"Special" Speciality Teas!! What do you mean....the clocks went back!!

We are the perfect bed and breakfast! Come and stay at the most wonderful bed and breakfast! There must be a catch I hear you say - nowhere is perfect!! Everywhere has something that, someone somewhere can pick holes in!! No! Yes!

We have the most incredible "invisible Indian breakfast tea!". It really is so different. Could be mistaken for hot water but, only by the most unimaginative of guests! And luckily for us we only attract those in possession of the best of imaginations and those able to use a little ingenuity.

This morning our guests requested breakfast at 8am so, I arose at 7am to prepare a tasty feast with which they could break their fast! Such a genteel couple, staying here to search for her ancestral routes, but where were they it was now 8.25am and only the slightest sounds of life to be heard from the direction of their room!!??

Five minutes later they appeared, with an unspoken question written on both their faces. Something stopped me from asking , if they were okay, had they slept in? Hmmm guess who had forgotten to put the clocks back!!! Oh yes!! There is always one why did it have to be me!!!

Well, yet again I simply have to say "What a lovely, lovely couple....sitting down to eat their 8am breakfast at 7.30am!!!" I was so shocked, I returned to the kitchen to choke on my tea and and truly appreciate what a lovely, lovely couple and just to thank my lucky stars that we have the most wonderful of people to stay!!! Thank you MR and MRS Thompson.

If you feel in the mood to stay in a very friendly, homely, 2oo year old Bed and Breakfast to book your room with us all you need is a good old fashioned sense of humour!!!

If questioned all the above will be vehemently denied!! Hmmm Hmm Things normally run smoothly...I think and jolly well hope so!!

Intrigued Who are you out there?

This has really got me going!!

On both my website and blog, I have an invisible Stat Counter, brilliantly managed, I have to say by... Statcounter.com, this free service enables me to analyse, track, time etc traffic on both these sites. It is really helpful and quite a morale boost if things seem too quiet (not that that lasts very long). I am getting use to this unnerving way of earning a crust.

Most of the traffic comes and goes with the occasional person interested enough to be tempted back a few times before making a booking but, I now have someone (is it you?) on my blog/website everyday!!! Thank you for the interest. I am beginning to wonder if you are someone that I know.
You seem to have homed in on my name rather than the bed and breakfast.

Please get in touch if you would like to know more - email me: Julie@curerscottage.co.uk. Don't be embarrassed I would like to hear from you.

Are you simply interested in the blog/website and enjoy reading all my inconsequential blah?

Are you distantly related? An old friend - someone I have lost touch with?

Or, a prospective guest, thinking of coming to stay? You were on the blog just before 8 this morning! he he I know and now you know I know ha ha

Do get in touch even if just for a laugh! No strings attached - just out of interest and please do not stop reading!!

Best wishes to whoever you are! Julie

THE SCOTS INVASION - Seige Lasted 4 Days!!

With trepidation we awaited the arrival of the marauding Scots. Would we be able to communicate our refusal to bow to their dominant characteristics? Would our stronghold of English country living withstand such an invasion?

Yes, Yes and Yes again!! What a laugh!! You can tell (I hope), that our visitors became good friends and that joking around on my blog suited their all encompassing personalities perfectly!!

What a (here I go again) LOVELY family!!! They booked both rooms, having the place to themselves, they were all able to relax and enjoy a break. Their daughter has recently moved to the area, working for one of the local stables. It was brilliant to meet such a close-knit, happy family, chat about the trials and tribulations of bringing up children, laugh about funny memories and hear about village life on the Borders!!

The mandolin that my son James had bought with his birthday money arrived, and much to our amazement the Clan Chief was also learning to play!! Maybe next time he comes down we can persuade him to bring his mandolin with him!! I hear "the devil going down to Georgia!"...hmmm hm that would be something. Okay so, I got it wrong its not played on the mandolin - I still think it will sound amazing!

I need to do more research on fishing in the Kennet and Avon Canal because I did not get very far, it would be good to have the option easily available for their next trip! Hope they decide to come back to US!!

Wishing you all well. Hope your journey home was a good clear run.

Not wanting to disappoint Mike and Peter.....gentlemen walkers

He He and what a laugh they both were!!!

How fantastic to have two wonderful friends staying with us. They met years ago through work and they now meet up, twice a year I think they said, for a few days walking either through the English or Dutch countryside (lovely wives permitting of course!) .

Blessed with blue skies they set off every morning after a hearty breakfast, clad in walking boots and braving the Autumnal chill in khaki shorts - I was seriously impressed. Map in hand, plans made to be broken, knowing that they were going to have a great time regardless: they left me each morning reading my book in the garden, wishing that I was going with them.

Then they would return late afternoon to seek out a pint of the best to accompany a plate of good honest food. The Wheatsheaf not doing food on a Sunday or a Monday night, they decided to try Casanova's in Hungerford where they had a good Italian meal, then on our recommendation they went to the Blue Boar in Aldbourne where the setting impressed them (on the village green) but, to my horror the food did not!! The savoury pudding was not up to scratch. Feeling responsible (but, grateful that they had said), I told them that we had eaten there three times recently and each time been very pleased with the selection and quality!! So, what happened on Monday hey?? Oh dear lets hope it was a one-off!! Last night they went to the Wheatsheaf and had a brilliant meal hurray!!! Well, done Tracy - her pies are something special!!! And we shall have to check up on the Blue Boar again!

