It was very hot again today - but then we are in summer in the South of France and we would all be complaining if it wasn't hot - so I shall stop writing about it - but it was hot, 36 degrees by most estimates.
It didn't stop the crazy English guy (me) and the crazy Irish guy (Patrick) going out on our bikes this afternoon for a pretty full-on 90 minute cycle. Today we headed west out of Carcassonne before cutting back across country to meet the canal and then back along the towpath. We are always looking for new routes, especially those that avoid the traffic and the main roads. By heading west first we had to endure the headwind on our outward journey rather than when we have turned for home, which is a damn sight easier to cope with.
It was probably way too hot to be doing such things but then the Tour de France boys will be setting off at the weekend and they will make us look like the complete amateurs that we are.
This morning was mostly about ironing - what else is there to say - it has to be done and it was done but there is still more as a result of the very busy week just gone.
My American guests also checked out early because they were worried about driving their hire car back to Montpellier and finding the airport all on the same day. It is of course entirely up to them and just means that I have their washing already done and hung up to dry (more ironing) and one less breakfast to do in the morning.
More importantly, I am almost besides myself with excitement this week at the thought of Debrah arriving here on Friday with Christian and Amy arriving on Wednesday. After a very busy month here running the business it will be fabulous to see everyone and get away for a week. I would like to think that I won't have to get up to make a breakfast, that the kids might spontaneously do that - but I am not kidding myself at all and I know I will be up making a breakfast tray for Debrah - after all she deserves it just as much as I do.
Monday 29 June 2009
Saturday 27 June 2009
Mousstades
The busy busy month of June finally feels like it is coming to an end and things worked out very nicely today to enable me to have lunch with friends, watch the Lions match and go out to the festival in Villemoustassou this evening.
June has probably been the busiest month of all since we opened last year. I have been letting out the main bedroom in my apartment as a third suite so we have had even more guests and I have done the whole month on my own because Debrah has been tied up with her work in London. It has been absorbing, non-stop, hectic, exciting, fulfilling, exhausting and good fun - and a bit lonely in-between when in my quiet moments I have quite been missing my wife.
The Dubai based Irish family who arrived on Wednesday (Mum, Dad and three grown up daughters) left this morning. They were a lot of fun and great guests and if Debrah and I ever find ourselves in Dubai we will have an inside track on what goes on there. I cooked dinner for them all on Thursday evening which went on a bit. They were all planning to replicate different courses when they got home which was a nice compliment - but it wasn't all straightforward with one being gluten free and one lactose intolerant. Dad just seemed to accept it all with a smile on his face and heavily used wallet. Nice people and it's great having nice people come to stay.
They kindly moved their stuff out of the Studio suite this morning before they headed down to the market which allowed me to get in there and clean it out before taking Dad up to the airport to collect his hire car, which was just as well because when I got back my new arrivals (mother and daughter from the USA) were sat on my doorstep waiting for me.
Excellent. Departing guests out, arriving guests in and all sorted by 12.30pm. A quick phone call to see what was happening and soon after I was sat at a table in the square with friends having a leisurely lunch, which was followed by the ultimately disappointing Lions Test against South Africa. Oh well, but a pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon knowing that I had no further guest responsibilities to worry about until the morning.
As an aside, whilst I was waiting up at the airport for my guest to collect his hire car so that I could show him the way back into town, I watched with fascination the newly arrived visitors leaving the car hire depot and it didn't fill me with confidence. Some decided not to follow the tarmac road and turned off onto the dusty dirt roads looking for the airport exit, some were just driving on the wrong side of the road, some were going 10kph at most and some had a look of complete fear on their faces as they approached the roundabout that would unleash them onto the French highways. Scary to say the least but no doubt they will all come through their experiences unscathed - well let's hope so.
The 'Mousstades' at Villemoussetassou is one heck of a name for a festival event but is in fact just a lovely French village fete dressed up as a competition for 'bandas' that goes on for three days. It is a circulade village, so one can either find a spot to sit and watch each band in turn as they play two or three numbers and then move on or you can keep walking round and round in the opposite direction to the bands and see each one in turn whilst picking up food and drink on the hoof as you go.
We actually did a bit of both, ate some oysters, drank some white wine, clapped and foot stamped and shouted along with everyone else. When the blue sky turned to black and the strings of lightbulbs were turned on it all took on a very different late night South of France feeling that is hard to replicate anywhere else with the aromas of shellfish and sausages on the barbeque and frying 'frites' and shouts of 'Ole' in response to the trumpeters fanfares.
Well after midnight we carried the very tired Lara and Louis, Daniel and Cecile's children, back to the car. I was quite done myself - but there was no-one to carry me.
June has probably been the busiest month of all since we opened last year. I have been letting out the main bedroom in my apartment as a third suite so we have had even more guests and I have done the whole month on my own because Debrah has been tied up with her work in London. It has been absorbing, non-stop, hectic, exciting, fulfilling, exhausting and good fun - and a bit lonely in-between when in my quiet moments I have quite been missing my wife.
The Dubai based Irish family who arrived on Wednesday (Mum, Dad and three grown up daughters) left this morning. They were a lot of fun and great guests and if Debrah and I ever find ourselves in Dubai we will have an inside track on what goes on there. I cooked dinner for them all on Thursday evening which went on a bit. They were all planning to replicate different courses when they got home which was a nice compliment - but it wasn't all straightforward with one being gluten free and one lactose intolerant. Dad just seemed to accept it all with a smile on his face and heavily used wallet. Nice people and it's great having nice people come to stay.
