MY BODY IS A TEMPLE....
Or at least it was till we opened the coffee shop?!*
Biggest problem when opening a new coffee shop is (I supose) the inevitable build up before you sell out of cakes, tray bakes and scones etc....I mean all these uneaten goodies have to go somewhere....and for now that somewhere is my stomach!
Lets hope some more folks start coming before I become house-bound....
Mine Host.....Senior Mucho Rotunda
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Friday, 27 March 2009
This is a SPRING day at the glorious Craigerne in Newtonmore....one day Spring/Summer but the next can be back to Winter...
Right now I reckon we have had enough of winter so roll on the sun. We had a taste of it last week when we had our first BBQ of the season, a warm evening till the sun dropped and it was hard to believe it was still March?!
Revised on the WINE LIST will soon be the addition of Rose wines....lovely to have a chilled glass in the garden when the sun shines and even better when it will eventually be a warm Summer's evening.
This year focus will be on French Rose Wine and we would love to offer rose wine from Scotland if we can find it??!!**
(I am getting thirsty already) Mine Host
Thursday, 26 March 2009
So....you like doing Munro's...
The cluster of Munro's around Newtonmore is well worth an attack...(from the Craigerne Hotel you don't even need your car for some of them)..and you can add a few to your list in the one weekend.
If bagging Munro's is not your cup of tea then investigate the Corbett's or do the Wildcat Walk. If walking is quite simply just not your cup of tea then just rest up in the Beautiful Mountain Coffee Shop with a different cup of tea and a cake...mmmmmmm!!
Mine Host
The cluster of Munro's around Newtonmore is well worth an attack...(from the Craigerne Hotel you don't even need your car for some of them)..and you can add a few to your list in the one weekend.
If bagging Munro's is not your cup of tea then investigate the Corbett's or do the Wildcat Walk. If walking is quite simply just not your cup of tea then just rest up in the Beautiful Mountain Coffee Shop with a different cup of tea and a cake...mmmmmmm!!
Mine Host
Monday, 23 March 2009
SO YOU THINK YOU DON'T LIKE A "CEILIDH DANCE" ?
Then next time just make sure the band playing are "Hell for Leather"....Anyone in Newtonmore last Satuarday evening and into the night could have stumbled into a fan dabby dozy thing in the Village Hall.
After the newly re-instated Newtonmore fun run (10 miles) the idea was for a relaxed and informal Ceilidh Dance to get all folks together. What occurred was something much greater than probably most expected. This was made to happen by two things, firstly the spirit of all who attended in throwing themselves onto the dance floor (a very high standard of freestyle dancing?)and also to the brilliance of the mucisians who are "Hell for Leather".
Their music is a great mix of traditional Scottish along with cover versions of classic rock... and all done with a fantastic blend of pipes, drum and accordian along with base, lead and mandollin guitars....Scotland is not world famous for its blends for no reason and as far as I heard and saw... Hell for Leather are now among them?!* My advice...."SEEK THEM OUT"...
Some lads on a stag doo from Cornwall were among the lucky who stumbled into the hall....I don't think it is a night they will forget in a hurry?
Roll on next years run race and whatever that evening will have to follow. Only down side was the sore head...
Mine Host
(Might even run next year....if its sunny?)
Then next time just make sure the band playing are "Hell for Leather"....Anyone in Newtonmore last Satuarday evening and into the night could have stumbled into a fan dabby dozy thing in the Village Hall.
After the newly re-instated Newtonmore fun run (10 miles) the idea was for a relaxed and informal Ceilidh Dance to get all folks together. What occurred was something much greater than probably most expected. This was made to happen by two things, firstly the spirit of all who attended in throwing themselves onto the dance floor (a very high standard of freestyle dancing?)and also to the brilliance of the mucisians who are "Hell for Leather".
Their music is a great mix of traditional Scottish along with cover versions of classic rock... and all done with a fantastic blend of pipes, drum and accordian along with base, lead and mandollin guitars....Scotland is not world famous for its blends for no reason and as far as I heard and saw... Hell for Leather are now among them?!* My advice...."SEEK THEM OUT"...
