start. </b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So there you go. A quick catch up on all things Pub Landlady and I look forward to saying 'Hello Darling' to you all very soon, be kind to each other and enjoy the sun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Much love as always, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-large;">Liz x</span></span></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-839437447358089522018-03-17T15:25:00.003+00:002018-03-17T15:25:46.699+00:00March? Really?? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDv6rnhcxHK7asrfu5Bj7azHXmZN_1aloyWJrp8-Ln_yPRShlnJFY1HHt1AdXSkVEBB3uFo3iXnHL8xMq3Kw6hMXOSYHURyab6ocPFrumJmee0I3vScMF4NiDC7qSqK4z7sIu6kcrLoc/s1600/IMG_0739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDv6rnhcxHK7asrfu5Bj7azHXmZN_1aloyWJrp8-Ln_yPRShlnJFY1HHt1AdXSkVEBB3uFo3iXnHL8xMq3Kw6hMXOSYHURyab6ocPFrumJmee0I3vScMF4NiDC7qSqK4z7sIu6kcrLoc/s400/IMG_0739.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
T<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">his lovely photo of the Vic was taken by local man Pete Robinson when we had our last snow fall and blow me down as I sit typing this blog now if there aren't more snow flakes falling from the sky! It's also artic cold out there too............ I just hope this doesn't do to us what it did then! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Salcombe hasn't seen snow like we had for many years and we were forced to shut for about 2 half days as we have some staff that live quite a distance away, so we couldn't compromise their safety. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I had another spell in hospital just before all this snow happened, this time with Flu (proper Flu - not the stuff men have!) another 9 days in there this time and I'll probably not be fit enough to return to work until after Easter. But the pub continues to run like a well oiled machine. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oebBQQxEwfLXLMRe4WavEgg1XQUbFjamGIAg8wg3OTBwYWGza7i8wEqnnqWbUXc790vZyy7M9BwGy2hdgFlgV2c_nU7tsYNumXZqUiksDiZxMW0GI4TGNuFZ7p9fADvbR7EI_y7sEMY/s1600/29178223_1969853426377290_6997169416504868864_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oebBQQxEwfLXLMRe4WavEgg1XQUbFjamGIAg8wg3OTBwYWGza7i8wEqnnqWbUXc790vZyy7M9BwGy2hdgFlgV2c_nU7tsYNumXZqUiksDiZxMW0GI4TGNuFZ7p9fADvbR7EI_y7sEMY/s320/29178223_1969853426377290_6997169416504868864_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">New wine lists are on the way, also a revised Prosecco menu as well as 50 gins!! As a business we've always strived to keep ahead of the game with our business planning and reviewing our drinks offering regularly is a big part of that. Gin is still a huge part of the drinks business so thats why we decided to increase the Gins we have. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFvRMQGz8IK_yhsZH8LiHZVumH7X4wefSjiOPWXqkdfexnmj0l1P5lVU__n1TS5kDSdM0-NZlnRWyaPHAFUdjeNNky7GE5p1T_kGjyoNT2M-4YDA_DZenKvF4ThUTDxyMy0pUJfz9shU/s1600/IMG_0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFvRMQGz8IK_yhsZH8LiHZVumH7X4wefSjiOPWXqkdfexnmj0l1P5lVU__n1TS5kDSdM0-NZlnRWyaPHAFUdjeNNky7GE5p1T_kGjyoNT2M-4YDA_DZenKvF4ThUTDxyMy0pUJfz9shU/s200/IMG_0911.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdbwhXcxWkwEhBkuHvqzEpFwIYipgQ-jj66FdsZ5PO-sT4U8qzXQHAww5sAjfHXLeH7mIhcv6BIfhbkiynzSjdKsf01h6jnB_3DojEWc1zEtQGdCP8RWzsWHApX0lYpYh9NWZYXuPkiQ/s1600/29196809_1969868676375765_2288496138816323584_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="584" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdbwhXcxWkwEhBkuHvqzEpFwIYipgQ-jj66FdsZ5PO-sT4U8qzXQHAww5sAjfHXLeH7mIhcv6BIfhbkiynzSjdKsf01h6jnB_3DojEWc1zEtQGdCP8RWzsWHApX0lYpYh9NWZYXuPkiQ/s200/29196809_1969868676375765_2288496138816323584_n.jpg" width="121" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Some cracking gins we have too, mostly from the UK but there is one from Spain and also one from the USA. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The American Gin is Bluecoat, this one is made with 100% organic botanicals, and the Spanish Gin is Gin Mare - this has arebequina olive, rosemary, thyme, basil and mandarin in it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Several are from Scotland and one that looks to be a firm favourite is The Botanist from Islay, the first and only Gin from this area is said to be a rare expression of the heart and soul of this remote Scottish Island. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XD0za0DGrrK3gcswjsxoDPBNSnFR_YMGXbz5D3vffYZZcj_CiI2BJ6IUlQ4G3VUQDTYCujL139Mbf9qSw-PC_7mFotQ1GgJCykNQKNz425V_b_BcGFx4kq9xpUB33axrMmncy0HRj0E/s1600/IMG_0903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="973" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XD0za0DGrrK3gcswjsxoDPBNSnFR_YMGXbz5D3vffYZZcj_CiI2BJ6IUlQ4G3VUQDTYCujL139Mbf9qSw-PC_7mFotQ1GgJCykNQKNz425V_b_BcGFx4kq9xpUB33axrMmncy0HRj0E/s320/IMG_0903.JPG" width="193" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then we have Peaky Blinders from Sadlers; a small batch, handcrafted spiced gin, undoubtedly going to be popular because of a certain TV programme with the same name! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The team have already tried a couple and one they seemed to particularly like was That Boutique - Y Gin Company Cherry Gin served with Fever-Tree Cola. I'm assured that it is delicious. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOd0Rzse9Z2SQTzPSB87HiVjBP6eVrvih4JY6RZMp_V4opdbLq4rogGvB3l81irC0W8hsZw11wAO9i-zZmG7ZkMaL5TTOworIpFFk8I666Gl533hKtsXtbGEKZATdXETyJR2xmqtbCbi8/s1600/29214865_10160056867130585_3467267814627213312_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOd0Rzse9Z2SQTzPSB87HiVjBP6eVrvih4JY6RZMp_V4opdbLq4rogGvB3l81irC0W8hsZw11wAO9i-zZmG7ZkMaL5TTOworIpFFk8I666Gl533hKtsXtbGEKZATdXETyJR2xmqtbCbi8/s200/29214865_10160056867130585_3467267814627213312_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Another firm favourite was Boe Violet Gin (infused with Violets!) a beautiful colour. I could go on and on but I'll endeavour to tell you about another couple of our new Gins next time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-align: center;">Alternatively, do come in and try some yourself and perhaps post a photo of yourself drinking it like Lindsay who was drinking a Brockmans Gin along with Barnaby sat near the fire. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuoibEuVcf7Is_yDLLZj5EYROB6cmi5UPliDRwyXl0JbUxY2_UxS_UOYQB7XuQM3XtABdWMAPdTA6FFi1FUT6MEYruavrvuXgcQUgi9M2DtI2pRbtYDd7c1MywLprwNcBxZtCJUNN_DE/s1600/IMG_0945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuoibEuVcf7Is_yDLLZj5EYROB6cmi5UPliDRwyXl0JbUxY2_UxS_UOYQB7XuQM3XtABdWMAPdTA6FFi1FUT6MEYruavrvuXgcQUgi9M2DtI2pRbtYDd7c1MywLprwNcBxZtCJUNN_DE/s400/IMG_0945.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-72452767331635376032018-01-27T20:33:00.002+00:002018-01-27T20:33:55.394+00:00Longest January ever! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After an amazing Christmas and New Year, it was down to earth with a bang, although we have had quite a good trade this January. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But for me this January has to be one of the longest and worst I've gone through in a long time! Yet again, my health has let me down (despite having got myself in the fittest shape ever with my personal training!) So after almost 3 weeks of having batted the cold, the chills etc etc etc (God this gets boring) I was really poorly and my GP had me go into our local big Hospital: Derriford in Plymouth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was really reluctant to go there but there is a moment in time when you realise that sometimes you don't have a lot of choice as to what life has in store for you, and all the tablets and potions are just not working. But it also came at a time when the media were telling us how awful it was in the hospitals up and down the land and that corridors were the new wards, staff were on their knees and people were dying from lack of care. So none of that made me want to chance my arm by going into a hospital that I've not always had the best of times in - let alone when they're on Black alert! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBkam0qWPvMsS57wjmVBEgueAPLhRT9-uVV91ymxhRjGDbZ_ENTgKJH4MhFq24NqRhQzr4gpbXd6QGicCJSnh8mtormo3dtLreIR9h1WK8QV2B0XuvnUj64Ja-8JcG6krmDT2ZskZqok/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBkam0qWPvMsS57wjmVBEgueAPLhRT9-uVV91ymxhRjGDbZ_ENTgKJH4MhFq24NqRhQzr4gpbXd6QGicCJSnh8mtormo3dtLreIR9h1WK8QV2B0XuvnUj64Ja-8JcG6krmDT2ZskZqok/s200/IMG_0001.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But you know what?? When you can't get breath into your body and you're pretty sure that the last gasp you took really might be your last - well!? There's no more aces to play, its straight in to ED where a Staff Nurse took one look at me, told me to be quiet (in the nicest possible way) to save what breath I did have, whacked a cannula into my arm in the quickest time I've ever had it done and rushed me over to recuss!! </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well bless me, it's all a bit of a blur after that as the medical team did what they do best..................they filled me with all the stuff I needed, drips, nebulisers and oxygen! I'm telling you when all this is happening all I AM concerned with is getting out the other end! I have to remember to keep fairly calm (pah!) let the drugs do their stuff and hope and pray that this time ain't the time it doesn't work. Sound melodramatic?? Trust me it isn't!! It also isn't easy to keep calm! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once stabilised, I was then transferred to the 'Majors' bays, where the treatment continued and you're monitored to see what they'll do next with you! In my case, it was for a few hours, but nothing like I had been expecting, and then transferred to MAU where normally you're observed for overnight or whatever, and then either home or too a ward. I was then on MAU for 3 days after which a bed on a respiratory ward was found for their specialist care. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My reason for writing such a personal account of my illness is that in all of this experience, and in each and everyone of the departments or wards, with all the pressures the teams were under I received nothing but brilliant care, kindness and amazing professionalism. Derriford is a huge hospital and it's NOT always received the best reviews in the world in the past, but something IS clearly happening that is making a patients experience (my experience) so much better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is no doubt that they are massively understaffed, I saw staff going home totally exhausted, there were night shifts in particular that saw a Senior teams with insufficient Health Care Assistants, staff pressured when prioritising call bells from disorientated patients (myself included one night as a fever broke), endeavouring to get drugs and bedpans to patients in a timely manner. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zDngsQxaQpjeFy4EFFY11GsshhZKSAoUrvJBAVv1w4AreJiB75iEVzCD-c7eQY4m1N4T2C3fwEZgc-kwr7B0ZXsC38wNhV4-oDP3cJTrySujN8kLLe05GPUEOU2JreByDpr8lYFrBRs/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zDngsQxaQpjeFy4EFFY11GsshhZKSAoUrvJBAVv1w4AreJiB75iEVzCD-c7eQY4m1N4T2C3fwEZgc-kwr7B0ZXsC38wNhV4-oDP3cJTrySujN8kLLe05GPUEOU2JreByDpr8lYFrBRs/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But from the Housekeepers like Anne Marie who remembered my name and the fact I liked Custard Creams from the first day on the ward, to young Bertie a first year Dr who was kindness itself - one of so many young earnest Junior Drs - to HCA Mia who made the nights shorter with her humour and dry wit and my undying gratitude to HCA Isobel who made a terrifying fever in the wee small hours of the night (very slightly) less terrifying! To the Junior Sister Sarah who admitted me to the respiratory ward - took one look at me and said 'Don't worry, you're in safe hands'. To the consultants & senior Drs I saw EVERY day, sometimes twice a day, their very manner re-assured me I was definitely going to be walking out, but patience was needed. All the radiographers, blood takers and pharmacists - Thank you! To the countless other professionals who I didn't take their names because I was too busy trying to breath! To the patients in my ward who also had their struggles but who became a big family very quickly, I thank you. I hope I also did my bit to help YOU. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So how do we make the NHS fit for purpose?? I have no idea............. I do know it <b><i>can't</i></b> keep be being used as a political football and 'just' throwing money at it won't make it ok! There has to be a cross party approach with people who really understand what's needed. Those people are really not necessarily MP's!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I do know that friends of mine have left the NHS because they cannot stand to not do their job properly and as they trained to do it, they also can't stand the unrelenting pressure. The NHS of now is not the NHS as it started out, is it an element of paid care that's coming?? I would pay more but would you? I do think we're being naive if we think the NHS won't crumble one day, and I think that's coming sooner than we think. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what for me next?? Well, its slow baby steps to full recovery and hopefully recommence my personal training beginning of March. But until then I'm off work until March, although even today I had a business meeting at home with some of the team - spring menu's etc. I'm also still doing all the social media stuff and getting myself on really top form for a trip to Rioja in February to Santalba Winery and our friend Roberto!! So whilst I'm not physically at the Vic, I'm still very much there and working behind the scenes! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's to the warmer weather to come in the spring, my eternal gratitude to everyone who I came into contact with at Derriford and in the nicest possible terms I hope I don't see you again for a very, very long time! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Love always </span></div>
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-58658322452311249702017-12-17T17:51:00.002+00:002017-12-17T17:51:20.665+00:00Merry Christmas Everyone and a Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdZuLLFn4IL2ilJOOzOzPaPAnGA_yysW91UB8QdYMXDtDU8gIs0hCkDrop4M4QMDOeMMOFafmnBv3WDkJAgyHoJJpDNan3ZhodALEQywoFpTX2Jz6Nb1UGE_3HVUiNPtubBKDb87fzHo/s1600/IMG_9226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdZuLLFn4IL2ilJOOzOzPaPAnGA_yysW91UB8QdYMXDtDU8gIs0hCkDrop4M4QMDOeMMOFafmnBv3WDkJAgyHoJJpDNan3ZhodALEQywoFpTX2Jz6Nb1UGE_3HVUiNPtubBKDb87fzHo/s400/IMG_9226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">None of this 'Happy Holidays' nonsense from us here at the Vic - It's a full blown 'Happy Christmas' to you all - are you ready for this great event.............?? Our decorations went up the first full weekend in December and the dreaded Christmas music shortly afterwards. Our poor team are already sick to death of hearing the same stuff, but just occasionally you'll get one of them humming away...... they won't admit it mind you! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJh5up8NH7t4CRxWaZHWHC9MVUy3Itx1-lN17bVMHUcuIT7jXSCo2sdMZRbxsJPP88etRk8cMwdn7J1KVW0VAoHpqieuuWru_6oEhqu30NNnzu7xZMh2Xc4BGzjybo6M4eENitppuWcs/s1600/Rob.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJh5up8NH7t4CRxWaZHWHC9MVUy3Itx1-lN17bVMHUcuIT7jXSCo2sdMZRbxsJPP88etRk8cMwdn7J1KVW0VAoHpqieuuWru_6oEhqu30NNnzu7xZMh2Xc4BGzjybo6M4eENitppuWcs/s320/Rob.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So this week we said goodbye to our lovely General Manager Rob, who's been with us for 5 years and has worked so hard to help us build the business up following on from the refurb and is loved by customers and staff alike. He's been like a second son to me personally and we are all so going to miss him! There was a very drunken send off in the week, where Rob had written 2 speeches - one clean and lovely the other risqué and hilarious. I'll leave you to guess which one we all enjoyed more!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now holding the reigns as our new Manager is Geordie Jess. She's been with us 2 years and has a great proven record in hospitality, so our business is in good, safe hands! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, it's been another amazing year here at the Vic with us winning some truly super awards;- not least was being the Taste of the West overall No 1 Place to Go To 2017 Champions as well as Best Dining Pub ! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLnfQZFm0JsdrjwB7Bvvi3vPwAxgXHwGaarbWFaEj7KFoQAV3UxyR28R-e0jso3NpmOr48kuvHsww5VMKIr153693pR1deRVqRBWEFEyhlhGFhDdc7HJKqWH5b19IzWO_B3Is4d1szNA/s1600/IMG_9132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1001" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLnfQZFm0JsdrjwB7Bvvi3vPwAxgXHwGaarbWFaEj7KFoQAV3UxyR28R-e0jso3NpmOr48kuvHsww5VMKIr153693pR1deRVqRBWEFEyhlhGFhDdc7HJKqWH5b19IzWO_B3Is4d1szNA/s400/IMG_9132.JPG" width="250" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">New Manager Jess & Senior Chef James at an awards evening</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Food and Drink Devon also saw us awarded the Best Pub Restaurant for 2017! All three awards were incredible and a huge pat on the back not only for us as the licensees of this great pub but also to all our brilliant team. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Perhaps not the best summer trade we've ever known this year so we'll be doing a 'sun' dance next year, but the rest of the year hasn't been bad at all and Gin continues to be the No 1 most asked for drink closely followed by Champagne! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Staffing the kitchen this year proved very challenging! In common with the rest of the UK, Chefs are in short supply and the ones that are around are not always of the calibre I like for our award winning pub, and to be fair, not many Chefs can send out huge numbers of meals a day every day (all freshly cooked) but we are back to full strength again with some very talented people once more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the Front of House (and despite losing Rob) we have maintained a very stable team, all of them being the sort of people you can really rely on to get the job done and without making a fuss. Customers like to see friendly, familiar faces who remember them and in the Vics team that's just what you get. We have 3 apprentices in the FOH team and 1 in the kitchen - so I'm looking forward to watching their progress. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What will 2018 bring then for us as a business?? I think it's about cementing our position as an award winning pub with great staff, fabulous food and a huge range of drinks. A garden that we hope will get better use next year (please lets have a hot summer) and hopefully a huge surprise for our customers during CrabFest weekend! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Until then, Tim and Myself would like to wish you, our loyal and very lovely customers the Merriest of Christmases and a Peaceful, Prosperous and frankly Wonderful New Year, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Much love</span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-81539359531995900462017-10-12T19:02:00.000+01:002017-10-12T19:02:19.165+01:00A Game of 2 halves!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHoB6c8v1bdquaiwsnpk6CRY2ekK2LghfQ3a_HDBJuBqO7st42YlvkxRHKW8_lxfdaMckj-zqKs76Jh3VaYiwtf3HMOAs7xZJgPE5bo9y6srsVtXsSWjpjDtMOmKSEykvHlpCNpoYcDI/s1600/TOTW_Place_to_go_2017+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1141" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHoB6c8v1bdquaiwsnpk6CRY2ekK2LghfQ3a_HDBJuBqO7st42YlvkxRHKW8_lxfdaMckj-zqKs76Jh3VaYiwtf3HMOAs7xZJgPE5bo9y6srsVtXsSWjpjDtMOmKSEykvHlpCNpoYcDI/s320/TOTW_Place_to_go_2017+logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gosh this year at the Vic really has been a game of two halves (as all the best Footie pundits say)! We've had floods again this summer, electrical issues bringing everything crashing to a halt (every time SOH even steps foot out of the County), staffing shortage in the kitchen meant we had to employ an Agency Chef for the first time EVER (at an exorbitant cost to the business), we also had one of the worst seasons in Salcombe for footfall that we've seen in a long time - with August being awful for most business's in town, us included ....................... yet it's also been the most amazing time for us at the Vic personally and of course for our great team! </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKaInIdjFrM4vp5adTzzfWEh1PQzXEKBO2bwubiMFL14UTq_cxq6zIArFd13XTqRsD8hbq8UVSdA6jgO3FOAS8OpapoZhIdZ5h0Ze78PNYncqQlsvkEeY9lNPg7yGBdjg-LMQ6XtDTXA/s1600/Victoria+Inn+best+dining+pub+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1122" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKaInIdjFrM4vp5adTzzfWEh1PQzXEKBO2bwubiMFL14UTq_cxq6zIArFd13XTqRsD8hbq8UVSdA6jgO3FOAS8OpapoZhIdZ5h0Ze78PNYncqQlsvkEeY9lNPg7yGBdjg-LMQ6XtDTXA/s320/Victoria+Inn+best+dining+pub+photo.jpg" width="224" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have just celebrated 2 huge awards in 2 weeks - the first being Taste of The West overall award for Best Dining Pub in the West Country, where the Judge said that 'If there was a pub in Heaven he hoped that it would be like the Vic'! What a lovely thing to say!