They kindly moved their stuff out of the Studio suite this morning before they headed down to the market which allowed me to get in there and clean it out before taking Dad up to the airport to collect his hire car, which was just as well because when I got back my new arrivals (mother and daughter from the USA) were sat on my doorstep waiting for me.
Excellent. Departing guests out, arriving guests in and all sorted by 12.30pm. A quick phone call to see what was happening and soon after I was sat at a table in the square with friends having a leisurely lunch, which was followed by the ultimately disappointing Lions Test against South Africa. Oh well, but a pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon knowing that I had no further guest responsibilities to worry about until the morning.
As an aside, whilst I was waiting up at the airport for my guest to collect his hire car so that I could show him the way back into town, I watched with fascination the newly arrived visitors leaving the car hire depot and it didn't fill me with confidence. Some decided not to follow the tarmac road and turned off onto the dusty dirt roads looking for the airport exit, some were just driving on the wrong side of the road, some were going 10kph at most and some had a look of complete fear on their faces as they approached the roundabout that would unleash them onto the French highways. Scary to say the least but no doubt they will all come through their experiences unscathed - well let's hope so.
The 'Mousstades' at Villemoussetassou is one heck of a name for a festival event but is in fact just a lovely French village fete dressed up as a competition for 'bandas' that goes on for three days. It is a circulade village, so one can either find a spot to sit and watch each band in turn as they play two or three numbers and then move on or you can keep walking round and round in the opposite direction to the bands and see each one in turn whilst picking up food and drink on the hoof as you go.
We actually did a bit of both, ate some oysters, drank some white wine, clapped and foot stamped and shouted along with everyone else. When the blue sky turned to black and the strings of lightbulbs were turned on it all took on a very different late night South of France feeling that is hard to replicate anywhere else with the aromas of shellfish and sausages on the barbeque and frying 'frites' and shouts of 'Ole' in response to the trumpeters fanfares.
Well after midnight we carried the very tired Lara and Louis, Daniel and Cecile's children, back to the car. I was quite done myself - but there was no-one to carry me.
Monday 22 June 2009
Guests
I waited around all afternoon for my new clients and then two lots turned up when I was only expecting the one.
The clients I was expecting had said they would be arriving by car between 3-5pm. At five I sent them a text asking what time they thought they might arrive and at 6.30pm they turned up, having been on the beach all day and still oblivious to my text or that they had compromised my afternoon.
I guess it goes with the territory and at least I gave the kitchen a much needed thorough clean - so there was a silver lining.
At 7.30pm the doorbell rang again. It was my Australian client - the one supposed to arrive tomorrow - just the twenty four hours early then. To say that I was taken a little bit off guard would be an understatement, especially as I was in the final throws of dinner preparation for yesterday's arrivals who would be coming through the door for their four course gourmet dinner with wines in less than 30 minutes.
Fortunately for him, his suite was a) empty - the only night in June that it was - and b) mostly prepped - I had changed the bed but hadn't cleaned or hoovered but thankfully the previous guests had only been in for one night and had been very tidy. Anyway, he was in no position to complain because I know he was a day early and he was lucky to have a room at all.
So I brushed over the confusion for the time being and gave him some clean towels and settled him into the suite. I couldn't really spend much time with him with dinner guests due and I knew that somehow his itinerary was different from the booking I had taken from his travel agent back in Australia - we could sort it out in the morning. When he said that the car hire company weren't expecting him either - well, there you go. Maybe he went the long way round across the international date line or maybe he's just not with it - who knows.
Being the professional that I am (Debrah would say OCD) the dinner was all ready to go and his arrival was but a mere blip on the proceedings. My dinner guests were unaware of the drama and I even remembered to put the candle on the top of his hot chocolate fondant to mark his 30th birthday, which it was.
In some ways, they reminded me of Debrah and I when we first got together - young affluent couple, high pressured jobs, grabbing a weekend away, constantly bickering ...
She's a cushion buyer - she's bound to have a futility attack at some point.
So dinner went well and all the washing up is done. I was up at 6.30am this morning for guests that had an early start so it feels like a long day. I think if I didn't have to get up early I would probably wake up anyway - I don't think I have been in bed beyond 7.30am any day for the past 20 days since I came back from London, which means I just can't do late nights out at all - I ducked out early from La Fête de la Musique last night for that very reason.
It may be the early mornings or the busy schedule or the years catching up or that going out just isn't really fun without Debrah here. It's 20 days since I last saw her and it will be another 10 before I do - that's just too long and I'm feeling every day of it.
I am so looking forward to our week away at the beginning of July.
The clients I was expecting had said they would be arriving by car between 3-5pm. At five I sent them a text asking what time they thought they might arrive and at 6.30pm they turned up, having been on the beach all day and still oblivious to my text or that they had compromised my afternoon.
I guess it goes with the territory and at least I gave the kitchen a much needed thorough clean - so there was a silver lining.
At 7.30pm the doorbell rang again. It was my Australian client - the one supposed to arrive tomorrow - just the twenty four hours early then. To say that I was taken a little bit off guard would be an understatement, especially as I was in the final throws of dinner preparation for yesterday's arrivals who would be coming through the door for their four course gourmet dinner with wines in less than 30 minutes.
Fortunately for him, his suite was a) empty - the only night in June that it was - and b) mostly prepped - I had changed the bed but hadn't cleaned or hoovered but thankfully the previous guests had only been in for one night and had been very tidy. Anyway, he was in no position to complain because I know he was a day early and he was lucky to have a room at all.