Some lads on a stag doo from Cornwall were among the lucky who stumbled into the hall....I don't think it is a night they will forget in a hurry?
Roll on next years run race and whatever that evening will have to follow. Only down side was the sore head...
Mine Host
(Might even run next year....if its sunny?)
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Well today is a somewhat different day to yesterday...this is VERY MUCH TYPICAL of having your own hotel, coffee shop and now new house bar business....much to do and no one else to do things but yourself?!*
Today we finally got round to finishing off the bar area...along with my first mate on this ship Mr RAY! The man done good and we are now set up ready for the start of the Highlands Drinking Season (in case you don't know where in the callander this season falls...it can start the day you roll into the Craigerne and then finish the day you roll out*!)
I reckon we now have one of the coolest places to go for drinks in the Highlands...the only donwside is actually an upside...you have to eat to drink. But all food including the House Nachos are "yummily scrummily", so you can have drinks and eats in the new coolio house bar or (now Spring has sprung) in the gardens amongst the stunning scenery...have a dram by the garden fire or the chimnea....(you lite these yourselves)
All we need to do now is get on top of the MUSIC?!*....our collection is somewhat lacking so if you feel you can contribute then get along here with a cd or two...move it, move it, move it!!! (I feel my few jazz cd's are possibly wearing so thin they are about to be thrown in a bin...by others here...bleeding philistine beggers!!!)
If you fancy a drink in the Highalnds...but not at "Brig O Doon"you can find us in Newtonmore, where Scotland's East meets West and just off the A9.
Come see....NIIIIICE
Mine Host
www.craigernehotel.com
Today we finally got round to finishing off the bar area...along with my first mate on this ship Mr RAY! The man done good and we are now set up ready for the start of the Highlands Drinking Season (in case you don't know where in the callander this season falls...it can start the day you roll into the Craigerne and then finish the day you roll out*!)
I reckon we now have one of the coolest places to go for drinks in the Highlands...the only donwside is actually an upside...you have to eat to drink. But all food including the House Nachos are "yummily scrummily", so you can have drinks and eats in the new coolio house bar or (now Spring has sprung) in the gardens amongst the stunning scenery...have a dram by the garden fire or the chimnea....(you lite these yourselves)
All we need to do now is get on top of the MUSIC?!*....our collection is somewhat lacking so if you feel you can contribute then get along here with a cd or two...move it, move it, move it!!! (I feel my few jazz cd's are possibly wearing so thin they are about to be thrown in a bin...by others here...bleeding philistine beggers!!!)
If you fancy a drink in the Highalnds...but not at "Brig O Doon"you can find us in Newtonmore, where Scotland's East meets West and just off the A9.
Come see....NIIIIICE
Mine Host
www.craigernehotel.com
Monday, 16 March 2009
GARDEN ENCOUNTERS OF THE CLOSE KIND..
Just been in the garden and bumped into a young deer (not this image shown, I am sure you will spot this is, of course, a stag).
Don't know who was most surprised, certainly we were both startled...but then I reckon I won because little missy prissy dear took off quick whilst I held my ground......"Ger off my land"...I muttered as I came back inside to do this little skitty.
Of course it had at that time slipped my mind that it is not my land at all as technically it will probably remain the property of the bank for some many years yet?
As a final point, there is little doubt, had it been a stag rather than a tiny deer then I would have been the one taking off...and quicker!!
Monarch of the Glen...eat your heart out (whatever that my mean?)
Salutations from,
The Host
THE BIG BRITISH FOOD CON!
(Breaking news...or is it?)
Not sure how so many folk's do not know this? When you go to a pub or eating joint (in the UK) if there is a menu offering of more than around 3,4 or 5 things then bottom line is it will all be frozen "GARBAGE" with the delicate flavour of preservatives...