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then sometime later in the lunch hour both SOH and I were staggered to find ourselves in the running for the penultimate and amazingly prestigious award of no 1 Place to Go To - again for the entire West Country! We won!!! The judges said that our place had everything that was great about a traditional pub! I am not ashamed to say I cried and even SOH almost got excited (!). I then was asked if I'd like to say a few words and for once in my life, it really was just a few words! (Mr Sloan take note!) </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeLtlm35SuiKVeicDVy2XN6o3ZtlvtBJq4Odj_53Po7z5ynQxYlTp_e0-ImvFRghsl6CetmS54lpWGFJlCOujdWMT9M-i75JvqeNRBZiVhlNpsxye3IHrt7-MYgYYHImOOOXYgUwSIrA/s1600/Devon+food+and+drink+award+Tim+and+liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeLtlm35SuiKVeicDVy2XN6o3ZtlvtBJq4Odj_53Po7z5ynQxYlTp_e0-ImvFRghsl6CetmS54lpWGFJlCOujdWMT9M-i75JvqeNRBZiVhlNpsxye3IHrt7-MYgYYHImOOOXYgUwSIrA/s320/Devon+food+and+drink+award+Tim+and+liz.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVb90HNlfqe6wC2MA5rQVu6sVooc-hozsNZz6097AXXBMUU96D0P5rqaQPwMf4Abn7ghcbxfqw5TP5k2kqJxXs7U0-DgMBmRVQ4WGJEwDyOFoJCWqLSFxtEJ896FrnBCrzN9Ab71Jl8U/s1600/food+and+drink+devon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="224" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVb90HNlfqe6wC2MA5rQVu6sVooc-hozsNZz6097AXXBMUU96D0P5rqaQPwMf4Abn7ghcbxfqw5TP5k2kqJxXs7U0-DgMBmRVQ4WGJEwDyOFoJCWqLSFxtEJ896FrnBCrzN9Ab71Jl8U/s200/food+and+drink+devon.jpg" width="140" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Then this week, we both went to the Devon Food and Drink awards where we were absolutely thrilled to be awarded Best Pub Restaurant - again with the judges giving glowing praise about our business. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Getting both Dining awards was amazing because I really do believe we offer some of the best food in a pub that you are likely to get. We have both worked so hard in the 9 years, and had many great teams work with us, but the team we currently have and have had for the last few years are outstanding in what they deliver. Both in terms of cooking and in delivering customer service so all of the awards are not just for Tim and I, but for each and every one of our team. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">THEN only yesterday we were informed we are finalists in Visit Devon Tourism Awards 2017 - and will receive either a Bronze, Silver or Gold award in November! We also have Devon Life awards and the Herald Express awards to go to yet as well............... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So as I said at the outset - a true game of 2 halves!! How do we move forward from these accolades and ensure we stay No 1 and top of our game now?? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Well, we keep ensuring the very best produce from our local suppliers, we have a full compliment of Chefs again with another 2 senior and very experienced Chefs having joined us (welcome Chris and Zac), in fact we have a Chefs meeting tomorrow to discuss Winter menu's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We support our Hospitality Apprentices to be the very best they can be - because they are our future and we continue to cherish and be thankful for the amazing team of people who work with us each and every day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then it's a huge Thank You to all our loyal and supportive customers (many of whom are personal friends now) who continue to keep visiting us and continue to love what we do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Love and kisses (from a slightly emotional)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-84563444274099022742017-08-16T21:53:00.003+01:002017-08-16T21:53:46.963+01:00Summer Hols. Salcombe is...........??<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgictsPvH_TlgdJHPif1XfI__a2y83Z4kurrPhKI3uZrpFAv-frvmuEL_ZuFrUZB8vNCeCXfsLPdv6UtTzWgwbRYAGmvx_jCmvsL6Mb3Re0t8zCP5-ElfhaD_oQaSPRy9Gy4XjuxtmMQYE/s1600/IMG_6664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgictsPvH_TlgdJHPif1XfI__a2y83Z4kurrPhKI3uZrpFAv-frvmuEL_ZuFrUZB8vNCeCXfsLPdv6UtTzWgwbRYAGmvx_jCmvsL6Mb3Re0t8zCP5-ElfhaD_oQaSPRy9Gy4XjuxtmMQYE/s400/IMG_6664.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snapes Point </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So it's the summer hols and Salcombe is..........?? Salcombe is what? Well a lot quieter this year than anyone expected. I've spoken to few traders (large and small) who are saying the same thing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However having said that, our day time figures have risen considerably which indicates many more day trippers, but evening stats are not quite so good. Whilst there are no car parking spaces to be had in the streets of Salcombe up and around, there are more often than not spaces in the car park at Whitestrand in the evening. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now some of this is around the fact that the garden has not been so well used this summer yet due to the absolutely dire weather we've had and continue to have tonight as I sit writing this blog! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Luckily we've not had as many young people on our summer staff as we have had in the past so we've not had to let any summer team go, so plenty of shifts for all of them so they have a bit in their bank accounts for when they go back to University. BUT the weather for the end of August looks to be perking up a bit! Hoorah! August Bank Holiday could well be dry AND sunny!!! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtkMVxNpHX4Kdx9AC_tp7Jew0pOoumIaQWka6vkY_SDBBqR-Q0GY_rNSl_9dUgTcfnof1fTfLTdk5sWLsg-n4bAB1f4J4Z7DoBCsGI4OVn9yCQz5mM3yJAz-POOLu4VQkVCt63RiMiHw/s1600/IMG_6874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtkMVxNpHX4Kdx9AC_tp7Jew0pOoumIaQWka6vkY_SDBBqR-Q0GY_rNSl_9dUgTcfnof1fTfLTdk5sWLsg-n4bAB1f4J4Z7DoBCsGI4OVn9yCQz5mM3yJAz-POOLu4VQkVCt63RiMiHw/s400/IMG_6874.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from Colin Nightingale at Salcombe Brew </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Salcombe Regatta last week was (I think) a huge success - there certainly seemed to be a fair few people milling around. As usual there was controversy about Whitestrand car park closing for a few days and concerns/grumbles from some shop owners that it was adversely affecting their business. I'm not sure it does - granted it can make trying to find somewhere to park a bit of a pain, but it's only a few days once a year and it's such an institution that it would be a shame if it ever stopped just because of that! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The local people who volunteer to run the event are a great bunch and put so much effort into it, planning for it goes on most of the year and it's a shame when people moan and groan so much about parts of the event. It can't do their morale any good! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsA52XJdQwaC3kGEFcitnmee14pSEYO9lDVsUpdhZQaHkuLa0hd-9KOTecpipt-a3AX_7ERW9qYfhXZ7WOxYkNhxvCCDTDELcLxdF-o-ST5rVFWADLnv7_Qh03FMW8PbwgUaO3JgbLCQ/s1600/IMG_6876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsA52XJdQwaC3kGEFcitnmee14pSEYO9lDVsUpdhZQaHkuLa0hd-9KOTecpipt-a3AX_7ERW9qYfhXZ7WOxYkNhxvCCDTDELcLxdF-o-ST5rVFWADLnv7_Qh03FMW8PbwgUaO3JgbLCQ/s320/IMG_6876.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Official handover of the new First Responders Car</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The fireworks were great as usual and for the first time in our 9 years in Salcombe, SOH and I watched the entire fireworks spectacle from Cliff House where I hosted a table as a new Rotarian for a charity fund raising event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm so proud to be part of this amazing group of people. There were some fantastic auction prizes and I bid (of course) on a super 1 night stay in a top hotel in London and a meal in a Michelin star restaurant - something to look forward to next year! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Salcombe Rotary are an amazing bunch and work very hard to raise money for local charities, through things like the Crabfest event and a case in point is they supported a new car for the Salcombe First Responders. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Victoria Inn as a business also contributed a substantial amount too, but without Salcombe Rotary they definitely would not have got this lovely new car (that means SOH can now actually get out of 2nd gear!!!) But in all seriousness, this new car is just that - brand new, spacious, mobile phone, blue tooth etc. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilb27bf7RmuuqBBMkDDKDTd_N3d68GQT_za-akBNGmXH5E-IEuxu9_FxmhQabFSajY4vaLqfcixi7u_PWikMNMMxYXXNo2HSGDpFVLwPRCeQ-NOS5BA6KcFwo3jdxvTPxQfGunVKZRYDk/s1600/IMG_6875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilb27bf7RmuuqBBMkDDKDTd_N3d68GQT_za-akBNGmXH5E-IEuxu9_FxmhQabFSajY4vaLqfcixi7u_PWikMNMMxYXXNo2HSGDpFVLwPRCeQ-NOS5BA6KcFwo3jdxvTPxQfGunVKZRYDk/s320/IMG_6875.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salcombe Rotary President John Sampson, Jill and Tim </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It makes a tremendous difference that SOH (Tim) or Jill (fellow first responder in the bottom photo) are able to get to a 'shout' swiftly and safely - and this car will make a huge difference. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So to all of the people who gave money at any Salcombe Rotary fundraising event, and on behalf of Tim & Jill, Salcombe First Responders - THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!</span><br />