So I brushed over the confusion for the time being and gave him some clean towels and settled him into the suite. I couldn't really spend much time with him with dinner guests due and I knew that somehow his itinerary was different from the booking I had taken from his travel agent back in Australia - we could sort it out in the morning. When he said that the car hire company weren't expecting him either - well, there you go. Maybe he went the long way round across the international date line or maybe he's just not with it - who knows.
Being the professional that I am (Debrah would say OCD) the dinner was all ready to go and his arrival was but a mere blip on the proceedings. My dinner guests were unaware of the drama and I even remembered to put the candle on the top of his hot chocolate fondant to mark his 30th birthday, which it was.
In some ways, they reminded me of Debrah and I when we first got together - young affluent couple, high pressured jobs, grabbing a weekend away, constantly bickering ...
She's a cushion buyer - she's bound to have a futility attack at some point.
So dinner went well and all the washing up is done. I was up at 6.30am this morning for guests that had an early start so it feels like a long day. I think if I didn't have to get up early I would probably wake up anyway - I don't think I have been in bed beyond 7.30am any day for the past 20 days since I came back from London, which means I just can't do late nights out at all - I ducked out early from La Fête de la Musique last night for that very reason.
It may be the early mornings or the busy schedule or the years catching up or that going out just isn't really fun without Debrah here. It's 20 days since I last saw her and it will be another 10 before I do - that's just too long and I'm feeling every day of it.
I am so looking forward to our week away at the beginning of July.
Friday 19 June 2009
To Marseillette and back
Yesterday was a double changeover day - two sets of guests out and two in. For a change both sets of departing guests were gone by 9.30am and so I had both suites ready for action by the end of the morning.
All very efficient but not a great help in actually saving me time or making my day any easier. Despite my attempts to contact the new guests, their arrival times remained a mystery until late afternoon, which meant that I had no choice than to hang about at or near to home. Inevitably they all turned up and everyone was happy. I thought about going out as there was live music at The Celt but tiredness overtook me and by the time I had spoken with Debrah there was only one further course of action - bed.
I was woken by my alarm at 6.30 but despite that I was surprisingly perky. I got the coffee pot and the washing machine into action and fired up the iron too and before breakfast all was up to date in the relative cool of the morning. Breakfasts were delivered and to say I felt jolly and a bit smug would have an accurate assessment.
Today, after morning chores, I had a free day - no room changes, no guests in or out, no canapés, no cocktails, no dinners, no client responsibilities at all - and that doesn't happen very often and certainly not during maxed-out June 2009. Today was an oasis of me-time in a desert of servitude.
The dawn had heralded the clear skies of previous days and the promise of the same burning heat - but it was a false dawn. Just after delivering the last breakfast I was stood in the kitchen contemplating a plan of action for the day (cycling, swimming, driving,?) when a sudden strong gust of wind blew through the kitchen and grabbed my attention.
It was a proper gust of wind, as in a change in the weather type gust of wind and within half an hour there was the most almighty thunderstorm raging overhead with torrential rain, impressive lightning and instantaneous deafening thunder. Typical, I thought, when I'm cleaning toilets it's 35 degrees and when I'm planning a day out it's raining.
One of my options for today had been to try and find the cycle route that supposedly exists between La Cité and the abbey at St Hilaire. The tourist office only had cycle paths for the Canal du Midi (which are so damn obvious you don't need a map), there was nothing in any of the guide books or bookshops or on any of the websites I found that listed local cycle routes. I know it exists so I'll just have to keep looking until I find it.
By now the rain had passed and a cooler cloudier day than yesterday was actually perfect for cycling so I set off down the Canal towards Trebes. When I got there I still felt good so I carried on into territory I had never covered before and after 90 minutes I had reached the village of Marseillette. Marseillette was closed, as most French villages are at 1.30pm so I started the ride back and immediately realised there was a very strong headwind in my face.
By definition there are very few hills or slopes on a canal path, just the odd one by a bridge or a lock - so there is very little opportunity to freewheel and take a rest - you have to keep pedalling or you just stop and fall over, especially into the wind.
By the time I reached Trebes again I was parched and needed a drink. Fortunately Trebes wasn't closed partly because there is a small port there which has bars and cafes catering to it. A large glass of water and small beer hardly touched the sides but did the job.
The last 11kms back to Carcassonne were just a case of getting into a steady rythym and keeping going. Three and half hours in total and about 45kms - probably the longest ride I have ever done. My legs felt a bit heavy but not overly so and a few hours later I was still feeling a bit buzzy from the whole trip, which I guess is a good thing. we will see how my legs feel in the morning.
All very efficient but not a great help in actually saving me time or making my day any easier. Despite my attempts to contact the new guests, their arrival times remained a mystery until late afternoon, which meant that I had no choice than to hang about at or near to home. Inevitably they all turned up and everyone was happy. I thought about going out as there was live music at The Celt but tiredness overtook me and by the time I had spoken with Debrah there was only one further course of action - bed.
I was woken by my alarm at 6.30 but despite that I was surprisingly perky. I got the coffee pot and the washing machine into action and fired up the iron too and before breakfast all was up to date in the relative cool of the morning. Breakfasts were delivered and to say I felt jolly and a bit smug would have an accurate assessment.
