and looks at them from both sides now

Last time I mentioned that we are dipping into the B&B world before our building works start; well it all begins today!!! No more time to practise our fry ups, guests are due this afternoon. Yikes!!  I'm quite confident about the room, we've had guests stay in it a few times already and it's got the thumbs up from them, and I think it's clean enough to pass muster with most "Four in a Bed" contestants. What is unknown is how we'll cope with the logistics of breakfast. I've watched that show often enough to know the pitfalls, overcooking, undercooking, big waits, burnt offerings. Double Yikes!!!!!
I'm also hoping that we can deliver on what I think is the most important thing, customer service. We're just back from a trip to Wales. It goes without saying that we had exemplary care from GlamourPuss and the Prof. but that's different because they're family, what of the other places we ate and stayed?

She controls the weather you know

Watermelon daiquiri, delicious but deadly

The Prof does food too

GlamourPuss grew this. The rose

Well as ever our stopover at The Bear's Paw http://thebearspaw.co.uk was a positive experience, it's very comfortable, the food is good not ground breaking, it's conveniently placed on our journey, but those are not our reasons for staying.  Because of the reliability, yes, but above all the friendliness. We are all -  me, MrS and DogStarke  thoroughly welcomed. Now it might be that they have a magnificent guest welcome training program and everyone has been taught how to behave? But it seems genuine; and there doesn't seem to be a high turnover of staff which suggests it's a happy place.   If the smile is fake,  it's fooled me.

On our way home we stayed at The Castle in Conwy http://www.castlewales.co.uk. It's an old hotel which is being brought back to life by its owners. Its rooms are more individual, with large pieces of antique furniture and original windows. There's no lift because it's listed but we were offered help with our bags so don't let that put you off. We had a lovely dinner and were delighted to be able to have your breakfast in the courtyard area, which meant DogS could stay with us. But once again it was the friendly helpful attitudes of the staff which sticks in my mind, not least during  that al fresco breakfast

Conwy castle

and a bit later on

 Our next overnight stop was another lovely, family one, with the  MacStarkes this time, catching up on their travels  and then we were back on the old familiar road home. Even though the day was damp it was hot so when we got peckish we looked for somewhere DogS could join us indoors. And she was very welcome. But... They forgot to take our order, then one set of cutlery and whilst the open kitchen is fashionable,  I don't want to lose the fourth wall to the extent that the owners are discussing their business accounts at the next table. That's not a thing now is it????
 The food was tasty as always and could be managed with minimal cutlery (fingers for me, fork for the more fastidious MrS). I know, we could have asked for another set but the staff were not that attentive and we were hungry...
It's a well reviewed place, if you go there you'll get a good meal, and maybe good service. But it left us with a sour taste.

So here I am, waiting and hoping. That we can deliver a good taste.

PS they've arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!