<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-35199194060780853742017-07-22T20:06:00.000+01:002017-07-22T20:06:14.451+01:00Social Media - The Power of! <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Well forgive me if I never write agin how gorgeous the weather has been! Because ever since the last blog where I talked about glorious sunshine etc, etc , etc it seems we've not had a day where it hasn't poured down with rain! Oh and Thunder...... and lightening... and gale force winds! So my humblest of apologies to you all! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have been smitten by a chest infection yet again for the last couple of weeks so everything I've done has been done from the comfort of my sofa, and actually social media wise I've been kept busy! However, I did venture out one lunchtime to treat myself and more about that later! </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio80hXZ31mkrplXJ7BhAmX70pDVJ0Mv3kKtUw3yjzrF5moD9AOfpZskxX3g8CxEIrQPYy-0W5J7AKq4_Vj_0uJdOkSThDtlSD6OP6ztBxWTfO-hEk5K-Y5ZM24YOstG7B3v6DHwZkhAPc/s1600/Photo+on+16-07-2017+at+10.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio80hXZ31mkrplXJ7BhAmX70pDVJ0Mv3kKtUw3yjzrF5moD9AOfpZskxX3g8CxEIrQPYy-0W5J7AKq4_Vj_0uJdOkSThDtlSD6OP6ztBxWTfO-hEk5K-Y5ZM24YOstG7B3v6DHwZkhAPc/s400/Photo+on+16-07-2017+at+10.52.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me!!! In full Blog writing mode! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Social media consists of so much for us as a business nowadays - we have a huge Facebook site with well over 3,000 likes, a Twitter account with almost 3,000 followers and an Instagram account I'm building up slowly but surely standing currently at 520 followers. None of that has happened overnight and every day my routine is this; </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Firstly! Cup of tea in bed (bought by SOH) check Social Media Accounts. Always check Trip Advisor (currently No 1) to see if any new reviews in - a lot of my days mood will depend on the fact we've had good or not so good ones! I always answer all of them regardless. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Next, I check all media accounts for comments, actions to be taken, e mails to be answered, any bookings that come through the accounts. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For the pub team we also now communicate through a private Facebook group; Rotas are sent, discussions had about previous services, any queries or ideas etc. Sometimes just a bit of well placed banter or a private whinge! It doesn't stop us meeting as a team but it's a useful tool and it's nice and informal! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All of this and more can be done on my iPhone (shameless plug I know - but they might send me a free upgrade when it happens!). So it's often nice to check in and say Hi, pass on compliments etc to the team. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFa6d_qrJDIEMebVPXfRUJpVN2GOyGIl6q8Ti0Tt17DgTsTckGsKBTZ6xOymXiayg0H7SVX67lBRSi4_bPb4ZdNhXy2q6EtcXxZNugLUrxdjz-55W-u9h_b2lpOLkiCQOZ7JkFX2asM98/s1600/IMG_6275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFa6d_qrJDIEMebVPXfRUJpVN2GOyGIl6q8Ti0Tt17DgTsTckGsKBTZ6xOymXiayg0H7SVX67lBRSi4_bPb4ZdNhXy2q6EtcXxZNugLUrxdjz-55W-u9h_b2lpOLkiCQOZ7JkFX2asM98/s320/IMG_6275.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But to write blogs or articles for magazines I always fire up my MacAir (Yes, another shameless plug!). I can sit for hours tapping away on this thing and thoroughly enjoy it, but I would say updating all of the social media accounts takes me about 2 hours a day - more like 3 if I write a blog like tonight. But you cannot underestimate the power of SM - and any business that doesn't use it to it's fullest potential is missing a trick! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For example - the photo of our rudder advertising our Taste of the West award 2017 attracted over 600 views on FB, over 1800 'impressions' on Twitter and 60 likes on Instagram! Do you have any idea what sort of cost that would be to advertise formally!!?? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">S</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">o, just because you don't always see me in the pub, I am not sitting around painting my nails! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5jS8q-dKuVQKKoEmuLjwJehuve4081qSZPp9y_PRAlWZ1mb2rYyh3FPryH6hDRmwJ4_EnrcvCYAnQd7WcYkIerTHMbSjwPvMfS58Xtv0ZH4l1ESMPRCy8JJHsGO6sp6ib3hk9iAdAjw/s1600/IMG_6378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5jS8q-dKuVQKKoEmuLjwJehuve4081qSZPp9y_PRAlWZ1mb2rYyh3FPryH6hDRmwJ4_EnrcvCYAnQd7WcYkIerTHMbSjwPvMfS58Xtv0ZH4l1ESMPRCy8JJHsGO6sp6ib3hk9iAdAjw/s400/IMG_6378.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today I've been kept busy as we featured in the fabulous Devon Life as one of top 16 Dog Pubs in Devon </span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">to visit and one of my fab team; Sam Inch recently thought about water in the garden for our doggies and came up with this absolutely fantastic and innovative idea!!! Don't you just love it???</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anyway, I've been a poorly bunny again as I said, but I did go out (on my own!) the other (only) sunny day for a spot of lunch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now, I think we're VERY lucky to have some really nice eateries in Salcombe - I have a couple of personal favourites - but it's always nice to try something new, and there's currently a bit of a buzz about The Wardroom. At the back of Crew Clothing (Oh Lord how I love that shop!! Especially stocking up on SOH shirts and tops when they have their sales) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The young man causing a bit of a stir is Jamie Lee Burnard and he's been a MasterChef quarter finalist as well as also Young Chef of the Year for the whole of the SW. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_aQ0YWCzmxs2shg71QLzHT-SkDsEDRxMhuFFOLABtCVUemeY2tAHZ2CJQX2qwj8ItHhPUsyZsNpdWKpRgBunGc7_gXzKrDLNuGMJaz3Y90AcEHYR6J4rVBXAdtZ80Ul2FsI6-KZms_o/s1600/18698231_10154859748504753_1536942244878111627_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="397" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_aQ0YWCzmxs2shg71QLzHT-SkDsEDRxMhuFFOLABtCVUemeY2tAHZ2CJQX2qwj8ItHhPUsyZsNpdWKpRgBunGc7_gXzKrDLNuGMJaz3Y90AcEHYR6J4rVBXAdtZ80Ul2FsI6-KZms_o/s200/18698231_10154859748504753_1536942244878111627_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We've been talking on FB (social media again) so I took him up on his offer to try his food (all of which I paid for - apart from the pud which was his get well gift to me!) I had a super seat by the waters edge and the food was as good as I've tasted in some top London restaurants! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I truly think he is someone to watch and I personally wish him all the love and luck in the world in developing his menu and the business. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's so great when you see new talent emerging and I'm sure we will hear big things about Jamie in the future. It's also excellent news for all of our visitors as it gives yet another option for them. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_s5IHzVOPcCdcuB_BtQzlqtEi6w1AQZR9GPnoUGKiM3JB5fzapoPtDVBhI6CL9It-hdA5DPlFwrA5CLd0Wg8gCdfxCYGjd9u0BAWLqJ6B8XG2Fpv7VEwG_1PuOCiWUmquFwRJytTBo4c/s1600/IMG_6235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_s5IHzVOPcCdcuB_BtQzlqtEi6w1AQZR9GPnoUGKiM3JB5fzapoPtDVBhI6CL9It-hdA5DPlFwrA5CLd0Wg8gCdfxCYGjd9u0BAWLqJ6B8XG2Fpv7VEwG_1PuOCiWUmquFwRJytTBo4c/s320/IMG_6235.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Talking of new talent, we are delighted to have another apprentice starting with us in September. This is Nick - Nick had been with us a KP (Kitchen Porter) for a few months now and a nicer man you couldn't hope to meet. KP's generally get the shittiest jobs - the humping, lifting, shifting, cleaning, fetching and carrying jobs! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But Nick has really shone in all that and he asked to be considered for a Chefs Apprenticeship! He'll get paid a decent wage and learn a trade and we are very, very pleased that he wants to do this - so well done Nick, we're happy to give you this opportunity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our Chefs are currently working on the new Autumn menus (they will start mid September) and the NYE menu (for which we literally have a dozen spaces left!) is going to blow your socks off you lucky people who have booked with us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Just a quick mention about 2 local happenings before I close down for the night; The Berry! This is still rumbling on!!! Ominously so! There is a Facebook page if you want to keep up with events; </span>https://www.facebook.com/theberrysalcombe/<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's also been an impassioned plea from Ben Sherring who runs a small family run business at South Sands called Sea Kayak Salcombe - might just be worth a read and a comment if you feel so inclined; </span><br />
https://www.facebook.com/SeaKayakandSUP/<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think that will do for tonight, seem to have been on here for ages - let me just remind you dear readers, <i><b>that all comments, musings and meanderings on here are MY OWN thoughts and comments. Everything I write is in the interest of Salcombe, our town, our traders and our visitors! </b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy reading this blog tonight and continue to support me in my witterings for a few years to come, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Much love</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Liz x</span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-38648243233049365212017-07-16T18:50:00.001+01:002017-07-16T18:50:20.083+01:00It must be summer! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbvF53hSNtfBFmiEr3w8HcZNCuHVLzQkq4AS6M8_P11ahLu9H2sFX9VdGp2pTFFqIIXgtCoUYKDT14eyxEtxtNsjvTgB3n1Lf1ciELUHpafSLEBgItm_v3DC11AKrr6aPuBNGi_n-c-M/s1600/IMG_6262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbvF53hSNtfBFmiEr3w8HcZNCuHVLzQkq4AS6M8_P11ahLu9H2sFX9VdGp2pTFFqIIXgtCoUYKDT14eyxEtxtNsjvTgB3n1Lf1ciELUHpafSLEBgItm_v3DC11AKrr6aPuBNGi_n-c-M/s320/IMG_6262.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The sun is shining, the birds are out and customers have got nice happy smiley faces (mostly!). Summer team are coming into position - minus the lovely young Tom who has managed to break his arm on his skateboard!!! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIb_eaJifRoEbHoRj7x2iZWd181YkuhFLyXLCKy4ivS2E-s1eUUD0Vln2PESxLTC92brIkwlteWO-jVKK15QwOdjQcorCgJpS4ENSxOPrmhCOn7wemao9hbTY-_yJ0et-ozzL70JKEN4/s1600/IMG_6274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="943" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIb_eaJifRoEbHoRj7x2iZWd181YkuhFLyXLCKy4ivS2E-s1eUUD0Vln2PESxLTC92brIkwlteWO-jVKK15QwOdjQcorCgJpS4ENSxOPrmhCOn7wemao9hbTY-_yJ0et-ozzL70JKEN4/s320/IMG_6274.jpg" width="188" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The flowers on the front of the pub hanging baskets and at the back of the pub are looking amazing and we are as usual getting lots and lots of great feedback on them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have 2 little Chicks from the hens who are growing nicely but we don't know yet what sex they are - please don't let them be cockerels is all I can say!! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jsHn84QWu1H1H1NEtHrmf2tRvv0z4AVf7O2T50eN1J-gEQMBdBIGLBPI2ld41JZrIIWa64HLzZ-t03ElK-quDSPONLsWWb8BKGXG-cr-dZ3QbjhESnGdDBFl2ABElN4-r99j_aPAXrI/s1600/IMG_6279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1346" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jsHn84QWu1H1H1NEtHrmf2tRvv0z4AVf7O2T50eN1J-gEQMBdBIGLBPI2ld41JZrIIWa64HLzZ-t03ElK-quDSPONLsWWb8BKGXG-cr-dZ3QbjhESnGdDBFl2ABElN4-r99j_aPAXrI/s200/IMG_6279.jpg" width="168" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Gin menu is changing slightly with a few coming off and some new ones going on, a couple of nice new Fevertree additions too. The summer menu is finalised and live and the salads seem to be going very </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">well especially the continental meats one - very yummy. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ozdu5EC3wDi_BCWZte8nBzzQCwuI6R2uxzKkohn-V4D2_D3dNBQoNO49H1Dnw8vH8g5x1KCOEGddbus4-EYfX8nqoMR3maqM8_ritnDjmFtksrbYGENvbg2MQcMSw9fI0QZMO0QHdoA/s1600/the-salcombe-meat-company-header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="1600" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ozdu5EC3wDi_BCWZte8nBzzQCwuI6R2uxzKkohn-V4D2_D3dNBQoNO49H1Dnw8vH8g5x1KCOEGddbus4-EYfX8nqoMR3maqM8_ritnDjmFtksrbYGENvbg2MQcMSw9fI0QZMO0QHdoA/s320/the-salcombe-meat-company-header.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><i><span style="color: #073763;">http://www.salcombemeatcompany.co.uk </span></i></span><div style="text-align: start;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We sell an awful lot of meat on our menu as well as beautiful fish and getting exceptional local meat can be a challenge, so as well as continuing to use Holesome Park, the local farmer we've used for the last couple of years we are also now working with Alex at Salcombe Meat Company and I have to say that the Roast Pork again today (Gloucester Old Spot) from him was absolutely mouthwateringly delicious! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Salcombe has seemed very, very busy this last week or 2 - great weather for tourists but perhaps not such good weather for the Merlin Rocket annual event. Some shops here have changed hands and we're really missing not having any local bank in town now Lloyds have finally gone! Only one cashpoint on Whitestrand means the town regularly doesn't have any cash although the Fortescue Inn has a cash dispenser as does Spar up the hill. We give cash back, but have decided not to install a cash dispenser - for many, many reasons - but still not a great situation and I think it will definitely impact on the cash business's in town in the summer. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7ED81Fy4OAiYAwKAjVEPba2lDccvZKE8R22nYNfqHJPHAkU31LJIM6XsadbPy1urfOAGMgBid25G1BtZAAufN3wYakmXmi58suyXBl-n_sRkU7Hzf3oFHxpaNCKhnLl5mM5H6_yarng/s1600/IMG_6271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7ED81Fy4OAiYAwKAjVEPba2lDccvZKE8R22nYNfqHJPHAkU31LJIM6XsadbPy1urfOAGMgBid25G1BtZAAufN3wYakmXmi58suyXBl-n_sRkU7Hzf3oFHxpaNCKhnLl5mM5H6_yarng/s200/IMG_6271.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RKVLMSVKgC2tnjVs52Q9TNmPB7iRlDTOkylsO1IgcLRIkFq2mpfFyNCieTv3y2gN1CNwXMS6mJKaToEnfcFHiFQixhtlGW7KoAuAgwYNxlDhBvYyw1kRlIHKQFVRISpaY5F4hrLz02M/s1600/IMG_6272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RKVLMSVKgC2tnjVs52Q9TNmPB7iRlDTOkylsO1IgcLRIkFq2mpfFyNCieTv3y2gN1CNwXMS6mJKaToEnfcFHiFQixhtlGW7KoAuAgwYNxlDhBvYyw1kRlIHKQFVRISpaY5F4hrLz02M/s200/IMG_6272.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAempb01iVPD7nhFHopPTXlZFzlTXxMvvTGiYA00llSbNDngbxmbxJqfSardWFyzE4VhY43OQ8fLa6JjXcwKCH_4Lk7DarUax9LXi5lbypv25v3ibbaAPZ1NuDVHKszgxR82Gu13s2HU/s1600/IMG_6270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAempb01iVPD7nhFHopPTXlZFzlTXxMvvTGiYA00llSbNDngbxmbxJqfSardWFyzE4VhY43OQ8fLa6JjXcwKCH_4Lk7DarUax9LXi5lbypv25v3ibbaAPZ1NuDVHKszgxR82Gu13s2HU/s200/IMG_6270.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCmpQGREUJrVoKQ0eJsPCiVDGg8M5Pq7Uv_EpWHc8zDvgHLHAZ5fBDyEibIXE1Bwgb8BnKRLQlgDnUYcO89wOTaPxR9zP97cbyNtVcV9ONlCcK45P2gXgnRNq7GOGwZ-xPt54GF09V9I/s1600/IMG_6269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCmpQGREUJrVoKQ0eJsPCiVDGg8M5Pq7Uv_EpWHc8zDvgHLHAZ5fBDyEibIXE1Bwgb8BnKRLQlgDnUYcO89wOTaPxR9zP97cbyNtVcV9ONlCcK45P2gXgnRNq7GOGwZ-xPt54GF09V9I/s200/IMG_6269.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The shoe shop has now disappeared and in its place is one of 2 by the same family; <b><i>Love From......</i></b> and I absolutely love these 2 shops!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Love from Luella </i>is just past the old Lloyds. At last real clothes for real women (for that you can read not all stick thin!) in Salcombe, not full of sequins and kids glitter, not simply a chain, but beautiful linen tops (similar to what I saw in the South of France last month) and classic good quality clothing, and they must be popular as I counted at least 6 women in short succession with their <b><i>Love From</i></b> bags only this lunchtime. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well done and welcome to Salcombe Love From.... I've promised SOH not too give you all our money! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MEQFlQ_kF1iAwhZ1umJoWVNkb0RhrfMF780vGuluDljRcEDiVj9RlQ_V7s2GtN7W54K2j55DEQ-nnKx7IFGsg7yU1bHYc4FhMEao61PgarURA6QmQG9can86qDgxNK9Opif2h_c3IwA/s1600/Freddie+salcombe+clothing+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MEQFlQ_kF1iAwhZ1umJoWVNkb0RhrfMF780vGuluDljRcEDiVj9RlQ_V7s2GtN7W54K2j55DEQ-nnKx7IFGsg7yU1bHYc4FhMEao61PgarURA6QmQG9can86qDgxNK9Opif2h_c3IwA/s200/Freddie+salcombe+clothing+.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Further up, JONs Menswear is now <b><i>Salcombe Clothing Company</i></b> selling primarily GANT clothing (I think) at a range of ages from small children upwards to grown ups - and very lovely it is too! Great quality and not hugely expensive either, in my opinion! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">I also saw some locally made clothing. It all looks rather lovely, very classy and again different to the usual Salcombe offering, I can't wait to to take my Grandsons in there when they come down later in the summer. This little cutie is Freddie styling a Breton number......... aaaawwww! </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some new benches installed (at long last!!) on the Whitestrand front took longer to do than painting part of the Forth Bridge must have taken and the rumblings of the future of The Berry at the top of the hill still seem to be going on! The message of the day coming from SHDC seems to be 'sweat the assets' at all costs - but if they try to take The Berry away there are many of us have said we will have to be forcibly removed! But, I think everyone is hopeful that won't happen and there are some great locals really (and quite rightly) kicking up an almighty fuss!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So there you have it - I think that about covers whats current at the Vic and in Salcombe for now, I hope you're all managing to get yourselves into the sun at some stage and I know we have lots of lovely regular guests visiting shortly - safe travels and see you all soon, </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Much love as always and until the next blog</span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Liz - Licensee x x x x</span></span><br />
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-15037922431050988122017-06-25T19:11:00.000+01:002017-06-25T19:11:04.160+01:00Challenges, challenges<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t72N3BDiPLXPu7mlLp2DQvgFn8NX1F4Iw4puawOuuKqCU7vaT5oAniPf7UXtCvnDwOkC8AbtdCVPYt2RUQJd2d9zecgNy8wSBIfVRs_Iucq0BGv90i6ViQUyBLvFa1FAd5MwQnI9RAw/s1600/IMG_4545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t72N3BDiPLXPu7mlLp2DQvgFn8NX1F4Iw4puawOuuKqCU7vaT5oAniPf7UXtCvnDwOkC8AbtdCVPYt2RUQJd2d9zecgNy8wSBIfVRs_Iucq0BGv90i6ViQUyBLvFa1FAd5MwQnI9RAw/s400/IMG_4545.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Champagne anyone? </td></tr>
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Challenges! We don't call them problems any more do we......... problems are challenges! </div>
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Of course challenges don't have you running to put pen to paper to quit the job you're doing - they just make you go and stand in a corner and sob quietly! Or as in my case rage ever so loudly! </div>
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Challenges don't ever appear when you're ready for them they only ever come along when you don't want them, can't deal with them and frankly you just wish they'd bugger off and leave you in peace!<br />
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But life is full of challenges and anyone that tells you it isn't is either a liar or living in fantasy land - running a big successful business like the Vic is chock full of challenges - especially this year it seems.<br />
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This year, our biggest challenges have been in the kitchen! Staff have left, joined, changed roles within the business, re-joined and then this year we found ourselves at the mercy of agency staff........ for the first time ever. It has to be said that we found a local agency ChefShare who we worked with quite well and the Chefs they sent us were nothing like the shouty, shifty & generally dubious characters you see portrayed on TV. But, they don't come cheap, so it's been a huge added cost to our business to have to employ an agency chef to ensure our kitchen continued to perform to it's highest levels.<br />
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We also had to move our GM, Rob into the kitchen for a couple of months as he had prior kitchen experience - but of course that meant we were short at the front of house!! Now we have been very lucky in the almost 9 years we have been here, we've had a steady crew and a really (quite unusually low for our business) low, low turnover of team. However, this year it's not been at all like that and frankly it's driven me to the edges of desperation and despair!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Fhepo_dsk6V8STCtwOQ-S5YYU6RvKjjoee1jAQscnt04_09vIHkikkJJvsRC7P9zbjKBTsbLorM7Xh8N-pbAukGo50XesJV8xvNDLT-QzfYpq4Weyv6Zh8giXGlIwNSqNtVyU0WDmbs/s1600/2017-05-07+19.02.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Fhepo_dsk6V8STCtwOQ-S5YYU6RvKjjoee1jAQscnt04_09vIHkikkJJvsRC7P9zbjKBTsbLorM7Xh8N-pbAukGo50XesJV8xvNDLT-QzfYpq4Weyv6Zh8giXGlIwNSqNtVyU0WDmbs/s320/2017-05-07+19.02.19.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well deserved cup of tea Chef?<br /></td></tr>
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What you don't see in our business is the often frenetic scenes in the 'engine' room - the kitchen! What YOU the customer see is plate after plate of beautiful food, presented well and smelling gorgeous - you don't (quite rightly!) see the deliveries that start from 7.30 in the morning of crate after crate of fresh produce that all has to be put away and then the kitchen teams ability to turn it into a menu that will delight you.<br />
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By 8.30am every morning Sarah will have a tray of Scones baking, then there's often meat to be taken off the bone, fish to be trimmed and stored, cheese to be cut and weighed. Crabshells have to filled with crab for salads, dishes have to be devised, costed and put on as specials. Vegetables have to be prepared and ready for cooking, desserts are made fresh at least every other day - so trays of Sticky Toffee vie with Banoffee Pie and Possets for space. Sunday lunch is at least 2 sackfuls of potatoes and as for the Veg!!!??<br />
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There are probably another 2 to 3 dozen jobs I could be writing down here, but you'd stop reading before I stopped listing the jobs!<br />
