Life's A Picnic

Rent or buy Picnic Cottage

Good day to you, whoever, however you got to reading this blog.

Notice

For sale or rent

If you are looking to re locate by the sea, love Dartmouth, love boats, love the river, then why not enquire about renting Picnic Cottage for a 6 to 12 month agreement whilst you wait for the right property and price to come along?

Picnic Cottage is a beautiful, cute, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, all newly re furbed cosy pad within a minutes walk to the river and ferries across to Dartmouth. Wood floor and open plan living room and kitchen, lovely double oven range,original working fireplace, sunny courtyard garden and a fab room on the top floor with space for a double bed and extra single and or cot/ office.

The house was totally re plastered, painted, new carpets, re wired, new combi bolier and so on. It's all finished off with a New England style look, cream kitchen units, beach wood top, lovely hints of blues throughout the house and a cute nautical, kath Kidson sort of style to the place, although rent it unfurnished and you an create your own look.

To rent I'm looking for £1000 per month plus bills. Do consider however, you could possibly run it as Picnic cottage B & B and earn back rental from £90 per night, so depending on how good you are at bringing in business, you could almost live rent free, try out your new lifestyle, al whilst deciding how best to start your own business in Dartmouth.

Call Lizzie now to discuss on 07929b048386

One Fine April Morning

Hmmm, good afternoon. Well, it was the morning when I started working, just I didn't realise whilst sat at my desk it had just merged into the afternoon...just like that, quick as a flash. So much to do, my head is like a washing machine on super fast spin mode! By the end of the month, I might look like a banana...or a nut, as in going bananas, or nuts, for any slow readers. Do not fear. I can hold it all together and it's all exciting stuff anyhow.

Re: The Bug and my naming quandary...thank you 'Miss' Hailey for your suggestion and to 'Rally' Rob too. Appreciated, although not taken up as yet. No prizes Rob, sorry! Bloody hell, where is this gorgeous man who is going to be sending the fresh flower for me each week? He's being a bit bloody slow on the uptake. I mean I thought all you readers out there would be telling him to get in touch. Damn! You're all sacked.

(Ha, ha).

Onto other real stuff. picnic Boat trip today and the sun is blazing. I am training up new skipper Anna this week. She is studying hard downstairs as I write. Frank and Constance are already showing their efficiency with taking over the boat bookings (much better than me!). All this whilst I negotiate buying my new pad in Newquay, selling my house here and the transfers of all business dealing, banking, direct debits, email systems, database, safety systems..bla, bla,bla.

Am I yellow yet??

Hayley and Rob, keep up the thinking!

x

April Snow Showers...(well, it's a title)

Done! Well almost. My Picnic Boat sim card and the booking diary is now with Frank and Constance. Does it feel like a weight off my shoulder? Not quite. Not yet anyhow! Still plenty to be doing. The Picnic Boat goes back in the water tommorrow. Trips start on Wednesday of which i will be skippering and also training up Anna, new skipper and hostess.

To let you know that I now have a new mobile number. B & B inquiries can go to the old 07968 752625 but better to catch me on 01803 752625 for that. Do carry on booking. The house hasn't sold yet, but I know it will, so will carry on until that point.

Meanwhile, Newquay I can't wait. Looking forward to a fresh start and whatever it brings....

Not a 'Plug In' But A 'Plug'

www.millionairemum.co.uk get signed in if you are a Mum and get booked in for the conference. www.mothers_angels.co.uk for Mum's in Torbay that want a helping hand after giving birth. Give Racheee my oldest friend a call on that on 01803 752376.

www.judithmorgan.com for the best business advice around.

www.businessblogangel.com speak with Claire Raikes..she did my blog!

www.greenoakliving.co.uk to improve the look and the value of your home in and around London and Surrey...it's my bro and he's doing such a good job.

www.dartmouthyachtcharters.co.uk speak with Sue or Jody about chartering from this here River Dart.

Plugs...over and out. Good night. That's it. Honest. Apart from hi to Charlie in the BVI, hi to Rosie in Switzerland, Rob in Kingskerwell, Fiona in New York! Bon nuit.

Picnic Cottage for you

I am folks, did I tell you? Moving to Newquay. I have an offer of a 3 bedroom 2 storey flat going through as I write (well, not as I write cos there is no way on this earth any soliciter would be working on my house purchase whilst the moon is up..unfortunately). I have found out that I cannot do B & B from there, of which I'm not surprised, but thats ok. More importantly...Millie can come..just as well, as I wouldn't leave without her.

So, I have been playing with the numbers on Picnic Cottage. Can I rent and cover the mortgage, or holiday let? I think the answer is no, sadly. So! This is what i would like to put out to the Universe.

