Monday 19th July 2010

Wonderful Relaxing Holiday

Probably a good idea to have last week off when the Open Golf Championship was on at St Andrews (10 mins along the road from the office) and it would appear the weather was lousy.

Thanks must go to Mr and Mrs T whose Holiday Questionnaire relating to their recent trip to Arran was on my desk when I arrived this morning - 'Wonderful, relaxing holiday. Cannot fault it or think of any improvements'

Some other Questionnaires read as follows-

'As always, Brightwater has given us a most interesting tour, excellent driver and guide. Excellent value' Mrs V - Hampton Court Flower Show

'Just Wonderful! - Our second with Brightwater, and we'll be back - Rosie the Tour Manager was excellent' - Highland and Island Gardens - Mr and Mrs A

'Very hard beds in Cornwall, and high tog duvet' - Note to self - Fair enough, inform hotel.

'Fred couldn't have tried harder to please' - who's Fred? (I assume, the driver)

'Hotel staff very helpful - food good quality. Perhaps should invest in some better toilet paper dispensers!' Cornwall - Honestly you couldn't make it up.

'A most enjoyable holiday greatly enhanced by the capable planning by the Tour Manager and Driver and the consideration shown to the group. We have been on several tours with Brightwater and this was up to the usual high standard' - Coll and Tiree - Mr and Mrs M

' Wonderful holiday enhanced by Basking Sharks and many birds' - Coll and Tiree - Ms S

So that was a rather nice selection to greet me back from a short holiday.

Before that I have been busy with our 'ATOL financial protection renewal' when we must gaze into a Crystal ball and try and predict what level of business we are going to turn over for the next 18 months. Not an easy task, however this is an aspect that we take very seriously particularly relevant since another large Tour Operator (Goldline) has gone down over the weekend. I am pleased to say that we passed the CAA's stringent tests with flying colours and our ATOL renewal went through without a hitch.

Alison was particularly smug this morning when she was presented with her winnings from our World Cup Sweepstake - Well done Alison for picking Spain! Hard Cheese Andrew - for picking Holland.

Summer in the Scottish Islands?!

Thursday 1st July 2010

We have a lovely polished emailer going out today showing balmy shots of beautiful Hebridean islands with the tag line about how lovely it is in the Scottish islands this summer - white sands, blue skies, factor 40 sun bloc - well it has been, we've been having fantastic feedback from our clients - it is just a pity that the day that we send our emailer to thousands of prospective clients a huge storm is lashing the Western Highlands! As we speak we have a group battling the elements between Coll and Tiree (will they make Tiree or is the swell to big?) and our Small Isles trip to Rum has been cancelled because of high seas (gulp!)
I think you are too honest in this blog Graeme!
But all these changes are all part of the experience; we have rearranged the Small Isles tour tomorrow if the weather is still bad to include an excursion on the Steam Train Jacobite from Mallaig to Fort William (which let's be honest will be a great deal more enjoyable than being tossed about in a Force 7) then we will improvise with an excursion to Moidart visiting Castle Tioram which will be very dramatic in any weather.
If our clients don't get off Coll it could be a cosy night for them sharing B + B's and hostels - we once had to accommodate a lady from Morningside in a Football Stadium in Torshaven in the Faroes which turned out to be the highlight of her holiday (we didn't know there was going to be a match that evening!) I think she dined out on the story for years to come.
Let's hope that the gale blows through and calm waters return.
In Somerset we are crying out for rain - I am so please it was last week that the group came to visit my garden and not this week. What a difference - the grass has gone brown and the borders have gone over - just made it, but never again!
I think there may have been a bit of a fix in the office World Cup sweep-stake as both Andrew and young Sam are both still holding South American teams. Hazel's confidence with England was short lived. Our only hope now for sporting triumph this summer is local boy Andy Murray winning Wimbledon - but we didn't have a draw for that.