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So with at least 95% of our menu made from scratch - that's no mean feat and every single member of our kitchen team is to be congratulated on the work they do producing anything from 300 to 600 meals a day at this time of year.<br />
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Don't forget, at 10 or 10.30p.m (sometimes even later!) the kitchen then gets scrubbed back to shiny clean gorgeousness and they stumble out into the fresh air ready for a nights sleep before coming in and doing it all over again!<br />
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So when you are suddenly a person down - that puts the kitchen under enormous strain, but this week at last we appear to have a full kitchen team again! Hoorah!!<br />
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So to Head Chef Tania, Snr Sous Tom and James, Sous Chefs Craig, Jake and Sarah, Junior Chefs Churchie and Scott and our wonderful KP's Nick and Ollie, a huge, massive, heartfelt <b><i><span style="color: #b45f06;">Thank You</span></i></b> for all you do in our kitchen for us and for the great dining public - onwards and upwards!<br />
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Oh no wait - one is off with a poorly shoulder.......... well then - almost a full team!!<br />
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Till the next thrilling instalment of life as a Pub Landlady, 😀😀<br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Liz x</i></b></span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-20625370361329921902017-05-15T19:56:00.001+01:002017-05-15T19:56:03.069+01:00Ok - maybe not Spring after all! <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gawd!!! The heatings back on and it's pouring cats and dogs.......... Come on Spring I'm waiting for you to come back! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So! Good evening my lovelies, it's been great to see so many familiar faces popping in over the last few weeks for your post Bank Holiday breaks. Some of you even went home with sun tans! Would be rust right now if you were here......! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cXdpn-WRbyy5I04ol3LGC_QipCsZHRJ3i23ujYkTqJM8iYXThRWxbVP1RkbtgraCGqd4KHA1HhO1QIEN6bz-85-x-UrdPVER-_IGN0IRY-bOA77roxn1879w7c0Wsw7u4xeleC4dSIU/s1600/the+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cXdpn-WRbyy5I04ol3LGC_QipCsZHRJ3i23ujYkTqJM8iYXThRWxbVP1RkbtgraCGqd4KHA1HhO1QIEN6bz-85-x-UrdPVER-_IGN0IRY-bOA77roxn1879w7c0Wsw7u4xeleC4dSIU/s400/the+girls.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was having some lovely conversations with guests in our pub this weekend and we always get great responses to the teams approach to customer service, in fact we got our results this week to the St Austell brewery mystery shop and we got 95% - we were thrilled and the 2 team members named (Jessie and Lauren) got a reward voucher from us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, the conversation that stuck in my mind this week, was just HOW good our team are and how well they gel together. I think it's because not only do we value them, pay them well and try to create a family atmosphere, THEY all seem to like each others company. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Two of our team (who many of you will know and love) Jess (Manager) and Philly (one of our supervisors) have gone off 'glamping' for the week. I'm told that's glamorous camping - but as I say (boringly continuously) the only stars I will sleep under is where they have 4 or 5 over a hotel door! Yet, yesterday on their first day off where did they go for Sunday lunch?? Where they work! So I think that speaks volumes don't you?? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcgDuXEQ2IC7N_Riu-BixN5mUZ7UdTJK7JfUVGYBkbwDkhDf_MSUDNW65e8cAeK_2Sos-MiFvnt7xbMH1LjUSfduw8HYoFZedRCccL3KrW75QqtWjF-PrNsbH2FzSLkrM5NsdwFBt_Gw/s1600/drunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcgDuXEQ2IC7N_Riu-BixN5mUZ7UdTJK7JfUVGYBkbwDkhDf_MSUDNW65e8cAeK_2Sos-MiFvnt7xbMH1LjUSfduw8HYoFZedRCccL3KrW75QqtWjF-PrNsbH2FzSLkrM5NsdwFBt_Gw/s320/drunk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the Vic team with a couple of friends!!! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We also have a team Facebook messenger group for sharing ideas, moans and grumbles as well as full on madness at times. They also like to go out together when they can, proving that a team that plays together - stays together!!! <span style="color: yellow;"><<<<<<<<</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We recently had a food blogger in our pub - Tim of Culinary Chatter. He did an absolutely amazing review and we are getting lots of positive comments on social media about it; </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://culinarychatter.com/victoria-inn-salcombe/</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's always a bit nerve wracking having someone write about you however much you think you did a good job and it's not until I see it in print I can relax. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZW_n2XdWPqR4GV7DMx2e5WOz5ynKEnI9sE87JKgJZ70CiJ4-Y1qgasevpwcA7xEgzDI2_cYmfAWfqj0T0ni8znXkXFT_9WFTjno6OXqVCsS_W8QVOG3b7ED3cIwx8L1JtkLhMOfYHoQ/s1600/devon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZW_n2XdWPqR4GV7DMx2e5WOz5ynKEnI9sE87JKgJZ70CiJ4-Y1qgasevpwcA7xEgzDI2_cYmfAWfqj0T0ni8znXkXFT_9WFTjno6OXqVCsS_W8QVOG3b7ED3cIwx8L1JtkLhMOfYHoQ/s200/devon.png" width="191" /></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've also been nominated for Muddy Stiletto (Devon) awards - now this is an interesting one as it's voted for by you the customer, so If you'd like to vote for us please can you follow this </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">link;</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/awards/categories/</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Best Destination Pub would be great - Thank you kindly! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What else have I got to chat about today then??? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmNx-jSbgrhO-W5xEHELKkbikE2R0njV4YuOjbwYv7Od6wyyBRcHLBdGiEmVZ_mWsEvkSp4e-1JQNxI7E07Og1aPZB6yP4H-g3K2iOWxeHYK8bPUYdjEtBYl89lPekKN-SJ6l_MC0ujY/s1600/lettuce2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmNx-jSbgrhO-W5xEHELKkbikE2R0njV4YuOjbwYv7Od6wyyBRcHLBdGiEmVZ_mWsEvkSp4e-1JQNxI7E07Og1aPZB6yP4H-g3K2iOWxeHYK8bPUYdjEtBYl89lPekKN-SJ6l_MC0ujY/s320/lettuce2.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, as many of you know, I'm not working quite so many hours these days - but that doesn't mean I'm not 'working'......... If I'm not on social media advertising the pub then I can often be found in my greenhouse. This year I've grown (many from seed) lots of lettuces and leaves and I mean lots. So much of my produce is finding its way onto the kitchen at the Vic to be used in the menus. As a certain Greg Wallace famously said on Master Chef - Food doesn't get fresher than this! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It really doesn't either, and there's no pesticides been on them, just me singing along to music on my Bose player in the greenhouse. I've also got lots and lots of tomatoes I've planted - again, many from seed and I hope they will be great for our menu about August maybe! I don't think anything tastes better and is more rewarding than walking outside your door and picking the freshest of the fresh produce. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINXP50n1cU_ARELly55eamilRwan44Bw7kLalQAEHcnwvLbmw6hW6Sq0kCVk32vdprTyEdX2w0boKaiW-1-wK3ehmXK6pfiONJAYwlM963km5PYn70et6drn97Aq0qzr4-bFMV92mUWo/s1600/cabinet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINXP50n1cU_ARELly55eamilRwan44Bw7kLalQAEHcnwvLbmw6hW6Sq0kCVk32vdprTyEdX2w0boKaiW-1-wK3ehmXK6pfiONJAYwlM963km5PYn70et6drn97Aq0qzr4-bFMV92mUWo/s400/cabinet.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today, we've just had a fab new addition to our pub and something SOH and I talked about for ages and that is a trophy cabinet. Made by a local craftsman Nigel Couch it's of the most amazing quality and our trophies look absolutely fab in it. Who knows, perhaps we'll have another one or two to put in it this year?? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, I think that's it for now lets hope we have sunshine on our bodies when I write my next blog! </span><br />
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-45505520755920664122017-04-23T19:55:00.001+01:002017-04-23T19:55:09.042+01:00Easter? Been and gone.............<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfd7rqK8We_ykm6UO2pxHIRgjH3Eegv-w1C3z6bUs_OslgYtzISSFuSZxwDgn2feaF7JnhEJ1c6YPDFWbBd6axhOJint8PgNmUaWLan_yX3PWm2oib_ESFH80xxnol-CByHhzVnsFMJC0/s1600/Mark.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfd7rqK8We_ykm6UO2pxHIRgjH3Eegv-w1C3z6bUs_OslgYtzISSFuSZxwDgn2feaF7JnhEJ1c6YPDFWbBd6axhOJint8PgNmUaWLan_yX3PWm2oib_ESFH80xxnol-CByHhzVnsFMJC0/s400/Mark.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Easter? Then it has to mean the first Stories in the Garden from our friend Jacob Cracker - and without it being to much of a pun - they really were 2 crackingly good sessions. Kids ( and grown ups) love these story telling sessions and we were blessed with great weather! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salcombe seemed to be VERY busy this Easter and as usual we have no summer staff yet, so everyone had to work that bit harder as usual. But as long as our customers were happy there we're happy. The weather was good, but we've known better and as for rain? Well we've seen none for ages - now there's the cue for the heavens to open! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ekDxWGfOQbxVTncaSXqlFfF04slP-rlRW-RGh3hyphenhyphenhDP-UP9o-7DY4IG6xBavTp_kYvmGn1iW8_LhQ-qqjLvIFt68DWyIbwaxXWWFrNkYo9mby3P-hG9-BsQdrzRrkWpVmGq82jZR_qI/s1600/Crab.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ekDxWGfOQbxVTncaSXqlFfF04slP-rlRW-RGh3hyphenhyphenhDP-UP9o-7DY4IG6xBavTp_kYvmGn1iW8_LhQ-qqjLvIFt68DWyIbwaxXWWFrNkYo9mby3P-hG9-BsQdrzRrkWpVmGq82jZR_qI/s320/Crab.jpeg" width="240" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Food wise, we've taken the seafood plate off the menu for the summer but we have instead put Dressed Crab on the menu and my goodness, customers can't get enough of them! T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he other thing that customers are enjoying is the home-made Bannoffee Pie - I'm trying desperately to ignore it calling me............</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Champagne weekends continue to be popular (and why ever not!) and Salcombe Gin (which is rather lovely) is also selling <b>very</b> well. I have to say I think Salcombe Gin is actually a <i>really</i> good Gin and it is starting to get quite a few awards, so it's a pleasure selling it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVCIBn_3jCwgc_Wpt4bOXctW3qan_pePCcmdvOxl9sbAfTufhRS8J6MgAeoobCAWGDdob6SjxLn5mcWFL1H8yQywRdbXpkFgHcrB2jTfSFVwcodrEONP3A7l65N_8iFgHv34T49CM1zs/s1600/Roast+potatoes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVCIBn_3jCwgc_Wpt4bOXctW3qan_pePCcmdvOxl9sbAfTufhRS8J6MgAeoobCAWGDdob6SjxLn5mcWFL1H8yQywRdbXpkFgHcrB2jTfSFVwcodrEONP3A7l65N_8iFgHv34T49CM1zs/s200/Roast+potatoes.