Would anyone like to buy a share in Picnic Cottage and have it as your holiday home or holiday let? Or, would you like to buy the cottage for £359,950 as your own home by the sea? Or perhaps, you would like to rent it for a sum of £1500 plus bills per month for one year and run it as Picnic Cottage B & B and take all the income from that to offset against your rental. Why? a chance to try your hand at B & B in one of most beautiful parts of Great Britain...Kingswear and The River Dart.

If no one grabs these offers, then I might be selling I'm afraid, giving me a change to take on a project of some kind in Cornwall. How about a Bonsai version of The Eden Project? Just joking! Buy the house now and you get to choose the coulour of the cottage and how you want the garden, all in the price...and I'm offering the new stainless steel cooking range with house. Note to self (as in Bridget Jones diaries). Get some photo's of the house here on the blog asap. Will you remind me!

Picnic Cottage B & B will be running as to such point as all is in place, so don't worry there, book in as usual.Spring is springing, sprung, sprong, so come along.....

Hit That Hammer Cos it's Sold!

Fan fare please and drum roll. Da, dada, da...da, daa, daaaa. Well, sorry, but I don't know how you'd write a drum roll do I. Why the drum roll?

The Picnic Boat...IS

............SOLD. You want to know where I advertised the business for sale? Two places. www.dartmouth.tv.com and www.thepicnicboat.co.uk blog. That is all.

Congratulations to Frank and Constance on their purchase, almost complete. Frank and Constance are probably my oldest customers. Not eldest, but oldest, in that, they have been coming every year since I started. They have sipped champagne and eaten a lot of lobster. Frank had seen my blog (hadn't you Frank!) and decided he didn't want to miss the opportunity.So, we met and drove down to Noss Marina, where the boat is kept and sat and had our discussion. With the hand shake and price agreed, we effectively and not in boat man's terms, went 'for a spin'.

''Would you like a go at the helm Frank?'' I asked. To which he did and he did. ''How does it feel then? I asked.

''I know it's corny,'' he said, ''but I sort of feel like I belong.''

So, Frank, who has his professional helicopters pilot licence thought that helming the boat made him feel as good as he felt, when he first landed the helicopter on his own. Now ladies and gentleman, I think we can recognise this as a passion and to run this cute little Picnic Boat business, that...is what you need. Constance, you are very important in the cogs of this whole thing too, as is Anna.

Meanwhile as for moi? Plenty to do. I have put the boat through it's annual licence today with the local Harbour Authority. i have also stripped her bare of cover, belongings and started the sanding. She gets lifted out in the morning and I have just 10 days to licker with all lovely things a boat likes such as bilge paint, antifoul, varnish, polish etc. Into the big green ghost filled shed at Noss she goes for some TLC.

On April 6th, my sim card goes over to Frank and Constance, as does my website. (I keep the blog and liz@thepicnicboat.co.uk, I think) then all the paperwork, database and so on. THEN WHAT THE HECK DO I DO???!!!

Well....I think I shall be a self employed skipper on board for a little while. Hmmm. Cool. I'm ready to move on folks but you know what...I can't wait to book the boat, sip champagne and sit with friends on that stern seat and just watch the world go by. Fantastic!!

Ditch The Suit

Hello to you!

Well, the interest into buying The Picnic Boat is picking up and I now have 6 potential buyers who are all doing some sums.Mean while I am still going to do more on line advertising with firms such as www.businessforsale.com and www.daltonbusiness.com, perhaps even an add in The Evening Standard, Country Living and a few others.

DITCH THE SUIT, DITCH THE OFFICE...

If you are reading for regular updates, to let you know that the bookings are rolling in for the summer, which is great. I plan to run the boat trips myself until the business is sold. I then intend on a handover period with whoever buys, to show them the ropes, how the business functions.

Anyone serious about buying should call me 07968 752625 and at cost I will send a buyer's information pack.

Just think, you are fed up with your boring job, it's been year after year now and this year you really want to do something different with your life. You love the water, you love boats, you love good food and adore the Westcountry and you love meeting people. You know how to spot an opportunity when you see one, you have a vision for The Picnic Boat.

On the less selling a business side of things I...

Just Busting

Morning! Well, I'm just busting with stuff to do to get on with 'Plan B'.

I got back home to Devon last night and have been spending my morning getting the house straight, my bags up to my room and finally made it to my desk. I have a million emails and a money spider has just dangled in front of my computer screen (a good sign?).

Hello to you regular readers who have sent me messages on hearing of selling and wishing me well on my move. Remember The Picnic light's not going out completely. I'm keeping Picnic Cottage, I want a book published and thr same ethos will be on it's way to Cornwall.

I've got stacks to tell you, lots to write, but I'm not going to launch into it all now (I need to get back to you with your bookings).

I've just spent 4 days at an Anthony Robbins 'Unleash The Power Within' seminar at Excel and WOW, I'm even more fired up than before. I want to tell you about that, because if anyone of us can attempt to achieve the things he has then, that would be quite something. He is an inspirational man.

