Life's A Picnic

What a week!

Ok, I'm whacked. A 7 day straight running with B & B and boat. Shattered more like, but fantastic, I'm taking a day off and am driving down to Cornwall with Millie to buy the wetsuit and the Boogie board and surprise my mate Liz for her 40th birthday.

AND! Use my tent for the first time. Fairly sorted this end with enquiries and emails, clearing up etc, so think I can leave with a clear head.

Already with the thought of completely getting away is leaving space in my mind (sounds a bit wierd I know) to think up plans for the business and whats next, what needs doing and so on.

I've met so many great people on board this week and very memorable was a couple dealing with her brain tumour pronounced terminal. We had the biggest hug when she said goodbye and how I didn't cry my eyes out I don't know. A lovely, lovely lady. I was glad they got to enjoy the river together. Life is a bitch and it seems to me that all the good people seem to be the unlucky ones.

My Auntie was diagnosed with breast cancer this week too, and she is the only immeadiate relative left on Dad's side of the family. So next week, I 'm going to fly up to Scotland and take her into hospital. She lives on her own. She's decided to have the breast off at 70ish, I suppose thats right. Bloody, bloody cancer.

Even more reason for us all to get out there and make the most of what we've got hey.

x

Frank & Constance

Frank and Constance having been coming on my boat every year since I started and every year they have the lobster picnic and champagne. Hello you two...you wanted a mention so here it is! Over the 5 years of running, I've worked it out, we have spent probably a total of  only 18 hours in each others company on board, but it's cool, I feel like I've known them for ages.

They normally come on their own and we sit and talk about what we've all been up to. They have always been lucky with the weather, they always have too much champagne and they always absolutely love their boat trip and picnic. So much so in fact, that one year they seriously wanted to invest in the business. I'll always keep you both in mind on that front!

This year they were celebrating two 40th birthdays and came as 9 adults with one sweet little girl who was so well behaved. Needless to say once more a lot of very good champagne was sipped and a huge amount of seafood eaten. A top crowd.

I don't need much more inspiration really than this do I? Customers who back time and time again and bring their friends and love the trip just as much the 6th time around. Perfect! So, there you go guys. A mention, although Dartmouth I've heard is still recovering from your visit, (only joking)!

Somebody please do a sundance!

Happy Tuesday to you. I don't know what time I awoke in the night with the rain just managing to get through a gap in my Velux window and new blinds. But, every morning lately I wake early thinking how I'm going to have to find something else to do if this weather continues. The unrelentless rain and wind!

I have 12 on board for dinner tonight and have been busy shopping and prepping. They have a different mix from the norm as it's a staff party for Nonsuch House Bed and Breakfast in Kingswear. They come each year and we head up river towards Duncannon or Sharpham Vineyard and moor up for their main course. They have 2 different ypes of olives, crudites with a home made red pepper and creme freche dip, 2 home made quiches, potato salad, mixed salad, ham, beef and 2 pates. Followed by home made chocolate  and lemon tart, strawberries, raspberries and cream, a big cheese board, tea, fresh coffee and chocolates. It. Will be a feast and a half.

An hour here at the desk to sort a few enquiries before walking Millie and getting everything packed off in the car to drive to the marina. The food prep is half the work as I still have to carry evrything to the car and then at the marina, down to the boat. I'll probably have about 10 cool bags. Then I have to check the boat over, get that ready before setting up and heading off down river to pick them all up.

Ok, on with some paperwork and yahoo, the sun is breaking through!

Not River Tales

I cannot believe my fantastic little business had no business this weekend. No boat bookings. Diddly squat. Wow. When I'm busy, I'm buzzing and when I'm quiet, I'm worrying. I can sometimes take it all a bit personally. The thing is business for most businesses are down, due to the terrible weather we have been having since early June. Surely when you have a great business you are always busy?

I get a little bothered about the locals too. Hello anyone reading from the South Hams, Dartmouth or Kingswear. Yes, you! Ignore this if you have been on board, but for those of you that haven't...what do I need to do to get you on board?! Surely, you have heard of the boat.I have customers coming on board from all over the country. I have customers that book the Romantic Trip for 2 as their primary thing to do and then start looking for accomodation. They may make a mini break based around their trip on The Picnic Boat. With this, they will shop, eat out at other restaurants, take other boat trips, go to pubs and coffee shops. And lots of them have never been to Dartmouth and will end up coming back.