Today, after morning chores, I had a free day - no room changes, no guests in or out, no canapés, no cocktails, no dinners, no client responsibilities at all - and that doesn't happen very often and certainly not during maxed-out June 2009. Today was an oasis of me-time in a desert of servitude.
The dawn had heralded the clear skies of previous days and the promise of the same burning heat - but it was a false dawn. Just after delivering the last breakfast I was stood in the kitchen contemplating a plan of action for the day (cycling, swimming, driving,?) when a sudden strong gust of wind blew through the kitchen and grabbed my attention.
It was a proper gust of wind, as in a change in the weather type gust of wind and within half an hour there was the most almighty thunderstorm raging overhead with torrential rain, impressive lightning and instantaneous deafening thunder. Typical, I thought, when I'm cleaning toilets it's 35 degrees and when I'm planning a day out it's raining.
One of my options for today had been to try and find the cycle route that supposedly exists between La Cité and the abbey at St Hilaire. The tourist office only had cycle paths for the Canal du Midi (which are so damn obvious you don't need a map), there was nothing in any of the guide books or bookshops or on any of the websites I found that listed local cycle routes. I know it exists so I'll just have to keep looking until I find it.
By now the rain had passed and a cooler cloudier day than yesterday was actually perfect for cycling so I set off down the Canal towards Trebes. When I got there I still felt good so I carried on into territory I had never covered before and after 90 minutes I had reached the village of Marseillette. Marseillette was closed, as most French villages are at 1.30pm so I started the ride back and immediately realised there was a very strong headwind in my face.
By definition there are very few hills or slopes on a canal path, just the odd one by a bridge or a lock - so there is very little opportunity to freewheel and take a rest - you have to keep pedalling or you just stop and fall over, especially into the wind.
By the time I reached Trebes again I was parched and needed a drink. Fortunately Trebes wasn't closed partly because there is a small port there which has bars and cafes catering to it. A large glass of water and small beer hardly touched the sides but did the job.
The last 11kms back to Carcassonne were just a case of getting into a steady rythym and keeping going. Three and half hours in total and about 45kms - probably the longest ride I have ever done. My legs felt a bit heavy but not overly so and a few hours later I was still feeling a bit buzzy from the whole trip, which I guess is a good thing. we will see how my legs feel in the morning.
Wednesday 17 June 2009
Grateful Guests
I had a disturbed night's sleep last night. I kept hearing noises and woke up a few times but then all was quiet - I'm not sure if the noise was real or imaginary. No matter, when it was finally time to get up and the alarm was ringing in my ear, it was the last thing I felt like doing.
I was a bit sluggish for the whole morning. The cloud cover that persisted made the day humid and oppressive which didn't help either. I would have happily sat down and meandered through the day without really doing anything, which we all feel like sometimes, but that wasn't really an option. Three breakfasts, one set of guests leaving, a bit of ironing, some business admin and a supermarket trip took care of the morning.
In case you get the impression that it's all work, work, work well it isn't all the time. After I got back from the supermarket I wandered down to the square and bumped into Patrick and Rafaele, just back from their three week holiday in Thailand. After Rafaele had gone back to work (she is the source of all our town info and gossip because she works for Cherie FM, the local radio station) I mentioned to Patrick that I might go out on my bike and he jumped at the chance to come with me.
I have always cycled on my own here but now realise how much better it is with someone else. It's not rocket science. It's more convivial because you chat all the way, more competitive because neither wants to be the one to turn back first and ultimately more enjoyable.
We had a good 90 minute ride down a lot of routes, lanes and country paths that I hadn't been on before. I had a 'petite chute' when I lost the front wheel off the edge of a narrow track down by the River Aude - slightly bloodied and bruised but no serious or permanent damage. At least I think not but three hours after getting back my left ankle has swollen up a bit and I spent the evening serving dinner trying to disguise the pain and a slight limp which will probably have made it worse. Of course, I could have just twisted it getting up out of my chair. I'm sure it will be fine in the morning.
This evening it was to back to work but the enjoyable sort of work - preparing a dinner for two of my guests. It was a pleasant but quiet evening and they went away happy, I think, to pack their bags for an early departure back to Edinburgh tomorrow.
More happy guests - like the ones who left a few day ago and have left the most wonderful review of 42rvh on www.tripadvisor.com - bless them - it is comments like those that make it all worthwhile and keep you going when you aren't in the mood.
I was a bit sluggish for the whole morning. The cloud cover that persisted made the day humid and oppressive which didn't help either. I would have happily sat down and meandered through the day without really doing anything, which we all feel like sometimes, but that wasn't really an option. Three breakfasts, one set of guests leaving, a bit of ironing, some business admin and a supermarket trip took care of the morning.
In case you get the impression that it's all work, work, work well it isn't all the time. After I got back from the supermarket I wandered down to the square and bumped into Patrick and Rafaele, just back from their three week holiday in Thailand. After Rafaele had gone back to work (she is the source of all our town info and gossip because she works for Cherie FM, the local radio station) I mentioned to Patrick that I might go out on my bike and he jumped at the chance to come with me.
I have always cycled on my own here but now realise how much better it is with someone else. It's not rocket science. It's more convivial because you chat all the way, more competitive because neither wants to be the one to turn back first and ultimately more enjoyable.
We had a good 90 minute ride down a lot of routes, lanes and country paths that I hadn't been on before. I had a 'petite chute' when I lost the front wheel off the edge of a narrow track down by the River Aude - slightly bloodied and bruised but no serious or permanent damage. At least I think not but three hours after getting back my left ankle has swollen up a bit and I spent the evening serving dinner trying to disguise the pain and a slight limp which will probably have made it worse. Of course, I could have just twisted it getting up out of my chair. I'm sure it will be fine in the morning.
