Even the loo is not a telephone escape!!

It has been a few days since my last entry. I have still not got around to writing the press release for the Dog mag, but it is nearing the top of the list!!! on the roll of wallpaper ! I am heavily involved with the Tourist Information management team and we are fighting our corner to unite the local 5 T.I.C's and putting forward a local bid for a marketing grant. Visit Devon group, which are the latest bunch of government appointed so called "experts " are desperately trying to get all the tourism establishments to sign up with them. As we have experienced before, this is expensive and brings in little business. They promise great things! We will wait and see ? As I have mentioned before, the Tourist information centres are largely self funding and rely on advertising. Collectively, we will all be a strong force in both promoting tourism and also looking after the visitors when they get here. We are now closed until 23rd February, but so far I have taken about 3 days off. We are answering calls and so when not at Port light, all calls are diverted to my mobile. We have never been so busy with bookings and as much as we need them the phone always rings when I am having a wee! much to amusement of others if I am away and in a public toilet ! However keep ringing as space is already becoming very limited.It does appear that people are staying in the UK for their holidays. In our recent news letter which is now on our Port light "news & offers" section we asked previous guests to e mail us with their details. so far we have 396 people who want out e news letters. I tend to waffle on a bit, however all but one person enjoyed the content. The one lady who kindly e mailed her thoughts on my writings has caused great amusement from Friends and family who read her response. We are going to save it and publish in "The book" when I start to write it. I am sure it will make readers chuckle !I have been down at the cottages laminating Clover lounge and re painting the walls. unfortunately Hazel keeps taking bookings for the cottages in January so it is then a mad rush to get the cottage back together. The weather is now superb and about 12 degrees outside with no wind and lots of sunshine. Although it is very wet underfoot, it is great to walk the cliff paths as the scenery is great due to very clear skies. Hazel went shopping with Emily for her Prom dress today and I took the screamers ( our affectionate name for Ella & josh) down to Soar mill Cove. Sadly we found a Deer which had fallen over the cliff and died. Josh could not wait to tell Hazel he had seen father Christmas Reindeer but it was dead !! a good excuse for no presents next year! We are counting the days off until we go out to the Canaries on 6th Feb. Although I am dreading the flight with Ryan air and the euro rate which makes things very expensive it will be great to switch off. Jo, our friend will be manning the e mail and phones again. I have promised not to check any business e mails or answer my phone, but we will see!! Hazel tells me I have lost the ability to switch off from work ! The phone is ringing again so I will have to go. until next time.

from doggie fashion to doggie holidays, i'm the expert !

I am not sure if an accolade in all things doggie is a complement or not. Having spent the last 20 years perfecting perfect pet holidays I am now being asked to write article on this subject. However, being the longest established tourism trader in the South Hams in their own right and having traded in two recessions with great success I feel I am well qualified to comment on most Tourism issues especially Pet holidays, be it hotel & inn or self catering. During my 20 year journey through red tape, selfish short sighted Councils and jealous locals I have experienced many kinds of friendship both true and false. The most unlikely people have become true Friends and the most unlikely have stabbed me in the back. The later I salute with "2 fingers". Myself along with Hazel my patient understanding wife, have put our hearts in Port Light and Bolberry Farm Cottages and in return loyal customer have supported us spending their hard earned cash ! We thanks you. The result is highly respected businesses and many satisfied customers world wide. Staff have been a big influence on how I treat and see people in life. Perhaps it is not a good thing to treat staff as friends, but through this unprofessional approach I have many staff which have become great Friends and part of the Port Light family. Staff from the past include Ben Chambers who worked for us 8 years ago and returned this year to help us out when our chef (friend, child minder and general family member) was "butchered by a careless surgeon at Derriford hospital. Ben has just started another life experience travelling the world. (see his blog http://www.benchambersroundtheworld.blogspot.com/) WARNING : this blog may contain adult content but is well written and surprisingly humorous !
Matt walker our neighbour (our only neighbour apart from my Friends the Sheep,Rosy, Win, Lucy, Ethel, Nina, Betty............................... and so on !) is now enjoying stardom on "Deal or no Deal", his game is on 2nd Feb but I am led to believe that the 23 Jan is an interesting show. After Matt's appearance Bolberry Down will soar in the google ratings !
The snow is flickering down and the north East blows it is -4 outside, unheard of at Port Light. However with the cost of gas I am considering sitting in the fridge and putting the frozen food in my armchair ! I was going to start my article for the press on Pet freindly holidays but have got carried away again. I have to travel to "the Darkside" a place back in time with strange elf like looking people who live on white Cider, scones, clotted cream and Ginsters pasties. Some call this county Cornwall. well worth paying £1.50 to escape back into Devon on my return. If I do not get held up by Donkeys in the road, or highwaymen I will continue with my Tourism article later.