We ate out last week and the menu was some 34 dishes long and from a kitchen serving around 40 covers...I mean come on...
I am constantly surprised that even folk who have a good palate seem to think some food is "actually not bad" when in fact it has probably been sitting in the freezer for about 2 months, having come from a factory and laced with chemical rich ingredients....what the ??!!**
We have now opened our BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN COFFEE SHOP at The Craigerne and we are among the minority, ie eating places in the Scottish Highlands where food is actually HOME MADE.
All from our Kitchens, be it Coffee Shop or Hotel Eating is home made and with a strong focus on local and Scottish Produce.
Another bug bear perhaps worth adding. Whilst Scots and Brits seem to settle for a very middle of the road eating experience so much of Scotland's great larder offering is heading out of the Country!? (mainly to Europe where they appreciate good foods)
At The Craigerne Hotel we use black pudding and other produce from local butcher George Gow, the black pudding is FAB and also an award winner...but this is not cheap and we use this over the very cheap and very nasty cash and carry offering.
I do wish people would question if they really are saving a few quid on their B and B or Hotel experience when they book that place just a few pounds less expensive?
If it's going into you or out of you, these are simply some Bottom Line facts.... in the future, do your stomach a favour..look to eat more that's HOME MADE.
Mine Host
(Breaking news...or is it?)
Not sure how so many folk's do not know this? When you go to a pub or eating joint (in the UK) if there is a menu offering of more than around 3,4 or 5 things then bottom line is it will all be frozen "GARBAGE" with the delicate flavour of preservatives...
We ate out last week and the menu was some 34 dishes long and from a kitchen serving around 40 covers...I mean come on...
I am constantly surprised that even folk who have a good palate seem to think some food is "actually not bad" when in fact it has probably been sitting in the freezer for about 2 months, having come from a factory and laced with chemical rich ingredients....what the ??!!**
We have now opened our BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN COFFEE SHOP at The Craigerne and we are among the minority, ie eating places in the Scottish Highlands where food is actually HOME MADE.
All from our Kitchens, be it Coffee Shop or Hotel Eating is home made and with a strong focus on local and Scottish Produce.
Another bug bear perhaps worth adding. Whilst Scots and Brits seem to settle for a very middle of the road eating experience so much of Scotland's great larder offering is heading out of the Country!? (mainly to Europe where they appreciate good foods)
At The Craigerne Hotel we use black pudding and other produce from local butcher George Gow, the black pudding is FAB and also an award winner...but this is not cheap and we use this over the very cheap and very nasty cash and carry offering.
I do wish people would question if they really are saving a few quid on their B and B or Hotel experience when they book that place just a few pounds less expensive?
If it's going into you or out of you, these are simply some Bottom Line facts.... in the future, do your stomach a favour..look to eat more that's HOME MADE.
Mine Host
Friday, 13 March 2009
If you have ever read "A Year in Provence" then this would offer you just a flavour of Highland Life.
If you think that there are simply not enough characters left in this modern world then get yourself to the Scottish Highlands and bring your sense of humour.
If you only ever manage the odd weekend or say a week holiday up here then you will most likley not get the opportunity to lift up the blanket to see below the surface?But if you are fortunate enough to to get past the blanket then there are some humorous and rich experiences to be had.
It is not just hot countries that have "manyana", the Scottish Highlands has "Highland Time", don't get me wrong.....things do get done, but they are done when they are done and not before, but...rest assured they always do get done.
I am now through any frustration and find it actually helps to make some sense in this demanding and complex world most of us live in. I am finding it works to keep things in perspective and brings a new calm, much better than getting one's knickers in a twist over something like a minor plumbing issue.
What you eventually learn is more like your need was set aside because someone else had a more pressing need. This would be regardless of money or reward but more an issue of community.... like an elderly lady who has a plumbing situation on Hogmany. When certainly the plumber would not be letting Mrs Such and Such be sitting on Hogmany with no water and a flood....Up here one does feel there is more community value, maybe this actually makes it is more of a real life....with real people. Maybe this allows the opportunity for characters to evolve.
