h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In time-honoured hoteliers' tradition, we had our family's Christmas Day yesterday. We all went up to our Nan's, let the children run around and scream, and ate our faces off. I got the usual collection of alcoholic beverages, odd clothes and vaguely outdoory items I expect these days The bizarrest present this year was a small device recommended to my Mum by a salesman in an outdoor shop; after much scratching of heads, we worked out that it's something you can hold a stick with to cook marshmallows in the fire. My Mum, bless her, was very quick to point out that we are actually born with two very good stick holders attached to our bodies...

So that's it. I'm back to work in an hour and finish on January 3rd. E and I will open our presents to each other early on Christmas Day before I go to work and I'll pop round to her Mum's for a glass of port. Apart from those little indulgences, it's work all the way from now on.

I'll pop in to h2g2 for the drink or two over the period but probably won't be around much, so I'll say happy Christmas to all of you and I hope you enjoy your big day when it comes round

Skanks, I hope that, even though you are working over the coming period, you manage to enjoy it, and the best of the Season to E and yourself, and Happy New Year...



MMF

Best wishes to you too, Rich

Rich, I hope you can get some pleasure from making other people's holiday special.

Thank you for all the work you do, I am sure it is appreciated. it is easy for those of us not 'working' (paid that is!!) to forget how much we rely on people who do give up their Christmas and New Year, so thanks to you and everyone else

(for Elaine)

Websailor

Hi Skanky I thought I was the only one who had to work Christmas. It is frustrating what we have to go through at times. Surely most people will be at home at this time of year?

Ah, happy season to you sir, have Spitfre I know I will be

Merry Christmas and all that...

I got home yesterday, and so quite predicatably I'm now shattered and developing some kind of 'flu.

Alex

Yes, I do get satisfaction from it, Webbie - I do a lot of games and quizzes over Christmas (this year I'm doing 'Play Your Cards Right', 'Mr and Mrs' and 'Reindeer Racing', for example). Unfortunately, even at Christmas, there are always some guests who, for whatever reason, don't really want to enjoy themselves too much and are much happier complaining. That's the really hard bit, when it feels like you're going through so much and not getting the credit from a minority. There's a massive potential for things to go wrong as well; it only takes for the chef to burn the Christmas pudding, and people get quite irate. One year we even had a tummy bug go round, which you can imagine was pretty hellish.

Opti, you'd be surprised how many people do come away - we're not as busy as usual this year, but we still have 130 guests in. I can imagine that it's nice and easy to just organise a trip away and have live entertainment and everything cooked for you than do it all yourself!

You can rest assured, Matt, that I will have a good cellar ready - I'm going round the offie tonight with a large pile of cash

Aww; just think, Skanky, the guests at your place have chosen to be there, probably 'cos Christmas at home is a bit lonely...so your services hopefully will be appreciated.

Are you going to dress up as ???

zdt

Merry Christmas, Rich

I'm off work for two weeks...the joys of working term time only

I won't be Terri - unless E has other plans for me

I'm hoping I'll be doing the same in a couple of years, Magwitch As long as we have the hotel, though, I'll probably always be working Christmas. Everyone else in the family does, and I don't reallly know what else I'd do!

Merry chirstmas to you & E I hope you enjoy your break, after the festivities and all your hard work.

Whatever you're doing everybody, take care and be happy and try and keep well! Look after your loved ones and make some wishes and try to attend some hootoo meets in 2008.



...and don't forget the alignment between the full moon and Mars tonight...



*wanders around with the carefully avoiding those with the flu but makes note of them for later*

Merry Christmas and all the best for the new year, Skanky. And for the rest of you, too.

And to all a good night!

Merry Christmas Skanky and everyone else!

Try to have a good time at some point Rich. All the best.

Websailor has emailed me a fantastic article from the telegraph, which put a smile on my face:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/22/nfawlty122.xml

Inspired by Matt, I popped out before work to grab a few big bottles of San Miguel, Spitfire, Hobgoblin and Old Peculier, along with a bottle of port to go with the fridge full of cheese. So I'm pretty set

Today went fairly well, but it's been full-on. The first coach arrived shortly after I got to work, and it was a bit of a funny one. Most of the guests were fine, but one lady in particular didn't like her room - basically because her friend had been put in a double while she had a single. It took about three-quarters of an hour to get her sorted out, while she went on and on about extractor fans. She didn't get a double in the end.

A few of our regulars arrived through the afternoon, along with another coach We have a few guests who come year after year, and one couple came for the first time when I was in my teens. It's a bit like having extended family come to stay at times.

There was a lot of preparation to be done for the first big event, a 'Meet The Staff' with canapés and buck's fizz laid on. My cousin and I took on the job of putting pink sugar all around the rims of the glasses, and our receptionist made us a cup of tea because we were looking busy. These small acts of kindness among us make the days pass more easily.

I missed 'Meet The Staff' because I was dealing with a rather frantic lady, who was moving rooms with her 90-year-old friend and was struggling to operate the lifts. She was quite panicky and it took a lot of patience and calm firmness to get her to calm down. I got them moved over and took them up some buck's fizz and canapés from the reception, and I think it made their day. It's not nice, I'd imagine, to be upset and flustered in a strange hotel at Christmas, and we exchange smiles and waves every time we see each other now.

The day ended with one of my infamous bingo sessions - thoroughly unprofessional but good fun. We had them in stitches on a couple of occasions. A pint of ice cold cider later, I'm treating myself to a slap-up dinner of sausages, beans and chips. It's been a pretty hard day, but it's gone quite well so far.

A very merry Christmas to everyone!

Merry Christmas, Rich!!