Sadly, their few days have come to an end but, before Mike deposits his true friend off at Southampton Airport they have decided on one more sortie - that of exploring Littlecote with all that history!

I hope they managed to get in to have a good look around the historic rooms, particularly the "Dutch Room". It got its name from the Dutch prisoners held in there in the 18th century to relieve their boredom they famously painted the whole of the interior, quite spectacularly!! The stately tudor mansion is well worth a visit even if only for the exterior - there is also the roman excavations to explore. This is all within walking distance of our bed and breakfast www.curerscottage.co.uk.

Well, you two, it was wonderful meeting you and I wish I could think of something funny to say - but NO I can't!!! Shall think of you when the weather is sunny and there is a chill in the air!!

Thinking of having a Break Away why not check us out!

Our Guest Book - Memories of those who have been to stay.

Though I hate to admit it, I am really rather proud of the wonderful comments that our guests are writing in our guest book. I have been told that I am not making good use of it. That I should have more about it on the website.

Its a bit of a strange one, I didnt expect to feel so worried about everyone enjoying their stay and so nervous about guests being disappointed with their accommodation. We were enlighten by a fascinating gentleman who came to stay when we had first opened. He gave me so much more confidence in what we had to offer and, some great advice. 1. you must have a guest book and 2. a page on the website Hotel versus our B&B.

He stayed with his partner twice on business and kindly told me that they would not be back for a year because their diary was full and he could see that there was nothing around here for that period. But, they planned on coming back whenever in the area!!

I have decided to try to scan some pages on to the blogspot - so here's hoping it works.

The Weekend Buzz Great Parties and More Weddings!!

Another weekend of running our Bed and Breakfast passes. Why am I so surprised at the number of interesting and lovely people that we meet?

Last week, we had couple who came to stay after their daughters wedding. Everything had gone well with the wedding and they were being treated to a weekend at Littlecote House Hotel, but decided to come and stay here first. They were so much fun and we discovered that we had lots in common and feel quite sad that they do not live closer, because, I am sure we would have become good friends. I hope they read this!! Hmmm is anyone out there??!!

This weekend there was a fantastic fancy dress party on Friday night and we had some of the guests staying. Two separate couples. They looked brilliant in their 70's and 20's costumes. Both couples were leaving their little children at home for the first time, though feeling the pangs, were determined to make the most of it!! It sounded like a really lively event - lots of dancing - thats what I like to hear!! Breakfast at 10.30am was very welcome!!!

On Saturday we had darling little Erin to stay, she was so sweet and chatty and looked charming in her pretty dress ready to go to the wedding. And of course she brought her retinue , Mummy and Daddy and Grandmother. I wish I had a photo of her to show you.

Birds , Birds, Birds...

We have been so busy, I simply have not had the chance to write!!!

Today, my father came over for the day, well first we went shopping and to the Blue Boar in Aldbourne for a quick drink on the way to Swindon. Yes, my father enjoys his pint "of your strongest please!" When you reach 87 surely, if you cannot insist on what you really want, what is the point of life!! He can no longer indulge in quantity, so strength it has to be - and flavour of course too!!! hmmm I think that still comes into it! It is purely medicinal, naturally. It helps him to relax and when he relaxes the pain in his knees lessens!! Yes, I go with that too. So, I need to add here that the delivery of the healing liquor needs to be as close to 11am as possible so, that the rest of the day can run (ah ha - not a good choice of verb there!), more smoothly!! Less painfully.

The Bionic knees have been given a good hammering by my darling Dad, so there is nothing that can be done to alleviate the current situation. But, he is made of all the good old-fashioned values of life and will always plough on. Today however, for the first time ever, he sat in the car having enjoyed the change of scenery and asked me to run around the shops (but please DO NOT RUSH) whilst he read the newspaper.

Birds, Birds, Birds... We sat in the garden to enjoy lunch in the shade of a beautiful sunny day.To our amazement the relaxing occasional twitter, chirrup and scuffle of the birds in the garden was suddenly disturbed by and constant and persistent chatter of a group of very noisy excited Goldfinches. There were four of them, a family group we surmised. Out of the Lilac tree they flew each selecting a seeded thistle head of their own. It was brilliant to watch them, and to be able to listen to their constant banter, was an honour, only ruined by call of the school bell and James to collect from Newbury!!! Ah...we were so disappointed that we had to disturb them.
But, as we left we both had the feeling that they were discussing what a nuisance we had been and could we please hurry up and go!! Ha!

So, this is why we grow thistles in our garden, not only are they beautiful but, they also attract the painted finches!! They are such beautiful birds. Well, worth the effort. They also enjoy the cornflower seeds. Must get Matt or James to take some close-ups!