I've got bookings to take, number's to work out, a business for sale to advertise, a boat to get ready, a move to Cornwall. It's basically 'all going on'. How cool is that?!!

Please write in if you have advise for me selling, phone if you are interested in buying, get in touch with all your ideas. Will appreciate them.

Have a great day yourselves.

Love Lizzie xx

Plan B

Hello to you all, regular readers and new. Now this may come as a bit of a shock to some of you, so go and get a cup of tea and come back to read the rest. Go on. You can come back in a minute.

The Picnic Boat, as soon as I have finished writing this piece is.....

officially...

FOR SALE.

Get the hankies, actually, get me a bloody hankie will you! It's OK, I don't need one. Let me talk you through this. To all you customers out there who have been on my trips many times and who love coming back each year and introducing friends to one of your favorite things, don't loose faith and keep your bookings.

We all know this year would be my seventh season since set up. During this time I have proudly turned a flicker of an idea into a money making, customer loving, cheese serving, lobster loving, champagne drinking business.I have loved it, loved meeting all you customers, loved my boat Misty and loved The River Dart. You have proposed on her (the boat!), said "I do" on her, danced on her, caught crabs off her (?!), fine dined on her, drank too much on her,scattered ashes off her, laughed on her, swam off her, sang Welsh songs on her, wore Pirate hats on her, taken your baby on her, had your wedding reception on her, your birthday, engagement, anniversary, celebration. So many good times, never to be forgotten.

But, for me, as much as I still love her and love seeing my customers enjoy her, I'm ready for Chapter 2, Plan B, if thats OK by you? I've created this wonderful thing and now would love for someone who can see why and what and how The Picnic Boat is so special and who will carry it on and dare I say it...do a better, more professional job of it than me. Some one to open lots of little Picnic Boats in rivers all over the country, maybe the World! Someone, who's great on customer service, loves food, loves the water, great with the lot basically.

So, The Picnic Boat is for sale as the business that it is. Great customer data base, great advertising in place, existing bookings to carry on, contracts with Voucher Suppliers, boat, new engine, new cover, new heater.It's been on ITV, Channel 4's Home or way, Place in The Sun, written up in Coast, The Sunday Times, Good Housekeeping,The Telegraph and more newspapers and magazines than I'll ever know!

Starting price £50,000 and open to bid's. Proof of turnover available to anyone serious about buying. Selling to the right person, to keep the standards, if not 'up them' a must and the opportunity for me to come and have a trip once in a while too! Buy and start the season or as soon as you're ready.

Why loose it? Well, if you've been following my blog you will know about my divorce and all that stuff that went on. I'll have been in Kingswear for 8 years soon and that's a long time for me to be in one place. As beautiful as the river is, as lovely as my boat is, as great as my customers are, it sort of feels a bit stale to me now. More because of what has gone on and I'm sure some of you will understand that.

So what's Plan B for me then? Well, I'd say my best skills are hospitality, full stop. I'm moving to Newquay, starting a B & B down there, shaping myself up, gonna learn to surf. I'm going to have a go at keeping Picnic Cottage except for rental long term let or holiday let's. I'm off to catch the waves, catch the next wave in my life and whatever that brings on it's ride. I hope it's a good one! I'm buzzing about it, it's leaving me excited. I've got butterflies in my tummy.

Last few comments from me for now are...what's the worst that could happen..... if you want to learn to walk on water, you gotta get out of the boat.......never go through life wondering, what if I'd taken 'that' path, if only I had, what did I miss. You get my drift.

Tell your friends, tell your friends friends, pack up the big smoke, get you and your girlie down to The River Dart, continue the dream life....make your ....Life A Picnic.

Extra last bit..... weeping customers, have no fear, come and visit from far and near, the rugged, salty cliffs, the party nights, the silver surf of Newquay. I'll be expecting you!

Lizzie
x

The Lurve Month

It's February, which means it's the official 'Lurve' Month. Cupid with wing's, arrows fired at great distance. The shops are a red hue and it's time to cash in (well for any of us in business) and for you to  get your 'love', a card, flowers, a present, take him or her somewhere romantic.
Love it? Hate it?
I love it. Love it all in fact, the birthdays, Christmas, making the most out of any day. Sod it! Why not.I know you can AND SHOULD make an effort any time of the year, but at least this prompts us.
So, in light of the above which will be good for you..and good for me....
Get your perfect Valentine a gift from all things Picnic, meaning me (well, not me, I'm not the gift, but something Picnic themed)!
Book up your Romantic Trip for two, book a stay at the Picnic Cottage B & B with dinner in Dartmouth and some special coastal or beach walk. Doesn't have to be on the day you see, you can give the whole thing as a gift. In fact book both and I'll do you a deal. Free bottle bubbly and chocolates?
The Picnic Boat. Unique. Something different. Special Valentine surprise. You get my drift!
Love
Lizzie
x