When I started out I invited owners of B & B's and hotels in the area to a talk about the boat and what I was going to offer. I also gave everyone a chance to come out on the boat and I also gave everyone the chance to either earn commission from sales if they sent customers my way, or a reward of a boat trip for staff. About 10 people in total came to my talk and 4 took up the boat trip and no one was interested in commission. Bloody great.

Excuse me here, having a moan, but here it is. Next up, I wanted to get a kiosk on the harbour front to advertise my boat trips. the reason for this was that the only way I was allowed to tout for business on the embankment was to be advertising on one of these kiosks. So. The big ompany Riverlink seemed to have about 6, the Dittisham Ferry 1, Dartmouth Boat Hire 1 and Castle Ferry 1. At the time a hotel called The Gunfield had another. Now, the chap that owned The Gunfield was giving up the rental on his and suggested I contact the owners, which I did. Long story short it went to the Dittisham Ferry, which became their second kiosk.

Next up

Men have their uses!

Ok, I admit to sometimes being a bit 'blonde' and I did try, I really did! I'm talking about the Velux blinds. I spent ages lastnight while the B & B guests were out for dinner (the ones in my bedroom), reading and re reading the instructions and putting the bits on the wrong ends and so on. But I had to give up. This was due to the 'said' guests coming back early to walk up the stairs to my struggling with the screwdriver with the job incomplete. Actually, the job untouched.

They didn't complain about the no blinds factor and enjoyed the breakfast of banana smoothies, fruit bowl with creme fresh and honey, croissants and boiled eggs.

My other couple staying are lovely, having a treat away from the children and she is treating him for his birthday. She has saved up for ages for this. I admire that so much, something I was never good at. Saving up! I put their breakfast on 2 trays outside their door at 9am, but I had forgotten the butter. Bugger. They didn't tell me until later. Wish they'd have said. Nevermind.

And now...

Yesterday

All my troubles...

Hello to you! Fantastic. Fantastic because yesterday the sun shone on Dartmouth, Devon. The river was looking glorious, there were lots of boats about and people on them (good to see) and of course along with the sunshine did come a general air of happiness.That included me, barefoot on my boat for the whole day with 3 back to back boat trips, with all the sides up and the river in full view for my customers.

The first was a Romantic Trip for 2 with the Westcountry picnic. This couple had booked a voucher through a company similar to Red Letter Days. It just so happened that they booked by B & B for 2 nights too. Fab! By the time they left this morning, it wasn't just a handshake, it was a kiss from them both with lots of best wishes after a nice chat at breakfast.

After lunch was another gift experience by way of a present for a birthday for a cream tea and an hours cruise for 2, which they enjoyed. As usual if tide allowed (height wise), I showed them off by helming my boat close to the embankment wall and big ferries where people were out en force. I know everyone looks at the boat. It does look a bit posh, 2 people sat at the stern sipping tea whilst being skippered. Thats cool though because I really need people to see what the boat offers and that it's a ideal thing to do for a special occasion.

The 3rd trip was the Romantic Trip for 2 with the lobster.Thats the top of the range trip at 250 smackeroonies. Wow! It has to be said though that one good size lobster, crab claws, big crevettes and the 3 course meal all cost me a fair whack and the service is second to none. What you're buying is the experience which just happens to come with great, fresh food and top scenary.

A small world this lady on the last trip deals in antique and rare books, which sparked an interest for me as my late Dad was in the book trade. It turns out she knew my father. She is also going to value the collection of books that I have which is cool too.

Lastnight after getting home at 9pm I had a surprise visit from Mr X, which was lovely and we got Millie and took the ferry across to Dartmouth and sat out side The Dartmouth Arms, ate pizza, overlooking Dartmouth Castle.

Today has been...

Do I Have To?

Do I have to leave the comfort of my home in about 20 minutes? Really. Must I? Yes, I do is the answer. It. Is absolutely pissing it down. Excuse the vocab used, but it is. I have 2 people booked in for a cream tea for one hour.

You know what though? They are going to love it despite the weather and once I am on the boat and in the dry, with everything set up and the home made scones out etc. I will love it too! May be a bit of a drag getting there, but worth it.