I can let you know first hand that when you do have a problem...(as we did at 10pm one night)...our plumber was here in under 15 minutes and spent 2 hours to get us sorted....If you can get that in the Central Belt then quite simply you must be loaded and paying through the nose for it...Here I am some 6 weeks later and have yet to see the bill??!!** I tell you...RESPECT!
Anyway, its Friday, its been a long week so am awa to hay a dram...
Mine Host
If you think that there are simply not enough characters left in this modern world then get yourself to the Scottish Highlands and bring your sense of humour.
If you only ever manage the odd weekend or say a week holiday up here then you will most likley not get the opportunity to lift up the blanket to see below the surface?But if you are fortunate enough to to get past the blanket then there are some humorous and rich experiences to be had.
It is not just hot countries that have "manyana", the Scottish Highlands has "Highland Time", don't get me wrong.....things do get done, but they are done when they are done and not before, but...rest assured they always do get done.
I am now through any frustration and find it actually helps to make some sense in this demanding and complex world most of us live in. I am finding it works to keep things in perspective and brings a new calm, much better than getting one's knickers in a twist over something like a minor plumbing issue.
What you eventually learn is more like your need was set aside because someone else had a more pressing need. This would be regardless of money or reward but more an issue of community.... like an elderly lady who has a plumbing situation on Hogmany. When certainly the plumber would not be letting Mrs Such and Such be sitting on Hogmany with no water and a flood....Up here one does feel there is more community value, maybe this actually makes it is more of a real life....with real people. Maybe this allows the opportunity for characters to evolve.
I can let you know first hand that when you do have a problem...(as we did at 10pm one night)...our plumber was here in under 15 minutes and spent 2 hours to get us sorted....If you can get that in the Central Belt then quite simply you must be loaded and paying through the nose for it...Here I am some 6 weeks later and have yet to see the bill??!!** I tell you...RESPECT!
Anyway, its Friday, its been a long week so am awa to hay a dram...
Mine Host
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Well bugger me....I did it, I managed to attach/upload/offload/whatever this photo to this here blogger site...I canny believe it! (However as you may now notice, I do not seem to have managed to get the damn text to run smoothly down the side?!*F. Not to worry, we'll just see how it looks when I press PUBLISH.) No...it worked ok afterall!
From these very garden chairs I did hear the "purrtty" birds and beasts make their noises...
Hey...good news...its not all bad
Feels like SPRING has sprung in the Highlands today!
If you fancy a fine time in the Scottish Highlands, then Spring is that fine time. The birds and wildlife have all now woken up and their noise level has shot up....9.30pm and I have just had a cup of tea in the garden listening to the birds...wish I knew what they were but afraid I have no idea, just another thing I need to learn about...But I tell you this, they sure were "purrtty" to listen to...
I think next evening like this will be for lighting a fire in the garden and taking a slug of brandy in a hot chocolate in a garden seat near that fire...hhhmmmm...relax.
Do you know something, the SLEEPER from London gets you arriving at Newtonmore Station in the Scottish Highlands just in time for breakfast at our hotel...."now not a lot of people know that", or so it would seem.? (Now how romantic or boozy would that be?)
keep and eye on the blogg as I am going to use the sleeper service next time I need to be in London so I will give an update on the experience, however it might not be for a few weeks yet..
I best go now as we are now making final arrangements/preparations for opening our new coffee shop on Friday...
Now get on a web site search for that SLEEPER BOOKING!!
"Chivvydiamo"
Mine Host
Feels like SPRING has sprung in the Highlands today!
If you fancy a fine time in the Scottish Highlands, then Spring is that fine time. The birds and wildlife have all now woken up and their noise level has shot up....9.30pm and I have just had a cup of tea in the garden listening to the birds...wish I knew what they were but afraid I have no idea, just another thing I need to learn about...But I tell you this, they sure were "purrtty" to listen to...