This evening it was to back to work but the enjoyable sort of work - preparing a dinner for two of my guests. It was a pleasant but quiet evening and they went away happy, I think, to pack their bags for an early departure back to Edinburgh tomorrow.
More happy guests - like the ones who left a few day ago and have left the most wonderful review of 42rvh on www.tripadvisor.com - bless them - it is comments like those that make it all worthwhile and keep you going when you aren't in the mood.
Tuesday 16 June 2009
Routine
It was a hectic start to the day but it got more relaxed as it went on, which was nice.
Three early breakfasts and an airport drop-off at 9.15am meant that I had to be up at 6.30am again. Actually I can't remember the last time I was up later than that - not out of necessity all the time either - I just seem to wake up then or earlier these days no matter what time I finally get to bed.
I work better in the morning anyway and it's so much cooler at that time of day. I was ironing this afternoon and vowed not to do any more - even if I have to get up at 5am I will only try to do it in the morning from now on.
Another room change followed the airport run and a quick market trip to re-fruit ahead of tomorrow's breakfasts and suddenly it was well into lunchtime and I realised that I hadn't had anything to eat today - no bad thing really because I could still do with losing some more weight and I didn't manage to get out on the bike today either.
I was looking forward to a spot of mild exercise this evening at the boulodrome with the boys (old men!). For the first time in five days I had a free evening with no client commitments. It wasn't to be. After a glorious morning it slowly clouded over as the day went on and gently started raining this evening at the appointed hour of the game. Of course two hours later it stopped. The rest of the week looks tricky because of new clients so that's probably that for another seven days.
All in all a pretty uneventful day - but every now and again that's quite nice.
Three early breakfasts and an airport drop-off at 9.15am meant that I had to be up at 6.30am again. Actually I can't remember the last time I was up later than that - not out of necessity all the time either - I just seem to wake up then or earlier these days no matter what time I finally get to bed.
I work better in the morning anyway and it's so much cooler at that time of day. I was ironing this afternoon and vowed not to do any more - even if I have to get up at 5am I will only try to do it in the morning from now on.
Another room change followed the airport run and a quick market trip to re-fruit ahead of tomorrow's breakfasts and suddenly it was well into lunchtime and I realised that I hadn't had anything to eat today - no bad thing really because I could still do with losing some more weight and I didn't manage to get out on the bike today either.
I was looking forward to a spot of mild exercise this evening at the boulodrome with the boys (old men!). For the first time in five days I had a free evening with no client commitments. It wasn't to be. After a glorious morning it slowly clouded over as the day went on and gently started raining this evening at the appointed hour of the game. Of course two hours later it stopped. The rest of the week looks tricky because of new clients so that's probably that for another seven days.
All in all a pretty uneventful day - but every now and again that's quite nice.
Monday 15 June 2009
Busy Busy
I said I was ready for action and it's a good job that I was - it has been pretty full on all weekend with guests in and out, room changes and two dinners to host.
New guests, on honeymoon from Canada, arrived on Friday, sleeping in my bedroom - grrrrrr - stop it and think of the money. "That bed was so comfortable", they said and "what a fantastic shower", they added. I know that - it's my bed and my shower. Let it go, Peter.
They left on Saturday and new guests arrived from Scotland to replace them. None of them get that this is a one man business not a five star hotel.
Leaving guests - "we will definitely be back from the market and away before noon (check-out deadline) and I know you have a lunch appointment". They returned at 12.45 to hand back their key.
Arriving guests - check-in time is four but arranged to meet them here between two-thirty and three because they were tired and wanted to settle in. They got back from lunch at four.
They think it's five star because I give them five star service of course - it's frustrating when that stuff happens but it goes with the territory - they all left/arrived happy and grateful and I bit my tongue and just got on with it.
Saturday evening meant dinner with Thursday's arrivals from Bolton, who were just the most enthusiastic guests I have had here for weeks. Three breakfasts Sunday morning followed by a room change and an airport drop-off and then dinner on Sunday for the other four guests followed by two breakfasts this morning and another room change, airport drop-off and two new sets of arrivals. Blimey what a weekend.
So, many early mornings and late nights but I have managed some middle of the day me-time in the fabulous sunshine we have been having down here. I had the most delicious plate of oysters at Café Saillan on Saturday ( I was late but not too late) - oysters from Gruissan, fresh, sweet, awesome with just a squeeze of lemon.
Flat peaches have arrived in the market which is a sure sign of summer and my menus changed from asparagus and duck confit to melon salad and roast chicken breast with tarragon butter and serrano ham, and from hot chocolate fondant to strawberries with meringue and cream to roast peaches with creme fraiche.
The fridge is now stocked full of rosé and white
As I have retreated out of my bedroom and the office into the kitchen and the spare room, I have taken my Mac with me to the kitchen table. It now shares a plug point with the toaster and a tabletop with the breakfast trays and the dinner service - it's not ideal. I can't tell you how many times and how many expletives have been issued over the last few days when I haven't been toasting bread because the computer has been plugged in! So frustrating.
But not the end of the world - nothing is.
More important than all or any of the above is that it has been nearly two weeks since I saw Debrah and will be another two weeks before I see her again. It's too long, it's not good and it won't happen again. We just have to get through maxed-out June.
