Unpleasant Situations.

Well I promised you that at this time of year, I would be entertaining you with stories of company christmas parties and other adventures. Obviously I will not name people and I am only sharring my Innkeepers perspective so you can better imagine the life of the Mad Inn Keeper.

Sunday is family day at the Inn. Brunch is served from 10h00 am until 2h00 pm. We seldom sell much alcohol, however today we had a customer (who was alone) and who had several drinks before we finally mentionned to him that unless he had a room here, we could not and would not serve him anymore drinks. The gentleman was in no way unpleasant and did not show any signs of inebriation but we feel responsable for the safety of all our clients and so we take steps in order to not let someone drive while under the influence.

He decided to rent a room and ordered more drinks. On Sunday's the SPA is open by appointment only. The gentleman decided to book a massage. Once again in the best interest of my staff, the techician was told about the customer and the number of drinks he had ( by now we are in the double digits!). She refused to perform the massage and came to me to explain that alcohol and massages do not mix. I agreed and diplomaticly informed the guest that unfortunatly the spa was now closed for the day and that we would gladly book him a massage for the next day.

He was upset and frustrated and asked to speak to the manager. He got the Mad Inn Keeper instead!!! There was no use telling him the truth in his state so I stuck to my story of the employee not being available and sent her home for the day. He is now questionning our professionalism and becoming very frustrated with all of us. I finaly told him he was free to leave if he was not happy.

This is the other side to the hospitality service. We have a responsibilty that I take seriously. I wish I could turn my head and just ignore these situations. After all I cannot be responsable for how much people drink right? well I feel very responsable and do not want to hear that someone killed themselves or worse killed some innocent victim while driving home.

Lets hope he sleeps it off and when he wakes up he will be in a better mood.

What it means to be an innkeeper.

Saturday March 8th 2008, will be a day to remember. Our Inn has 24 rooms, a Health spa and sugar shack that was in full operation today. It started snowing this morning, but it was a nice lite snowfall until this afternoon when it really started to fall. By 4h00pm, roads were not cleared and people started to hit snow drifts.

At 4h30 we called our dinner reservations and told them to stay home. We gathered our staff and told them to stay at the Inn since we were now getting news that the roads were closed. All overnight customers were safely tucked into their rooms so the only missing guests that we did not manage to contact was a small wedding party of 18 pers.

They arrived leaving a few cars along the way and getting lifts with other people. None had rooms here but I had three rooms put asside for staff that I gave them to use and told them that all were welcome to stay the night. Just as I thought we could breath a sigh of relief, I received the call.

One of our kitchen staff was stuck in a snow drift on a small country road and was now out of gas and panicking because her husband was also in a drift and unable to reach her. Could we please try and get to her. After taking so many precautions and making sure everyone was fine, I did not want to send anyone out in the storm, but could not bring myself to ignore her plea for help. So I sent out Neil with his 4 x4 Suburu and then Steven and Mike with my Toyota Highlander thinking that they would be able to get to her.

Our employee finaly managed to get to a house by foot, by folowing the lights in the dark and called us to say she was safe and sound. Now I had to try and reach the boys and get them back here. You would think that they would have their cellphones right???? Noooooooo. or at least it was not turned on. Thank goodness I made Steven take mine because his was not working. I managed to get to them to find out they were stuck in snowdrifts and unable to get out.

The electricity was going on and off and finally the phones also went out. we could no longer call out but could receive calls. Gerry was busy with the generator and as I write this, the electricity has just gone off again. The fireplaces are backing up and spewing ash all over, and I am stuck here with a skidoo and tractor and just hoping that the guys will find their way home safe and sound. All the while the guests are enjoying a fine dinner and not really aware of the drama going on around them.

The boys have finally called and are on their way back slowly. They are helping others in the same situation as themselves along the way and are now four cars on their way to the Inn. It looks like we will have to make room for more guests!

That is what an Innkeeper does. It is not always fun and games. Sometimes it is a matter of supplying a safe haven for guests along their journey.

Makes me feel good inside when we experience this.

Happy New Year's!

Well another year has come and gone. I have had the pleasure of finding long lost friends from highschool over the past few weeks and of putting together a reunion that will happen in April 2008.

Who would have thought that 2007 would bring me closer to the people who in part helped me become the person I am today. Family of course is the first mold that will form us, but friends along the way also have a tremendous effect on who we will become. Imagine the friends that you went to school with over the years. Many I have known since elementary school and then highschool. It was impossible not to be yourself with these people who you spent even more time with than your own family.

We may have seperated ways over 30 years ago, but deep down we are the same people if not perhaps a little wiser. I am astonished at easy it has been to reach out to my friends and at how welcome and good it all feels. What a beautiful gift to give to each other.

Another gift this year was Damas of course. We enjoy each others company and Gerry my husband is spoiling him to death. For someone who did not want anymore dogs, he sure has other ideas for Damas. Over the holidays Gerry decided that the dog should be eating lean meat, fresh vegetables and rice. The kitchen staff are in tears laughing when the dog's order comes into the kitchen at 6h30 each night. Damas eats fish, fruit and vegetables but no sweets are allowed.

Another gift this year was having my three son's who are all grown men now, very much involved in the Inn's business. Some more than others, but at least they are all there in some form.

We also celebrated our 35th anniversay at the Inn (25 years for Gerry and I) with friends and customers. Gerry received a medal from the National Assembly for community services and Thomas our Somellier and Mario our food and beverage manager received the wine award of excellence!

What can we possibly ask for in 2008? I think that time with friends, family and loved ones is what I could use more of. I am the workaholic that just cannot see myself sitting around without doing something productive all the time. I travel but go to cooking classes, check out vineyards and restaurant's all in the name of business. Maybe this year, I will just enjoy the company of friends and try to think less of work.

Do I keep my new year's resolutions?

Well I am certainly on the right track with my trip to Phoenix with Gerry to visit my sister in law in January, my trip to New York with a few of my Yaya friends in February, a quick romantic get a way with Gerry in Mexico in March, our Yaya sugar party and VCHS reunion in April, my Yaya beach trip to Maine in June, and perhaps a trip to Paris to see Coco sometime in the Fall as well as a trip to Virginia for my annual Innkeepers meeting with Nancy Byron in November (I just have to let Nancy know about this one!!!)!

Yup I think I am doing allright!

Now all I wish for in 2008 is good health for my family, myself and you my dear friends!

A picture is worth a thousand words!

Well Sunday was cancelled! Only the in house guests spent the morning and then decided to brave the storm and head home. One couple remained to celebrate their 30th anniversary. For two weeks now we have been doing nothing but shoveling parking lots and roof tops. People do not realise that this much snow is very heavy and can cause structural damage.

The maintenance staff are exausted as is my husband Gerry who is the one in the snow blower.

Monday morning is spent cleaning up this mess so we can get back to business.

The funniest thing is people think that because we live in the country that our roads are blocked during and shortly after a snow storm. Well I have news for you, Our roads are actually better and easier to drive through because the when the plow passes, there are no cars in the way so it is cleaned instantly. The cities have much, much worse conditions than us.

Keep that in mind in winter, there is no problem with parking or the roads in the country, so what are you waiting for to get out of the city???

by the way, I thought my birds were eating quite alot of bird seed? well I have discovered the culprit who has been emptying my feeders. The squirrels have been getting the blame but look who I found at the feeders this morning???