first day at school to A&E!!

Port light is still surrounded by ice ! it was Ella's first day at school. Skidded down Bolberry Hill, just missing the wall at the bottom. Land Rover technology not at its best. Hazel took our neighbour Angie Walker to the shop. The went broadside down the hill. The council will not grit our hill so did our community service and attached the trailer to the discovery, went down the hill and filled up the trailer from the grit bin. Hazel drove up the hill at walking pace with me stood in the trailer shovelling grit out. Trapped my middle finger between the shovel and trailer. Finger went black and I was in agony. Worse than child birth !! Took 3 Codine and felt very odd. We went for a walk around Bolberry Downs. It was great. Very still and we could see the Lizard point and Dartmour Very clear. National trust planning to put a new path across the field which they had just purchased. It will run from just passed the style, down to Hope Barton and pick up the walk through the valley. A great walk for pet walkers, families and us. Hazel took me to A & E. Had finger xray. Not sure if it is fractured but told I could wait until tomorrow for result from x ray. Nurse not happy I took 3 codine !! Had to come home and sit down to be spoilt by my lovely caring wife !. Ella looking forward to school again. Bolberry Down busy again with pet walkers. They are surprised the council gritted the hill but are very pleased. Said nothing but they owe me a pint. Matt Walker our neighbour and Health & safety man starts his "Deal or no deal" on Friday. Told it will be very entertaining. He had to wash off the "www. portlight.co.uk" off his forehead ! Emily is still snow bound in Cornwall. hopefully she can come up tomorrow with her new camera as we are going to shoot the new pictures on the bar area for our website. Th phone has been very busy with enquiries and bookings. Always gets busy when people sat at home bored so decided on their holiday in Devon.

Its January 6th and as I look out from my window at Port light hotel www.portlight.co.uk I can see Burgh Island covered in snow. Usually we see clear blue sea and the golden sand on the beach. Looking North, I can see Dartmoor which is also covered in snow. We are extremely lucky to live in such a safe location with amazing views. The children are keen to get outside and walk the cliff path in the snow, but Josh who is only 2 and Ella, only 4 have never seen snow and I am sure they will find it very cold. The outdoor childrens Pirate area in the grounds of our hotel & inn look like a ghost ship as the snow clings to the timber frames. Walking pets on Bolberry down is very popular and this morning I have not seen one dog out of the window as the hill is very icy and the many dog walkers cannot get up to the National trust car park to walk their pets. The hotel is closed thankfully until 23rd February but we have guests arriving in our luxury self catering cottages. The central heating has been left on to keep them cosy but we are not sure if the guests will get here due to the weather. www.bolberryfarmcottages.co.uk
All my maintenance at the hotel is complete so I have no major jobs to do. It will be too cold to go outside to cut the bushes down across in the helipad, although I am keen to try out my new chainsaw.If we can get down the hill we may go to Salcombe or Hope Cove to have a run on the beach. Will it be a snow man or sandcastle for our kids ? How many children can mak that choice ?