Bookings are down this week and next and this weather won't help us all in the tourism trade. Maybe we should look at the current crap weather like this. If we went to the doctor and he said you have one month to live, I think you would love any kind of weather, because you would just be happy to be alive and enjoy precious moments.

Well! Yahoo, it's pissing down and I don't care, I love it (said with an element of trying to believe this). I may have a bath tonight. Ooh cosy and make a casserole. Yummy. Light the real fire. Lovely! Then again, I may just moan to several people on route to my car about crappy bloody weather, make a salad, have a shower and dream about the sunshine entering my life again one day!!

Bloody hope they enjoy the cream tea. Gotta go! Oh, the enthusiam!!

x

A Busy Day At The Office

I'm shattered! My day started at 7am getting breakfast for a B & B guest. By 8am I had cut 4 lobsters, cracked lots of crab claws and got picnics ready. 8.30 walked Mills and by 10.30 I had changed the B & B rooms, cleaned all the bedrooms, bathrooms and hoovered the whole house. Paperwork from 11 to 11.30, then out the door, in the car to the marina.

My first trip was a great fun bunch for all over the country celebrating a 50th birthday. They had the lobster, crab brought their own champagne (about 10 bottles), all consumed over lunch, so obviously a jovial lot!

3.30 finnish, quick clear up, back to marina, drive home with dirty dishes, Millie out, wash dishes, feed dog, pack next picnic, in car with dog, back to marina, off to pick up next guests. Same 3 hour trip but for a lovely couple from Wales. 9pm drop customers off, back to berth, moor up, tidy boat, load car, drive home, greet B & B new arrivals, wash up, set breakfast table, pour glass wine, telly on, write this.

So there you go 7am till 10pm, but the best job in the world makes it worth while.

Engagement Announcement

Announcement:

Congratulations to Charlotte List and Steve Hargreaves from Leicester on your engagement!

I was so pleased to take them out on the river today. Charlotte had booked their Romantic Trip for Two as a surprise, but well done for Steve because last night he took her for a stroll to Dartmouth Castle with what must have been a perfect night, popped the question under the stars at about 10pm.

So when I met them both today, Charlotte was still in a happy state of shock I think at his surprise on her. Fantastic! And so funny in that was it just last night or the night before I wrote to you fellas out there to get on with it and pop the question, if you feel your girl is right for you.

So, at the end of their trip I rounded the mouth of the river as I always do and at a slow pace too, kept myself out of the way, as I always do and let them enjoy the view and the memory of last night.

So well done Steve, I'm proud of you and I hardly know you!! Charlotte I'm chuffed as punch for you.Do keep me informed with your news. 

Another top day on the river, with clear blue skies and more great scenery. Love it.

Sunny Days

The sun  shone all day and my American customers today did love the trip. Mum and Dad and 4 of their 5 children from Georgia along with tour guide Muff Dudgen.

They loved the picnic and the dessert. I finished at 4pm and moored the boat at Darthaven, left all the dishes and the clearing up and walked up the road to my house to get Millie. She goes nuts every time she sees me. Oh, I love my dog!

A relaxed pace to go back to the boat, let Mills do her business and headed off up river. The evening was so lush I decided to moor up in the middle of the river, clear up, pack up the cool bags with the dirty plates, etc, get organised  and ready for tommorrows trip. Once that was done, made myself a nice cup of tea (note, a cup of tea is always 'a nice' cup of tea in England) and sat in comfort at the stern, surrounded by the lovely cushions. A bit of time to do food orders by mobile phone, spoke to a few customers to organise trips, a bit of planning and then just kicked back and chilled out.

The noise on my starboard side from the water was lots of mackeral, who must be feeding on something else. This in turn gave the seagulls an interest. Also noticed today there seem to be a lot of Canada Geese back again. Lots of herons nesting in the trees by Greenway Gardens too.

So, lying out on the cushions in the evening sun, all on my todd (with Mills), reading a magazine,eyeing up my lovely boat, my lovely little business to be proud and just taking a few minutes to relax and enjoy the moment was worth it's weight in gold.

On mooring I was invited to my neighbours yacht for a glass of wine and couldn't refuse. Who wants to be inside when the evenings are like this?! So I sat and joined them for a drink and a chat.

You see being self employed, time is your own, I was in my kitchen prepping at 8am this morning and tonight clearing up at 9pm, but I had that time in between of pure bliss.A top, top day.