Getting the hang of this

Ok then - I think I'm getting the hang of this pub lark, especially the seasonal trade issues. Now, although I only worked here and there at our old pub in Winchester, there's no doubt about it that on the whole it was pretty much a predictable pattern (give or take the odd very quiet periods that seemed to come out of the blue), with certain days having certain things, like Monday evening Poker, another night a crib night, my Friday night boys etc etc. Here though, its a different pattern of working all together, and what I'm fast realising is that a seasonal pub such as ours is a very different kettle of fish!

Yet again we have just had a Bank Holiday and boy oh boy what another frantic, incredible weekend it's been. What I can't seem to get over is that Salcombe goes to sleep on a Thursday night (like last week) all reasonably quiet and 'normal' and wakes up on the Friday of the Bank Holiday weekend to an absolute invasion of people...... It's really the most bizarre phenomenon. The waters that on Thursday had a few boats bobbing up and down was Friday just chock full of yachts of all shapes and sizes and some of the most amazing 'gin palaces' you could only ever lust after!

Of course, as usual, just when I think I've got all bases covered staff sickness hit us for six - but even appendicitis and suspected broken foot can't be faked....... (or can they...?!?) but all that aside, everyone coped admirably, the weather hardly let us down and it was a delight to see our garden used to such a great extent - and I think some of that must have been down to a fantastic advertorial in the local paper. We had a great mix of visitors as well, some were returning who we had met when we first came here and were now on the 2nd of their two hols a year down here and others only just starting their 'Salcombe Season'.....so new friendships were made and all seemed to like our new style of ownership. Quite a lot of European visitors as well - a charming party of 4 Swiss and Italian chaps who seemed intent on drinking the entire bottle of New Zealand Vodka (and they did over the course of the weekend and then some on top), a Dutch family who were sailing, and a fabulous Spanish family from Madrid - my 'Hola' and 'Cómo está' delighted them.......... well at least I think it was delight! Could have been sheer embarrassment for all I know.....

What else...??? Oh yes, I've learnt that far better to have a 30 minute nap on the settee in an afternoon than an hour and a half sleep on the bed. I feel far more refreshed from that. SOH and I have also stuck to our pledge to have a day off a week - today it was Paignton (didn't see 1 swine flu mask!) and Torquay. I didn't think either were particularly fabulous, but after Salcombe it's pretty hard to find anywhere that's half as nice. This week should see Salcombe settle back down to a reasonable 'normal' spell, and we gear up for Whitsun - I'm advised that will be one heck of a week..... but I don't care I have a week in Spain to look forward to straight after that - more of that in another blog.

Our trip to Truro last week was excellent - great to meet colleagues from St Austell, and even better to taste some of the products available to us. We have a great new bottled lager coming, (one that I chose!!) 'Kasteel Cru', the bottle looks very posh with fab glasses and even better, tastes divine!! Our hotel in Truro was quite nice, but already I've acquired a professional eye and can critically appraise almost any task in the hospitality business..... however, if you go to Truro you must go 'Charlottes' tea rooms in town - its like going back 40 odd years in time with old furniture and waitresses in full length white aprons and caps..... just fabulous! With the most amazing Cream Tea's - needless to say, I had to have one!

Next week (it either rains or pours) we have 2 whole days in London to look forward to, as its our BII lunch at the Grosvenor House Hotel. This is my 3rd year of going and its always a great bash, our speaker is Nick Hewer (the grey haired chap from The Apprentice) and if he's anything like he was on the Jonathon Ross radio show the other week he should be great. After the main lunch there's always a fabulous bunch of people that go on to other famous pubs in London and the lunch stretches well in to the evening.... As we are so far away now, we're going to make a proper break of it - plus it means we can possibly (right!) get a lttle tiddly....?! :)