What a December so far! We've really not been able to come up for air, and loving every minute of it! To date, this is our busiest December! We surpassed our pre christmas dinner record last week, and we couldn't believe it! Well, we could actually, probably by how sore our feet were, but also because some of us are dreaming of turkey and singing christmas songs in our sleep! 

 

Party nights that have been electric right from the start, christmas wine and food events that have been so full of festive cheer, pre christmas dining that has filled the restaurant with such laughter and joy, and we've still so much to come! 

 

It's common to hear about how stressful hospitality can be in December, and although true, it is also a very special time in the trade.  A month really like no other, where we get to wear something festive on shift if we like, get to dance behind the bar when a great song comes on and a real sense of togetherness amongst the team!  We are all looking forward to our Secret Santa day on Sunday evening, where we all exchange gifts not knowing who has bought what....or rather, that's how it is supposed to be, but I've been hearing every day who has who, I don't think some of the team are very good at keeping secrets!  We plan a fun festive evening altogether after the Festive Fun Day with Tammy Tantastic, after we are all cleaned down and closed, we will all get together and enjoy festive treats, drinks and fun as we exchange our not so secret gifts! 

 

Our December menu kick started with the retired teachers group, and it really did leave us all in stitches! A lovely meal was served, and as everyone was saying their goodbyes, Sheena, the wonderful organiser of the group, and may we say, a pleasure to work with, couldn't find her car keys! We searched all around the table, floor, hallways, toilets, nothing! We had cleared cracker mess off the tables and I decided I may have lifted them by accident so off I went to get some ppe to empty the entire contents of a busy lunch time bin! Nothing! By this time we were all scratching our heads! Where could they be! The weather was awful this day, a small river flowing down the sides of the roads on Queen Street! I then decided maybe they had been dropped on the road when Sheena was coming into the hotel.  So, as Megan and Sheena are emptying the contents of her handbag onto the table, and other diners were crawling around the restaurant floor, off I go outside, into the elements, plunging my hands into the rising mini river flowing alongside the pavement, feeling along the cold, gritty ground for anything that resembles anything other than a stick! Visibility was poor as I got more and more soaked! Nothing! I head back inside before I myself am washed away, and still everyone is searching frantically for the keys! 

 

A phonecall to someone to see if a spare set can be brought along, more frantic searching, I decide another blind feel in the mini river might somehow work this time! Returning, even more soaked, I enter the building to a shriek! "They fell down a hole in my pocket!" as Sheena reached into the depths of her jacket pocket hole and holds the keys up for all to see! We all burst into laughter and relief, and I make a mental note to write this in the next blog! Never a dull moment.  We are sure Sheena will laugh about this as much as we did! It's worth mentioning how many times things like this happen at the hotel, Sheena is certainly not alone when it comes to lost items showing up in the strangest places, usally on the person who's lost it! 

 

Accommodation usually slows down in December, and this gives us a really good chance to get caught up with deep cleans and maintenance work.  This winter we are installing new hotel head board units, with built in side tables & lights.  I'm excited to see the finished result of the first one that will be happening soon! 

 

We also have just had brand new radiators fitted in our function suite, and not only do they look great, what a difference to the heat in that huge room! It has always been difficult to heat it being so big and having had so many extensions over the decades, but finally we can feel such a difference! Big thanks to McConchies Heating & Plumbing for the great job! 

 

We're gearing up now for the last week before christmas, and with hundreds of meals still to put out this week, we are busy prepping!  The function suite gets turned around so many times for different events! I always say I should put a go pro on and do a time lapse! Although I think it would make anyone dizzy wathcing it! 

 

So, all in all, an incredibly busy 2 weeks, full of festive cheer & so many laughs! 

 

I hope you are all having a wonderful December, if you've been in to see us, thank you for the support, and if you've yet to come, we look forward to seeing you. Have a safe and happy week everyone, and if you are out and about in Castle Douglas, coffee machine is always on, a great cuppa and chat awaits! 

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Emma. x