New guests, on honeymoon from Canada, arrived on Friday, sleeping in my bedroom - grrrrrr - stop it and think of the money. "That bed was so comfortable", they said and "what a fantastic shower", they added. I know that - it's my bed and my shower. Let it go, Peter.
They left on Saturday and new guests arrived from Scotland to replace them. None of them get that this is a one man business not a five star hotel.
Leaving guests - "we will definitely be back from the market and away before noon (check-out deadline) and I know you have a lunch appointment". They returned at 12.45 to hand back their key.
Arriving guests - check-in time is four but arranged to meet them here between two-thirty and three because they were tired and wanted to settle in. They got back from lunch at four.
They think it's five star because I give them five star service of course - it's frustrating when that stuff happens but it goes with the territory - they all left/arrived happy and grateful and I bit my tongue and just got on with it.
Saturday evening meant dinner with Thursday's arrivals from Bolton, who were just the most enthusiastic guests I have had here for weeks. Three breakfasts Sunday morning followed by a room change and an airport drop-off and then dinner on Sunday for the other four guests followed by two breakfasts this morning and another room change, airport drop-off and two new sets of arrivals. Blimey what a weekend.
So, many early mornings and late nights but I have managed some middle of the day me-time in the fabulous sunshine we have been having down here. I had the most delicious plate of oysters at Café Saillan on Saturday ( I was late but not too late) - oysters from Gruissan, fresh, sweet, awesome with just a squeeze of lemon.
Flat peaches have arrived in the market which is a sure sign of summer and my menus changed from asparagus and duck confit to melon salad and roast chicken breast with tarragon butter and serrano ham, and from hot chocolate fondant to strawberries with meringue and cream to roast peaches with creme fraiche.
The fridge is now stocked full of rosé and white
As I have retreated out of my bedroom and the office into the kitchen and the spare room, I have taken my Mac with me to the kitchen table. It now shares a plug point with the toaster and a tabletop with the breakfast trays and the dinner service - it's not ideal. I can't tell you how many times and how many expletives have been issued over the last few days when I haven't been toasting bread because the computer has been plugged in! So frustrating.
But not the end of the world - nothing is.
More important than all or any of the above is that it has been nearly two weeks since I saw Debrah and will be another two weeks before I see her again. It's too long, it's not good and it won't happen again. We just have to get through maxed-out June.
Thursday 11 June 2009
Ready for action
The week of preparation is over. All the suites are ready (I have moved out of my bedroom into the spare room), all the ironing is done and all the necessary supplies have been purchased.
For the first time ever since 42rvh opened we will have three suites filled with guests - it will be a full on client service weekend.
It started today when I collected new guests off the Liverpool flight this afternoon. They live in Bolton, which is where all my family was born and bred, so immediately there was something in common and a talking point.
They are a lovely young couple who are getting married later this year. She bought the surprise weekend away for him to show him how much she loved him before they get married - no pressure there then!
I am certainly not qualified to comment on people getting married so I won't - I have history - but I am as happy as any man could be with marriage right now. Seeing a betrothed couple in the final throws of wedding planning brings home how much I miss Debrah when we are apart during our enforced absences. London beckons.
In the meantime, there are more guests arriving tomorrow (on honeymoon) and more over the weekend. It will keep me busy and out of trouble.
For the first time ever since 42rvh opened we will have three suites filled with guests - it will be a full on client service weekend.
It started today when I collected new guests off the Liverpool flight this afternoon. They live in Bolton, which is where all my family was born and bred, so immediately there was something in common and a talking point.
They are a lovely young couple who are getting married later this year. She bought the surprise weekend away for him to show him how much she loved him before they get married - no pressure there then!
I am certainly not qualified to comment on people getting married so I won't - I have history - but I am as happy as any man could be with marriage right now. Seeing a betrothed couple in the final throws of wedding planning brings home how much I miss Debrah when we are apart during our enforced absences. London beckons.
In the meantime, there are more guests arriving tomorrow (on honeymoon) and more over the weekend. It will keep me busy and out of trouble.
Tuesday 9 June 2009
Pleasing myself
With two breakfasts out of the way fairly early on and no new guests arriving until Thursday, I decided to have a bit of a 'me' day and leave the ironing and cleaning until tomorrow. Having said that I was still up at 6.30am and didn't get to please myself until after 11.00am, which is a proper half day of work I suppose.
I am counting today's bike ride as pleasing myself, although it was a 20km cycle including rather a lot of hills. My normal ride is getting a bit boring and to be honest a bit easy. It will be fine for a bit of daily exercise when I don't have much time but I really need to push myself a bit harder to lose more weight and really feel the benefit - hence the longer and more challenging route today. Actually, it was Ok but my legs have felt a little heavy ever since without really hurting - I might regret saying that in the morning.
This afternoon I drove out to Chateau Saint Jacques d'Albas, which can be found in the middle of a beautiful valley in the Minervois between Villarzel and Laure-Minervois. The domaine is owned by an Englishman with the excellent name of Graham Nutter. I have tasted his mid-range red before and really liked it and wanted to go and taste the rest of their production and hopefully introduce myself.
Sadly Mr Nutter wasn't there but his wines were and a very helpful French lady took me through them all starting with the rosé and working through the reds to the top of the range 'La Chapelle'. Most of the wines have won awards and there is a new range of whites to come soon.
The other excellent bit of news was that as the owner of a 'chambre d'hôte', I qualified for the trade price list which offered a significant reduction on retail - so naturally I bought some to use at 42rvh for our weekend packages.