I think next evening like this will be for lighting a fire in the garden and taking a slug of brandy in a hot chocolate in a garden seat near that fire...hhhmmmm...relax.
Do you know something, the SLEEPER from London gets you arriving at Newtonmore Station in the Scottish Highlands just in time for breakfast at our hotel...."now not a lot of people know that", or so it would seem.? (Now how romantic or boozy would that be?)
keep and eye on the blogg as I am going to use the sleeper service next time I need to be in London so I will give an update on the experience, however it might not be for a few weeks yet..
I best go now as we are now making final arrangements/preparations for opening our new coffee shop on Friday...
Now get on a web site search for that SLEEPER BOOKING!!
"Chivvydiamo"
Mine Host
Monday, 9 March 2009
Well what to say today??....
Well actually it is a build up that has been brewing inside me and now ready to blow...it is the subject of so called Goverment assistance agenies or "QUANGOES!!"
I have been involved in setting up and running several small businesses for myself, these spread over the past two decades and covering things from sandwich shop in Edinburgh to ski chalet holiday business in Chamonix. I'll try anything..
At some stage during the start up of these (as well as this current business) I have of course been given stalwart advice to get help from Scottish Enterprise, all be it mainly from folks who have never thought about and have no experience of doing such a thing.
A wee taster of my experience with Scottish Enterprise, Business Gateway, Quango, Fandago...it's a merry dance. The music begins when you contact their "new business hot help line" (wow this has got to be good) actually its only any good if you are able to call this call centre facillity between the hours of 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday!? Once you do get through you are asked to fill in the on line application form geared up to the lowest common denominator, so after some time sloshing about on the ocean floor with a primary school questionair the eventual outcome is the loss of any will to live...or at least the loss of any will to try and get any assistance from the very organisations supposedly set up to asssit someone starting a new business. After all, it is only what they are set up to do.
Eventually I give up on filling in the form and try again to speak with someone, yes I know, to actually speak with someone, maybe like a small business adviser. 4 weeks later and having had the wrong person contact me on 3 seperate occassions I elect to do as I have done on the 3 previous small business set ups....JUST DO IT MY BLOODY SELF!!!
Mark my words, it is time some whistle blowers staggered forward from within these bodies to let us all know where the very large budget goes..(tax payers money?)..I have an inkling (don't ask me why?) that in place of assisting folks set up a new business it mainly goes on fancy offices, company cars, salaries and consultant fees? More fat cats eating more than thier fair share of whiskas. When the lid is taken of this particualrly large tin of whiskas I do very much feel certain it will be chicken liver flavour exactly the same flavour as the banks have been eating for the past 15 years or so....mmmmm...very tasty....if you can get it.
Now I say if you have similar experince with such bodies please let us hear, maybe let your MP hear, all we are asking for is a bit of help... But no, they actually offer absolutely nothing and then also set up other Public Sector Quangoes who lassoo us with red tape on every possible issue..from VAT, employemnt law, tax and food higyne to insurance and getting a drinks license....Oh yes, you have to be and expert on all possible eventualities, no matter if you employ 1 person or 1000, its the bleedin same mentality...
Right, you can get back to that cool web site you were looking at before you stumbled onto this BLOGGER!
BON CHANCE AMIGO
Mine Host
Well actually it is a build up that has been brewing inside me and now ready to blow...it is the subject of so called Goverment assistance agenies or "QUANGOES!!"
I have been involved in setting up and running several small businesses for myself, these spread over the past two decades and covering things from sandwich shop in Edinburgh to ski chalet holiday business in Chamonix. I'll try anything..
At some stage during the start up of these (as well as this current business) I have of course been given stalwart advice to get help from Scottish Enterprise, all be it mainly from folks who have never thought about and have no experience of doing such a thing.
