June Greetings

Guests’ Photographs

Hope you have enjoyed looking at our new Guests’  Photos page on our website - Philip and I have delighted in receiving photographs from guests who have stayed – it is something we rarely have the privilege of viewing – the post-stay images. I actively encourage more of you to send in your photo of choice – we’d love to publish them! Go on… every few months or so, we will change the banner photograph, and you could star in the next one!

A Complaint of a Twittering Nature

I have a very serious issue to report – our first major complaint in 4 years – a very traumatic day for us a few weeks  back. One of our guests, who shall remain anonymous, when asked on day 2 if she had slept well, said that, no, she hadn’t. I braced myself for what was to come, and expressed concern.  The response was: ”The birds were singing too loudly. What sort of birds are these?” (deadly serious, I kid ye not… )

I wish I could say that we were surrounded by lush rainforest and were serenaded by heavenly birds of paradise and colourful parrots, however, we  make do with the good old blackbirds, thrush, sparrows, blue tits and the like… What a lovely singer is the blackbird! I am just delighted to awaken to this dawn chorus – couldn’t help but feel it is more desirable than city centre traffic and sirens – but, it takes all sorts. It did make me smile however…

This week there has been a mini-heatwave – just glorious to see clear blue skies each day. The garden has burst into colour and the bees are a-buzzin’ all around the climbing honeysuckle and lavendar…

Green Aware

After our ‘Green’ assessor visit – we realised that we have not drawn attention, anywhere on our website, to all the things we have been doing since start-up, and which you may want to know about. So, rather than subscribe to a scheme (which is rather costly), we have created our own Green Aware logo on our Home page – if you click on it, you can read all about our philosophy here at Pilrig House and the things we do to show we care about our environment and the local community in which we live.

Nature Watch at Pilrig House…

Last week, around 2am, I couldn’t sleep, so sat at our kitchen window overlooking the side garden. All of a sudden I heard very loud rustlings in the garden below, by the wall, below the bird-table. I thought it must be the resident foxes, but, much to my surprise and delight, out trundled a family of hedgehogs, who wandered down the path and disappeared into some dense bushes. Think we may have to install a web cam.

Our foxes do like their late night and early morning jaunts in the garden… they can be seen most days at such times if you are prepared to wait and watch! The squirrels run rampant as ever – their acrobatic feats supplying endless amusement at our windows… Better not tell Prince Charles or we may have a culling on our hands.

Golf  Course Tip

Lots of recent golfer guests have visited St Andrews to see the Old Course in the flesh – and it never fails to delight. I feel a duty to report the following – my contacts tell me that, whilst not having the same cache,  Kingsbarns Golf Course is the one to play when in Scotland (in St Andrews)… You heard it here first!

Those Trundlin’ Edinburgh Trams

The Edinburgh Trams project – and what a project it is – still rolls out – a little like our Scottish Parliament building did - late, over-budget and, unlike the latter, causing mayhem to local businesses and the streets of Edinburgh. Be patient when you come – the buses still travel as frequently, they are just a little slower navigating the single-lane traffic we have to endure throughout much of the city right now.

Book Festival Tickets

The Edinburgh Book Festival tickets went on sale last week and many of this year’s ‘hot’ tickets are already sold out, eg Margaret Atwood. Still, don’t be downhearted, it is always worth queueing on the day and trying for a cancellation or ‘no show’, as I experienced to my eternal happiness the first ever time the incredible Maya Angelou made an appearance at the Edinburgh Book Festival… a night to remember.

More ice-cream please…

Philip is just out of hospital – a double hernia op – and is laid up in bed, feeling sore, tired and a bit miserable right now. So, if you have a few minutes to spare, do send him a cheery message! 

Bye till next time,

Debbie

Hello Again…

I refrain from my last greeting: ’Howdy Doody’. On reflection,  I realise it made me sound like the Cathy Bates character ‘Annie Wilkes’ in the film Misery… And, to those guests who perhaps saw me stomping through the garden muttering to myself on a bad day, and are now quietly musing that that is, indeed, who I reminded them of, please don’t write in.

”It’s Too Hot…”

… said a hot and bothered guest on departure yesterday. I had to stop myself from rushing to grab the Visitors’ Book so that those words could be  immortalised for all eternity!

What a wonderful week it’s been… the park was filling up at 8am with die-hard, bikini-clad sunworshippers, barbequers, cricket teams… fantastic. Ohhh, Summer Breeze – makes me feel fine…  everyone was smiling, spirits were raised, and we all reflected on the whole summer remaining in this lovely warm haze… here’s hoping.

FlipKey and TripAdvisor

The international review site FlipKey (linked to TripAdvisor)  is now listing ‘vacation rentals’ – or, to UK readers ’self-catering’ properties. And, we got listed as soon as it was up and running.  We wanted to demonstrate that we are totally open to people writing on an acknowledged international review site about our apartments.

A Big Thank You…

… to all of those guests who have reviewed us – we are incredibly touched, and pleased to know that you rated Pilrig House, and us, so highly.

No doubt we can expect some criticism – that would only be natural – but, we do hope prospective guests take reassurance from reading others’ comments and feelings about staying here. We don’t rest on our laurels - and always strive to provide the same level of welcome and assistance to all our guests!

Going Green

We are meeting with the Green Assessor in a few weeks’ time - had to delay the previous visit as all our apartments were booked solid, and access is necessary - so, watch this space.

Payment by Credit Card

Again – delays on this front. The company supplying this facility decided to completely change its computer systems, just as we were ready to launch – so, this should be available in the next few weeks – apologies for the wait.

Other Guests’ Tips

A while back, we introduced the concept of guests leaving their tips for other guests. It has been really worthwhile, and thrown up quite a few ideas and suggestions that opened our eyes as owners, too, as to what was important to guests.

Here are a few of the tips that have been submitted:

• Prebook your tour of Mary King’s Close - there is high demand and you may not get to see it if you just turn up on the day!
• Rabbies Tours of the Highlands are good as they run smaller coaches so their tours are more personal, and flexible, on the day.
• Buy an Edinburgh Pass in advance of your stay – it will save you so much money on entrance fees!
• Pack light – especially if moving from place to place.
• Hire your car locally once here – Debbie and Philip can help with this – is cheaper. And, some of the local firms do hire on the basis of dropping off your car in Inverness, for example.

Our Website Designer – Look Him Up – He’s Just Gone Freelance!

Colin Abercrombie – our wonderful website designer really is THE business – empathetic, totally professional, charming, patient, outstandingly good at what he does – and with great design flair. So, if you are considering having a website created/relaunched, or rebranding, do take a look at his website and contact him.  His fees are more than reasonable…

Guests’ Photo Page on our Website..

We think it would be great to include a photo page on our website – not of our ugly mugs, but of our guests… we are often sent the most lovely holiday photos from ex-guests – and, think it more than merits making space for these on our site. So, by the end of the year, hopefully we will have the makings of an album that you can enjoy.

The Thistle Awards 2009 – ‘The Extra Mile’ category (for small businesses)

Oh dear – have left our entry far too late this year and am swithering as to whether to withdraw until 2010 so as to have time to submit a halfway decent application. Nine days to go – will keep you posted as to whether the wee small hours were enough.

With Leith Festival this weekend, full bookings for the next 2 months – bar a few days here and there – it’s all go now for a busy summer.

So, will say goodbye for now. Hope you’re all enjoying the sunshine where you are too.

Debbie (and Philip)