Finally this evening I played a couple of games of boules with David and Bob, down by the river in front of Patrick's house. Instead of the ten minute walk I used my bike to get down there - downhill to the river, slowly uphill back from it with heavy legs.
Everyone laughs when I say this but I always find a couple of games of boules quite tiring. I guess it's a bit of fresh air, a bit of exercise and a bit of tension as we always take it quite seriously - well, slightly seriously - someone usually brings along a bottle of wine, the effect of which is to improve the aim of some and drastically diminish that of others. The wine, therefore, becomes part of the tactics and teamwork - it's a very multi-faceted game.
As part of my new found discipline, I declined the pub and came straight home - having the bike and a set of boules with me is always a good excuse to head off. Besides, I am absolutely ready for my bed.
I am counting today's bike ride as pleasing myself, although it was a 20km cycle including rather a lot of hills. My normal ride is getting a bit boring and to be honest a bit easy. It will be fine for a bit of daily exercise when I don't have much time but I really need to push myself a bit harder to lose more weight and really feel the benefit - hence the longer and more challenging route today. Actually, it was Ok but my legs have felt a little heavy ever since without really hurting - I might regret saying that in the morning.
This afternoon I drove out to Chateau Saint Jacques d'Albas, which can be found in the middle of a beautiful valley in the Minervois between Villarzel and Laure-Minervois. The domaine is owned by an Englishman with the excellent name of Graham Nutter. I have tasted his mid-range red before and really liked it and wanted to go and taste the rest of their production and hopefully introduce myself.
Sadly Mr Nutter wasn't there but his wines were and a very helpful French lady took me through them all starting with the rosé and working through the reds to the top of the range 'La Chapelle'. Most of the wines have won awards and there is a new range of whites to come soon.
The other excellent bit of news was that as the owner of a 'chambre d'hôte', I qualified for the trade price list which offered a significant reduction on retail - so naturally I bought some to use at 42rvh for our weekend packages.
Finally this evening I played a couple of games of boules with David and Bob, down by the river in front of Patrick's house. Instead of the ten minute walk I used my bike to get down there - downhill to the river, slowly uphill back from it with heavy legs.
Everyone laughs when I say this but I always find a couple of games of boules quite tiring. I guess it's a bit of fresh air, a bit of exercise and a bit of tension as we always take it quite seriously - well, slightly seriously - someone usually brings along a bottle of wine, the effect of which is to improve the aim of some and drastically diminish that of others. The wine, therefore, becomes part of the tactics and teamwork - it's a very multi-faceted game.
As part of my new found discipline, I declined the pub and came straight home - having the bike and a set of boules with me is always a good excuse to head off. Besides, I am absolutely ready for my bed.
Monday 8 June 2009
Baby Week
It's been quite a celebratory evening.
Firstly, the Australian cricket team has just been knocked out of the T20 World Cup after losing their second match. They would be going home if they weren't hanging around in Britain to play the forthcoming Ashes series. All those Aussies that were laughing at England losing to the Netherlands have suddenly gone quiet - and a quiet Aussie is a good Aussie.
Secondly, my third time returning guests have completed their house purchase and are now the proud owners of a village house that is going to take all their time and money over the next year but will eventually, I'm sure, prove to be the holiday home they dreamt of when they first saw it.
Their lives have changed in all sorts of ways. When they first came here in January, she was in mid-pregnancy, in March heavily pregnant and now they are accompanied by little Millie, who apparently did her best to drown out the notaire's heavily accented French during the entire completion meeting.
It has in fact been 'baby week' at 42rvh. My guests at the end of last week arrived with their 11 month old son Felix. Naturally, I sent them to Café Felix for lunch.
It was an overcast and drizzly/rainy weekend, so Saturday lunch at Café Saillan was disrupted. At least they now have a permit to close the road again which makes for a more comfortable outdoor lunch when the sun does shine. The cynics amongst us can't help but link the granting of the permit with the need for a vote - there has been an enquiry going on here for 6 months about the last mayoral election, which was won by less than 100 votes, and a re-election has been now been ordered. The permit, withdrawn several months ago, was re-issued soon after that decision !!
It seems that politics in France might just be as sordid as it appears to be in the UK.
Firstly, the Australian cricket team has just been knocked out of the T20 World Cup after losing their second match. They would be going home if they weren't hanging around in Britain to play the forthcoming Ashes series. All those Aussies that were laughing at England losing to the Netherlands have suddenly gone quiet - and a quiet Aussie is a good Aussie.
Secondly, my third time returning guests have completed their house purchase and are now the proud owners of a village house that is going to take all their time and money over the next year but will eventually, I'm sure, prove to be the holiday home they dreamt of when they first saw it.
Their lives have changed in all sorts of ways. When they first came here in January, she was in mid-pregnancy, in March heavily pregnant and now they are accompanied by little Millie, who apparently did her best to drown out the notaire's heavily accented French during the entire completion meeting.
It has in fact been 'baby week' at 42rvh. My guests at the end of last week arrived with their 11 month old son Felix. Naturally, I sent them to Café Felix for lunch.
It was an overcast and drizzly/rainy weekend, so Saturday lunch at Café Saillan was disrupted. At least they now have a permit to close the road again which makes for a more comfortable outdoor lunch when the sun does shine. The cynics amongst us can't help but link the granting of the permit with the need for a vote - there has been an enquiry going on here for 6 months about the last mayoral election, which was won by less than 100 votes, and a re-election has been now been ordered. The permit, withdrawn several months ago, was re-issued soon after that decision !!
