Tricia's blog
March 2013
As for Mill on the Brue – we are among the winners of the South West Sustainable Tourism award, but won’t know until 8th February whether that means gold, silver or bronze – the announcement is going to be made at the Eden Project. What it does mean apart from the obvious, is that we are now able to go forward to the national awards for Visit Britain which will be declared later in the year. There is very serious competition nationally and we have a deadline to complete a new application in January.
In early December we had a break in by ‘professionals’ – the police knew who they were and were convinced that they had ‘dunnit’ but with no hard evidence they were unable to prosecute. With often negative publicity that the police receive we had nothing but extremely prompt action, and continuous communication which we much appreciated.
Apart from weddings and birthday parties in December and January, the winter months are the time for refurbishing, renovating and decorating and this year scaffolding will be round the old farm house for a couple of weeks while the roof slates are re-pegged and replaced, the windows we can never reach three stories up cleaned and repainted and guttering mended. The timbers on the Longhouse balcony are showing definite signs of wear and as I write are being replaced & the whole building, as every year, redecorated. The winter is also the time for charity events and we are holding a reels ball for MacMillan Cancer care at the beginning of February and a literary lunch with Victoria Glendinning as guest speaker in aid of The Society for promoting Women on Sunday 17th February. Hopefully there will also be a further fund raising event with a difference, in aid of St. Margaret’s Hospice on Saturday 2nd March as I have signed up for a 72km trek in the Indian Himalayas during the Easter holidays – possibly rather foolishly as it’s a long way!
On a more alarming note – apparently by 2050 50% of the UK population is predicted to be obese; as the marines say, ‘healthy body, healthy mind’. Perhaps we should be planning Fat Camps?
February 2013
Snowdrops in all their glory emerged as they do every year, particularly down by the assault course, and the Woolly Shepherd, a local Somerset company, installed ‘acoustic clouds’ in the Longhouse. We had felt for some time that the noise levels could somehow be damped down, especially when there are over 120 children all having their lunch, or a wedding breakfast taking place, so having researched extensively, the clouds, made of Somerset sheep wool, are now suspended from the ceiling. Writing this at the beginning of the month it will be interesting to discover whether they have worked, and I am sure we will receive some honest feedback .
We have hopefully raised a lot of money with the reels ball for MacMillan Cancer Care and St. Margaret’s Hospice, and also the Society for Promoting Women – both events held in February. Also what we have won at the South West Tourism awards; more news of that in March.
We bowed to the inevitable, and after the robbery in December somewhat sadly agreed that we must have CCTV cameras installed. Somehow it makes me feel the countryside is even more violated. While the slates on the main house roof were being re-pegged and scaffolding was all around, the cameras were put in place and the monitor installed in the duty room. Polly my five year old granddaughter was not well one day and away from school, and was fascinated that she could watch who was coming and going from her sick bed!
Bruton Primary reception classes, Willow and Ash, visited Mill on the Brue, on a very cold, bright day, just before the snow. We based our tours around the woodland, and they were able to see the badger setts and paths (& loos!), the barn owl tower which was erected in the new plantation, and then we all got slightly distracted by visiting the pigs, Miss Effie the Shetland pony and of course the wormery. We also welcomed in the first residential schools of 2013, one from Portishead, the other from Chew Stoke. Recruiting and interviewing for this year’s instructors is taking place as I write; always tricky as they are seasonal posts albeit long ones, and we are in competition with many of the very large companies. However we have learned over the years that once they have had a job with us and a good reference, they can always get another which is very encouraging. It’s also good to see the seasonal staff returning once more having had a break since the end of November.
On Sunday 3rd March there is a curry lunch in the Longhouse in aid of St. Margaret’s Hospice. As well as a delicious looking menu created by Simon, our catering manager, there will be an auction with some fabulous ‘lots’ donated by very generous businesses and individuals, ranging from a night at a luxury hotel in Bradford on Avon, to a bird watching session with our resident expert Bruce. If you haven’t done so already do book your tickets for this very worthwhile cause!
Another first for Mill on the Brue – we are exhibiting at the National Association of British Schools exhibition in Seville at the beginning of March – and will be intrigued to see whether we gain from it. We already have an International School from Alicante which have visited us for the past two years and it would be good to attract more Spanish business.
January 2013
Happy New Year to you all! As for Mill on the Brue – we are among the winners of the South West Sustainable Tourism award, but won’t know until 8th February whether that means gold, silver or bronze – the announcement is going to be made at the Eden Project. What it does mean apart from the obvious, is that we are now able to go forward to the national awards for Visit Britain which will be declared later in the year. There is very serious competition nationally and we have a deadline to complete a new application in January.
In early December we had a break in by ‘professionals’ – the police knew who they were and were convinced that they had ‘dunnit’ but with no hard evidence they were unable to prosecute. With often negative publicity that the police receive we had nothing but extremely prompt action, and continuous communication which we much appreciated.
Apart from weddings and birthday parties in December and January, the winter months are the time for refurbishing, renovating and decorating and this year scaffolding will be round the old farm house for a couple of weeks while the roof slates are re-pegged and replaced, the windows we can never reach three stories up cleaned and repainted and guttering mended. The timbers on the Longhouse balcony are showing definite signs of wear and as I write are being replaced & the whole building, as every year, redecorated. The winter is also the time for charity events and we are holding a reels ball for MacMillan Cancer care at the beginning of February and a literary lunch with Victoria Glendinning as guest speaker in aid of The Society for promoting Women on Sunday 17th February. Hopefully there will also be a further fund raising event with a difference, in aid of St. Margaret’s Hospice on Saturday 2nd March as I have signed up for a 72km trek in the Indian Himalayas during the Easter holidays – possibly rather foolishly as it’s a long way!
On a more alarming note – apparently by 2050 50% of the adult UK population is predicted to be obese; as the Royal Marines say, ‘healthy body, healthy mind’. Perhaps we should be planning Fat Camps?