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll see I've put a picture of our Roast Potatoes for no other reason than for me a good roast spud is the essence of Sunday Roast and heavens above do we now get a lot of bookings for Sunday lunch particularly!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So please book with us, won't you! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aZGCPC5i6Pi8S3sd2Uu4TerobpLEsZg8M7ZgbQIWPpThDpjkG43X6v8ieE7Xknlrv7ZIJJDHVD4EHH54LuFBI7Onh5w_SzcTQVMxUoX-2TG0zH5REupRMapFU2v42D85EHERP3X-eqA/s1600/Banoffee.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aZGCPC5i6Pi8S3sd2Uu4TerobpLEsZg8M7ZgbQIWPpThDpjkG43X6v8ieE7Xknlrv7ZIJJDHVD4EHH54LuFBI7Onh5w_SzcTQVMxUoX-2TG0zH5REupRMapFU2v42D85EHERP3X-eqA/s200/Banoffee.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hanging baskets and plants at the Vic are about to be refreshed and renewed by </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Potters Nurseries so hopefully we'll have some pictures in the next blog.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last purchase of logs have been made for this season and the Garden sign has replaced the welcoming Fire sign outside of the pub. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOqoIMehP_uZFJWE0opYlUjKsXnxqW1D22j9hvgU4KT9XQaNdG9GmitjYlUCFOvZZSJTNLSqUH5F-nPyVK6Vo2n2sPLx71SEF_sS__FnJcUrVxPyv3xJ3V_IGhPYOUauLI5a5CUCqZiY/s1600/Ellen+.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOqoIMehP_uZFJWE0opYlUjKsXnxqW1D22j9hvgU4KT9XQaNdG9GmitjYlUCFOvZZSJTNLSqUH5F-nPyVK6Vo2n2sPLx71SEF_sS__FnJcUrVxPyv3xJ3V_IGhPYOUauLI5a5CUCqZiY/s200/Ellen+.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What else? Well our lovely Ellen who's worked for us since she was 15 has just had her 18th Birthday and she is also joining us this year as one of our new Hospitality Apprentices, so you can expect to see a few photo's of her through the year as we know she's going to be brilliant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next week - the 30th is the towns 2nd CRABFEST and if last year is anything to go by, it should be an amazing day. Lets just keep our fingers crossed for good weather. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So right now, it's onwards and upwards to the summer; Summer team to be employed, decisions to be made on menus/BBQ's etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Till next time, </span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-7615544029803502902017-02-25T18:27:00.001+00:002017-02-25T18:27:20.731+00:00Happy Half Term<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAre3fg3ygJGsrWr9Tu9tT_3GCNnbzJ2hrRLoauwYN5ICnBDfDYAGzIgTL8vkRLLuhSO5AfrPW3KE-Zt4lkgvXqTawEvTF29AaMFR16rU2Y39sIMFcScKmF3bbv1Ug9mhkh34xlUjiZgs/s1600/2017-01-15+19.03.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAre3fg3ygJGsrWr9Tu9tT_3GCNnbzJ2hrRLoauwYN5ICnBDfDYAGzIgTL8vkRLLuhSO5AfrPW3KE-Zt4lkgvXqTawEvTF29AaMFR16rU2Y39sIMFcScKmF3bbv1Ug9mhkh34xlUjiZgs/s400/2017-01-15+19.03.53.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well that was an odd half term if ever there was one! But before that and since the last blog (which you're right was absolutely ages ago!!) we had our usual post Christmas staff bash which this year was at the Harbour Hotel Salcombe and huge thanks to them for giving us a fantastic time! I hope we didn't upset too many guests as we (they) all got louder and louder (read drunker and drunker!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Don't the girls look fantastic with SOH?? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt35EE7mPFs2J6-WNNIWSyGffULsWMo_jXPY_tnquE4h_izx9Lt5fJTxHrMu1ub_p_wV5-4OGejKcLIecZqkLTK7s0pPSbcyonsyEaVyVmkBoqwjMchg7-K8YW15lHl_KS1V6S-rJSyzE/s1600/2017-01-15+21.12.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt35EE7mPFs2J6-WNNIWSyGffULsWMo_jXPY_tnquE4h_izx9Lt5fJTxHrMu1ub_p_wV5-4OGejKcLIecZqkLTK7s0pPSbcyonsyEaVyVmkBoqwjMchg7-K8YW15lHl_KS1V6S-rJSyzE/s320/2017-01-15+21.12.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gosh, everyone scrubbed up very well and I think all team said it was one of the best - although I shall probably remain scarred for life at some of the atrocious 'Dad Dancing' that was exhibited by a certain silver haired Chef and assistant Manager!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So! Back to half term - spread this year over three weeks and various parts of the country meant the numbers were quite diluted, meaning we didn't have the rush that perhaps we've experienced in the past but it could have been worse! Next one is Easter and we understand that this too will be shared over a number of weeks with various parts of the country - so we wait to see what it will be like. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">SOH and I have been on our post Christmas holiday ( a Norwegian cruise) during which I was exceptionally unwell only to come home and find I was a lot sicker than I thought I was, resulting in a 9 day hospital spell and I shall be off work until about Easter - so huge thanks to our great team for ensuring the business ran like clockwork and nobody noticed I was even missing.......... Having said that I've had some amazing cards, gifts and messages from many of our customers and felt very loved. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There really isn't much else to gossip about at the moment as little else has happened, but we have a kitchen upgrade happening on Monday with some nice, new sparkly equipment coming in including a Water Bath! yes, one of those things you see Chefs flouncing about with on MasterChef and our new Head Chef has coveted for as long as he's been with us! We've also been struggling with some massive food price rises seeing shocking amounts going onto Dairy products and Smoked Salmon, as well as the Spanish flooding affecting some (not much as we try to stick strictly local) of the salad and veg produce. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So a short but succinct blog tonight and I hope to see many of you back at the Vic as soon as I'm fit and well again, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Much love, </span><br />
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-33915378139341399212017-01-09T20:15:00.001+00:002017-01-09T20:15:29.392+00:00Dry January - not likely! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcQlZ6qsnXLO0q7YUhCP5s6NRA78rBGNz5IbVP1B-qfmup4VA0B9NyinGNUcmnHB1kod3Zeqzs_Mlwe-ccdg8PiRm4ONewpvOVJN7i3eJtn1_jwUgr0jy-ZS2ym-wl8Xv5Ozn9gziW7I/s1600/pic+winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcQlZ6qsnXLO0q7YUhCP5s6NRA78rBGNz5IbVP1B-qfmup4VA0B9NyinGNUcmnHB1kod3Zeqzs_Mlwe-ccdg8PiRm4ONewpvOVJN7i3eJtn1_jwUgr0jy-ZS2ym-wl8Xv5Ozn9gziW7I/s400/pic+winner.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lr6FYnZZzNpIOLX24QayRPz1_PpsBxeXESVP-EGuB8YP0CaBGjX0hU0sQaWy43XhBj2xWl5wwyRTd3lrosLN-mjqDmF6VqgLUzE5XCPymP8Xlt4q1zlwScfKmQmmoiXoLbj_6VOeUao/s1600/dry+january.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lr6FYnZZzNpIOLX24QayRPz1_PpsBxeXESVP-EGuB8YP0CaBGjX0hU0sQaWy43XhBj2xWl5wwyRTd3lrosLN-mjqDmF6VqgLUzE5XCPymP8Xlt4q1zlwScfKmQmmoiXoLbj_6VOeUao/s640/dry+january.jpg" width="360" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Evening all and Happy New Year to you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope you had a good one - we had an absolutely fantastic NYE as usual. The food from our new Head Chef Tom and his team was outstanding and in the first 2 days of 2017 we took five - yes 5 - bookings for NYE 2017!! We also sold both of the bedrooms for that period - amazing! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alongside that we had our busiest New Years Day ever as well - so thank you to everyone for liking us so much and thank you to our incredible team for working so hard and making the New Years period the huge success it was. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No pics this year though as I seemed to be busier than ever this year - I think it was because I was trying to raise money for the Salcombe First Responders and even I (yes, I know - hard to believe!) can only usually do one thing at a time! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On that note thank you to each and everyone of you who donated of your own free will (I did NOT chain anyone to their seat until they paid!) to this amazing service that is provided completely free of charge with no money coming from anywhere but the donations of very kind people like YOU! To those of you who had one ticket, half a dozen or a £100 like one incredibly generous gentleman. Through you all we raised a little over £1500!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The winner was a local lady called Jennifer Cooper who called in with her family at the weekend to collect her prize.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So all the chocolates have been eaten (i'm guessing in most houses - not in ours as I've still not had a chocolate since August!) the great Cheese mountain has almost been demolished and surely there can't be a mince pie left in the land. Although I did see HOT CROSS BUNS in Sainsburys last week!! Really Sainsburys............??? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Who's on dry January then??? Please don't - goodness knows there aren't enough pubs left as it is...... 😀</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But seriously, if you are 'drying'out why not see what great soft drinks your pub has rather than stay home?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The sign above I shamelessly pinched off the internet - great isn't it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well then Salcombe - the tree is down, lights are too, sales are in full swing and some shops have quite amazing bargains! I've done my bit to keep Salcombe economy buoyant! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It looks like Lloyds bank is definitely going to close this year leaving Salcombe without a bank in it's town. The nearest being Kingsbridge and I can tell you that not only is that pretty poor for the older people left in Salcombe but it's going to be real hassle for business's like ours! We do offer cash back on purchases if you get stuck, but it's a poor show from a bank that last year were celebrating their centenary presence in Salcombe! Hypocrites!!!! Utter hypocrites! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ok - I'm not getting on my soap box quite so soon in the New Year - I'm going to try to be nice, polite and totally non ranty in my blogs.................👌👌👌</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well perhaps until March! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Till later my lovely readers, </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Liz x</span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-14054723828512873662016-12-31T16:50:00.004+00:002016-12-31T16:50:59.604+00:00Happy New Year All<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So as I sit here Saturday afternoon 321st January 2017 thinking about getting ready for one of the most special evenings in our calendar - I want this blog to be all about the team! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The guys in the photo and some that sadly weren't there for the photo shoot! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">SOH and I are firmly of the opinion that this incredible bunch of people make up the most amazing team we've been fortunate to work with. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Actually when this bunch are in full swing - then the 'magic' really does happen, because they all really do love what they do at the Vic!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Each and everyone of them; from the 15 year olds who do the 'running' and clearing and tidying to the Managers who keep a watchful eye on things, to the Chefs who cook and clean and feed so many thousands and thousands of you every year - they all work so very, very hard and Tim & I consider ourselves to be incredibly fortunate to have them working with us! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every single one of them brings something special to the business and collectively they work together as a really great team. They all socialise with each other as well - so that says a lot about how they get on. If someones ill, it doesn't take them long to volunteer to cover a shift - usually without asking and often expecting nothing in return. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This year we've worked extra hard on education and training and it was a joy to see Jessie and Philly (21 tomorrow) achieve NVQ's in Hospitality. They are now supervisors and undertaking the next level of NVQ. Next year we hope to have to young ladies join us as Hospitality Apprentices. Front of House next year will be looking to raise their game even further with more training and a bit of fun along the way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In our kitchen - the machine room - Tom Huggett joined us as our new Head Chef, Sous Chef Sarah also joined us as well as Chef de Partie Aaron and in January we have a trained Pastry Chef joining us. That brings our team in the kitchen up to 9 and 2 part timers. We're investing a lot of money into the kitchen, buying a water bath and some other better equipment. It will all help give you the customer a better experience when you visit, as well as make our Chefs lives a bit easier. I am excited about the food coming out of our kitchen and even more excited about developments in our kitchen for 2017. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now I've had a break from entering awards for a year, I shall be back on the paper trail in 2017. I feel this will be our year to shine again! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So from Tim, myself and all our amazing team - we wish you all a very Peaceful, Happy, Prosperous and loving 2017. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096196509622286950.post-55153700425089919752016-12-20T21:50:00.000+00:002016-12-20T21:50:22.693+00:00Happy Christmas my lovelies! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0GlTdlxzMURfv5c6hOw9WVjEf-Iu3u0gPSP1VyAPqFpMQpXnafu3H4u31auFXJLhlDgfTnf-fnGVoyvfv9ko4Iicni-Wz5SLXFgB0dMrqYczIi_ZBseznQ6MUtMqmdNsSZVLC62N5GQ/s1600/2016-12-04+19.36.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0GlTdlxzMURfv5c6hOw9WVjEf-Iu3u0gPSP1VyAPqFpMQpXnafu3H4u31auFXJLhlDgfTnf-fnGVoyvfv9ko4Iicni-Wz5SLXFgB0dMrqYczIi_ZBseznQ6MUtMqmdNsSZVLC62N5GQ/s400/2016-12-04+19.36.46.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ok - this is actually my third attempt tonight at writing this as for some reason the Gods that are gremlins in wi-fi are insistent that I should just watch Masterchef the Professionals! But no I have shut down and re-booted several times to enable me to deliver my wonderful Christmas words of joy, peace and light to you............. yea right!! <span id="goog_338836199"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now I refuse to bow to cynicism and commercialism I WILL believe in the joy of Christmas......... I will not be bought down by the fact that I could not find my Grandsons preferred toy. I refuse to be hacked off that I had to join a waiting list for said toy!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I cannot allow my hatred of big stores expecting me to shove a quid in to use their trollies - particularly when it's hissing down with rain - and their trollies are not under cover! M & S Dartmouth!! Yes - YOU!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dartmouth of all places......... what in Gods name do they think will happen to them in Dartmouth?? Will all the genteel folk start having wheelie races in them up and down the prom!?! Will they be pinched and exported as a national treasure??</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I will not let the red mist descend because there just might be a shortage of Sprouts this year. WHAT!?? No sprouts they say......... the masses will riot! No - they just won't fart as much when they're sleeping off the effects of a meal that most third world countries can only imagine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will not be forced into buying 3 extra boxes of chocolates and 6 packets of mince pies just in case we have starving people ringing our doorbell on the off chance of an After Eight or 3! I will not buy nuts that will languish in the dish until they've gone soft and require the dustbin as a kind ending.......... I will not buy a mound of cheese that requires me to eat every bit as I cannot bare to waste it!! Oh no I won't! Will I?????</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh dear.......... I do sound a bit cross don't I?? I'm not, but when you're in a business that's been thinking about and talking about Christmas for a very long time it's hard not to be world weary about it. I adore Michael Buble but when you've heard 'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas' for the one millionth time it's hard not to want to commit hari kari!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway my lovelies - how are YOU all doing?? I know a lot of you are planning on coming down as soon as reasonably possible after the Christmas Day deed is done and we will be ready to welcome you with open arms. Salcombe has been fairly quiet the last week or 2 but we have still been remarkably buoyant trade wise, still achieving good numbers (particularly at the weekends) and this year we have a record amount of bookings for NY day and the couple of days following it! So PLEASE ring us and book won't you, can't be doing with tantrums because you can't get a seat! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We are shut Christmas Day but open the rest of the time. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaCGMhP3q0QBjjCSwWp8UodUv42cz0sEiwR1RDtWUyo9hz_L4ceY-J3qPwQdtxX-TqhTGd_OO8uaou1B8Huhzhij4jiS-tJ5NRUvYDydpFiyj-kFx1F28DVMOKbogWw3gYn-cvxTzgDM/s1600/caroline+Appleyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaCGMhP3q0QBjjCSwWp8UodUv42cz0sEiwR1RDtWUyo9hz_L4ceY-J3qPwQdtxX-TqhTGd_OO8uaou1B8Huhzhij4jiS-tJ5NRUvYDydpFiyj-kFx1F28DVMOKbogWw3gYn-cvxTzgDM/s320/caroline+Appleyard.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Right, moving on, the second photo in this blog is a painting SOH and I had commissioned by Caroline Appleyard - an incredibly gifted artist! I had a great photo lined up of her and I in the pub Sunday night, but no ....... my Mac has other ideas! It's getting above it's station if you ask me!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now where was I?? Oh yes, Caroline http://www.appleyard-art.co.uk</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and the picture. I just love it and she has very kindly given me 2 prints as well. One has gone to our friend Mark who does all the story writing and reading in the school holidays (also available for festivals, weddings and bar mitzvahs) and the other one we are raffling over the festive period to try to raise funds for the Salcombe First Responder Charity. This service (of which of course SOH Tim is one) is run entirely by donations, so I'm hoping we'll make a good few bob from doing this. You can donate by post! £5 a ticket! Please make cheques payable to Salcombe First Responders sent to the Vic. <i><u>Cough Cough Jim /Adam et al...........</u></i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnTl9CotzuaF84VtmUe0tzYb41Qbllm4K0cg9Xqc7ZHr06RxrM7zI_0BDWYs4M-KHTN_Oyjakwtyh4ghhADpTNYkfePHA6Kb_9c5BcyPsuoWJXsSY0-GR3h3ZHgSEIcptqge_fnEah0U/s1600/caroline+utin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnTl9CotzuaF84VtmUe0tzYb41Qbllm4K0cg9Xqc7ZHr06RxrM7zI_0BDWYs4M-KHTN_Oyjakwtyh4ghhADpTNYkfePHA6Kb_9c5BcyPsuoWJXsSY0-GR3h3ZHgSEIcptqge_fnEah0U/s200/caroline+utin.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the subject of being here with the family can I just put a plug here for a great local business that will actually come and babysit your children. Not just at home but at functions - you know the ones where they're great for a while but then they'd rather do anything than sit quiet and enjoy an hours worth of speeches (who can blame them!) Her name is Caroline Utin and her business is S.E.B.S - Salcombe Elite Babysitting Services. She and her team are all CRB blahdy blahdy blah checked etc and she's a lovely lady who actually likes babies and children......... not saying I don't (you know I do really!) but I wouldn't get paid to glare at them although parents have suggested I could earn a crust! </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's the link to her website </span>http://www.s-e-b-s.com<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well then, the fire is lit and roaring away a treat (the cost of those logs 😄😄!!) mulled wine is on the go on the Bar at the Vic, the Champagne is chilling and the team are ready to welcome you back and ensure you really, truly do have a super Christmas and New Year with us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tim, myself and all our amazing team would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for continuing to support us, whether just once a year or every week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We all hope you have a fab Christmas and that 2017 brings you joy, peace, great health and true happiness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas everyone and much love from both of us too, </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Liz (she writes this drivel on an occasional basis ) and Tim (He's the clever one!) X X X </span><br />
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<span id="goog_338836198"></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555494469629782198noreply@blogger.com0