A wee taster of my experience with Scottish Enterprise, Business Gateway, Quango, Fandago...it's a merry dance. The music begins when you contact their "new business hot help line" (wow this has got to be good) actually its only any good if you are able to call this call centre facillity between the hours of 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday!? Once you do get through you are asked to fill in the on line application form geared up to the lowest common denominator, so after some time sloshing about on the ocean floor with a primary school questionair the eventual outcome is the loss of any will to live...or at least the loss of any will to try and get any assistance from the very organisations supposedly set up to asssit someone starting a new business. After all, it is only what they are set up to do.
Eventually I give up on filling in the form and try again to speak with someone, yes I know, to actually speak with someone, maybe like a small business adviser. 4 weeks later and having had the wrong person contact me on 3 seperate occassions I elect to do as I have done on the 3 previous small business set ups....JUST DO IT MY BLOODY SELF!!!
Mark my words, it is time some whistle blowers staggered forward from within these bodies to let us all know where the very large budget goes..(tax payers money?)..I have an inkling (don't ask me why?) that in place of assisting folks set up a new business it mainly goes on fancy offices, company cars, salaries and consultant fees? More fat cats eating more than thier fair share of whiskas. When the lid is taken of this particualrly large tin of whiskas I do very much feel certain it will be chicken liver flavour exactly the same flavour as the banks have been eating for the past 15 years or so....mmmmm...very tasty....if you can get it.
Now I say if you have similar experince with such bodies please let us hear, maybe let your MP hear, all we are asking for is a bit of help... But no, they actually offer absolutely nothing and then also set up other Public Sector Quangoes who lassoo us with red tape on every possible issue..from VAT, employemnt law, tax and food higyne to insurance and getting a drinks license....Oh yes, you have to be and expert on all possible eventualities, no matter if you employ 1 person or 1000, its the bleedin same mentality...
Right, you can get back to that cool web site you were looking at before you stumbled onto this BLOGGER!
BON CHANCE AMIGO
Mine Host
Monday, 2 March 2009
Ah ha....I find some time to get back onto "Mr Bloggy". Just so you understand, the biggest problem was actually my IT illiteracy and my inability to even find and then access my own blog to make this new addition!
Now where was I....oh yes, are there any positives to buying a hotel, changing your life, moving your life, wife, children etc to a new part of the country? The short answer is YES!
These include, beautiful part of the country, lovely premises, the chance to be building something for the future, indeed something that you actually have control over (sometimes scarily too much control, ie no one else is involved?!*), the chance to ski, walk or mountain bike when most everyone else is working in the City or Office...all great stuff. A chance to feel like you are living a life.
It is exciting but make no mistake, it is also dangerous to try and live a dream. I can for sure tell you that to sit in the safty of the armchair and talk the talk is very different from coming up out of the armchair to walk the walk....you may just find that parts of this walk are along a tight-rope?
If you want to do it then make sure you really do want to do it, otherwise be very cautious as you may just get exactly what you wished for.
Check out www.craigernehotel.com
Hotel up and running, next challange is the coffee shop due to open 15th March, yes thats right, next week....only 873 things to be done so I am off...
Best Regards, Mine Host, xx
Now where was I....oh yes, are there any positives to buying a hotel, changing your life, moving your life, wife, children etc to a new part of the country? The short answer is YES!
These include, beautiful part of the country, lovely premises, the chance to be building something for the future, indeed something that you actually have control over (sometimes scarily too much control, ie no one else is involved?!*), the chance to ski, walk or mountain bike when most everyone else is working in the City or Office...all great stuff. A chance to feel like you are living a life.
It is exciting but make no mistake, it is also dangerous to try and live a dream. I can for sure tell you that to sit in the safty of the armchair and talk the talk is very different from coming up out of the armchair to walk the walk....you may just find that parts of this walk are along a tight-rope?
If you want to do it then make sure you really do want to do it, otherwise be very cautious as you may just get exactly what you wished for.
Check out www.craigernehotel.com
Hotel up and running, next challange is the coffee shop due to open 15th March, yes thats right, next week....only 873 things to be done so I am off...
Best Regards, Mine Host, xx
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