A most successful trip

Tuesday 24th August 2010

There is always that slight dread when you return to your desk after two or three weeks away from the office - summer holidays in the Western Highlands - bliss - but what is going to be waiting for me in the 'in-tray' (gulp) ?
No such worries, Alison and the team have done a sterling job in keeping all the balls in the air and as far as I can see the tours have been running to plan.

Edinburgh Military Tattoo - 'Quite the best short break we have ever had'

Cream of Cotswold Gardens - 'A thoroughly enjoyable holiday, the first break I have taken on my own since my recovery from bowel cancer operation and the after effects of chemotherapy. It was Garden Therapy and Physiotherapy rolled into one. The icing on the cake was the Tour Manager's extensive knowledge, enthusiasm and kindness' (Tour Manager Tony Russell)

St Kilda - 'This holiday provided all I had hoped for and more.'

Skye and Rassay - A most successful trip, Hotel at Broadford excellent, Ian MacDonald, our guide, helpful and affable'.

Classic Scottish Steam Break - 'Very enjoyable, well organised, friendly staff.'

Orkney and Shetland - 'A remarkably intensive and exciting introduction to the archaeology of these islands - I'm so glad I chose it, and will recommend to others.Our shared interest led to a sociable atmosphere in the whole party which was enhanced by the (literally) bounding enthusiasm of the leader Clive Warsop. - A good choice for a single traveller - lots of friendly people' - - You can't say fairer than that!

Gardens of Norfolk - 'Stunning gardens, lovely hotel and great guide' (Michael Gill)

Lovely holiday, thank you very much, can't wait to see next year's brochure, marvellous tour and lived up to all my expectations etc, etc, etc (there is more, but me thinks it's beginning to sound boring!)

But there was one chap who was pretty indignant who claimed that the hotel boasted a trouser press in each room on their website, but on arrival there was not a trouser press in his room. Do people still use trouser presses? (clearly!) That said, I am sure that the rest of the group in the Outer Hebrides let him off without a crease in his breeks!

New brochure arrives tomorrow, so it will be all hands to the pump.

It is great to be back (honest!).

High Summer High Jinks

Friday 30th July 2010

Wow, what a week that was!

Monday all day in the office growling at hotels and falling out with coach companies, so much so I need to get some air in the evening so I contacted my good friend Martin (who looks after all Brightwater's computers) to see if he fancied going out. We had a stunning walk over the moors above Dunkeld which produced a wonderful sight of a large baby Cuckoo being fed by a tiny little Pipit - sanity returned.

Tuesday in the office, busy day interviewing for a new sales position followed by a luncheon meeting with two dear clients from D.C.Thomson of Dundee and the Aberdeen Press and Journal. We me at Letham Grange Hotel near Forfar which was looking great surrounded by the beautiful rolling hills of the Angus glens and golden farmlands almost ready for the harvest. The hotel has what once must have been a splendid large Elm tree near the main entrance, now sadly there is just about a third of it alive - clinging on to a loosing battle I fear. Passing Arbroath we look out to sea to see if we can pick out the Bell Rock lighthouse - which we could see quite clearly - to which Christine (D.C.Thomson) told us that her father had served on. We were impressed.

Dash down to Edinburgh to discover Easyjet is delayed again - 'That's 8 weeks in a row this flight has been delayed!' I scowled at the stewardess - not her fault I know.

Wednesday busy all day catching up with correspondence working from my office in Somerset.

Thursday - meeting in Devon at RHS Rosemoor Garden with Chris Bailes the Curator - what a nice chap Chris is - I can see now why our passengers love him so much when he escorts our garden tours.

Well I had never been to Rosemoor and what a treat it was. Quite possibly one of the most beautiful gardens I have ever been round - and I've been round a few - which all got me thinking what would my top ten gardens be?

1. My own (of course!)

2. Rosemoor (Devon)

3. Abbey Gardens (Tresco)

4. Helen Dillon's Garden (Dublin)

5. House of Pitmuies (Forfar)

6. Ninfa (South of Rome)

7. Giverny (Normandy)

8. Pine Lodge (Cornwall)

9. Kirstenbosch (Cape Town)

10. Alrey Hall (Cheshire)

Well, that is today's top ten, it might change by tomorrow.

Tomorrow comes in the shape of the M4 to Beaconsfield (where I endure the motorway being closed in both directions because a dog is loose and running around - pooch was not popular!). Arrive Beaconsfield and realise I should be in Berkhamsted! Fortunately plenty time to enjoy nice drive north through the Chilterns to arrive in time for my appointment with the local garden club. All very productive and a jolly nice lunch. Mad dash back down the M4 with the usual delays and jams, made marginally bearable by watching five Red Kites fly above an overheated car and an overheated Tour Operator. Slept through most of Toy Story 3 then cried at the end - is that not what you are supposed to do?

A few more days of madness then of to the Western Highlands for summer holiday high jinks - yipeeeee!!