It seems that politics in France might just be as sordid as it appears to be in the UK.
Friday 5 June 2009
Forecasts
We have had thunder and lightning this evening; an exciting backdrop to a guest dinner. The rain held off all day but just couldn't contain itself any longer by early evening when it let loose in one almighty torrential downpour that tested the gutters and drains to the full - after that the sky flashed on and off all evening and rumbled away in displeasure.
My guests baby monitor picked up the noise all evening and had them running back to their room to check on little Felix, who was of course fast asleep and oblivious to the whole thing.
I blame myself for the rain - I shouldn't have washed the car earlier today.
After a ten minute shower this morning the sky had cleared once more, so that when I went to the supermarket and then later on to the airport to collect the new guests, I had the roof down on the Audi and the wind in my hair.
I had a first from the new guests this evening whilst I was preparing dinner. They sent me a text message from their suite, which is 5 seconds away from my apartment, asking me to drop the iron and ironing board round to them. That has to be one of the worst examples of an abuse of technology that I have ever come across. How lazy can you get? Still, at least they were ironing something before they went out for dinner which is more than can be said for most of this un-chic town.
I also get my fair share of questions from 'soon to arrive' guests about what clothes they should bring and what the weather is going to be like - as if my first name is Gok and my last is Fish.
As I have never met these people before I have no idea of their usual dress sense and so impossible for me to advise - not that I am any authority on clothing anyway. As to the weather, well my guess is probably as good as the BBC or France Meteo - so there is at least a 50/50 chance that I'll get it right.
My guests baby monitor picked up the noise all evening and had them running back to their room to check on little Felix, who was of course fast asleep and oblivious to the whole thing.
I blame myself for the rain - I shouldn't have washed the car earlier today.
After a ten minute shower this morning the sky had cleared once more, so that when I went to the supermarket and then later on to the airport to collect the new guests, I had the roof down on the Audi and the wind in my hair.
I had a first from the new guests this evening whilst I was preparing dinner. They sent me a text message from their suite, which is 5 seconds away from my apartment, asking me to drop the iron and ironing board round to them. That has to be one of the worst examples of an abuse of technology that I have ever come across. How lazy can you get? Still, at least they were ironing something before they went out for dinner which is more than can be said for most of this un-chic town.
I also get my fair share of questions from 'soon to arrive' guests about what clothes they should bring and what the weather is going to be like - as if my first name is Gok and my last is Fish.
As I have never met these people before I have no idea of their usual dress sense and so impossible for me to advise - not that I am any authority on clothing anyway. As to the weather, well my guess is probably as good as the BBC or France Meteo - so there is at least a 50/50 chance that I'll get it right.
Wednesday 3 June 2009
Present Imperfect/Future Unclear
I flew back to France from London today - on time and no problems, which was just as well because I had guests arriving this afternoon and their suite to clean and dress between my arrival and theirs.
I have spent the last week in London with Debrah and she was here before that so we have had the best part of a fortnight in each others company. We enjoyed a great long weekend here in France with trips out to Bouzigues for oysters and Lagrasse to meet new friends. We had an equally good time in London with trips to the market and lunches with Debrah's mum and just the two of us at Orrery on Marylebone High Street.
Actually, it was just perfect to be spending the time together, which is why yesterday and this morning were so difficult - we knew that we will be apart again now until the end of the month and the thought of it made us both a bit unhappy and depressed and a bit bolshy about the continuing time spent in different countries.
Over the last month we have talked and talked about how to solve this conundrum. Should I stop or re-shape the business here in France and go back to London and get a job or should we try to start a bigger business in France that will enable us both to live here full time? - and every single option in-between - sell? - rent? - buy? - borrow? - sit tight? - maximise income? - wait for the house market/job market/exchange rate/economy to improve? Inevitably there is no perfect answer to our imperfect situation.
So here we are again - in different countries relying on skype and email and phone to stay close to each other - trying not to get frustrated or angry or sad or lonely. I have a very very busy month with guests every day between now and 4th July when we get to escape for a week and Debrah has suddenly got new business opportunities flying into the agency (which is good of course). We will both be busy but there is no doubt that we would rather be busy together.
I have spent the last week in London with Debrah and she was here before that so we have had the best part of a fortnight in each others company. We enjoyed a great long weekend here in France with trips out to Bouzigues for oysters and Lagrasse to meet new friends. We had an equally good time in London with trips to the market and lunches with Debrah's mum and just the two of us at Orrery on Marylebone High Street.
Actually, it was just perfect to be spending the time together, which is why yesterday and this morning were so difficult - we knew that we will be apart again now until the end of the month and the thought of it made us both a bit unhappy and depressed and a bit bolshy about the continuing time spent in different countries.
Over the last month we have talked and talked about how to solve this conundrum. Should I stop or re-shape the business here in France and go back to London and get a job or should we try to start a bigger business in France that will enable us both to live here full time? - and every single option in-between - sell? - rent? - buy? - borrow? - sit tight? - maximise income? - wait for the house market/job market/exchange rate/economy to improve? Inevitably there is no perfect answer to our imperfect situation.
So here we are again - in different countries relying on skype and email and phone to stay close to each other - trying not to get frustrated or angry or sad or lonely. I have a very very busy month with guests every day between now and 4th July when we get to escape for a week and Debrah has suddenly got new business opportunities flying into the agency (which is good of course). We will both be busy but there is no doubt that we would rather be busy together.
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