Safe Return Doubtful

It’s good fun being back at work again, and in a stressless role. There’s a line in the first season of The Bear when an older experienced front of house at a very smart restaurant explains to Richie (in training) how he made the adjustment from healthcare to working in a restaurant; ‘hospital’ / ‘hospitality’ he says are related words, meaning looking after people. It changes Richie’s outlook completely. 

Our coast to coast hikers arrive exhausted in the early evening at the end of one of the toughest days of the hike, with basic needs, a warm welcome, food, drink and a bed. 

They are from all walks of life, and it isn’t rare to have more than five nationalities represented each evening. 

In the morning I help tidy up, observing the campcraft of those staying in tents in the garden, holding my tongue with any criticism. Mornings are early starts and my reading has taken a hit, from a book a day, to half that amount, but the interaction with guests is a good temporary substitute; they all have stories to tell. 

Meanwhile the van remained advertised for sale, with practically no interest. It appears there is a lull in the market. It seems vans at half the price, perhaps ‘first vans’ for many people, are selling, as are those at twice the price, sparkling and new, but much less so in the middle range. I spent several weeks cleaning  and having various jobs done to it, and found myself thinking why I was selling it. So a week ago, I took it off the market and decided instead to spend some money on a more comprehensive refurbishment, and think again about selling in a few years.

It will go into GV Conversions in the week of 14th July, and I will be away again in it on the following Sunday. 

We are headed for the west coast of Ireland, somewhere I haven’t been for about 25 years. At one time I visited frequently with rugby tours. Shetland came a close second, but the fact that I was there only two years ago, and that the price of the ferry in high season is almost double for crossing the Irish Sea helped the decision. After some reading and planning, I am (quite) confident that I can find some quiet bits of the coast. We will make our way loosely down the Wild Atlantic Way probably as far as Kinsale (the venue of many of my rugby tours) for the end of August, before returning to Shap for a busy September of work at the Lodge. The Lodge closes for B & B for the six weeks of the summer holiday, when it takes groups that have booked the whole house. 

Here in Shap it’s a busy Saturday of sport. Six completely dry weeks of weather gave way a few days of hot and humid conditions that brought the midges, biting more viciously than ever, but thankfully the last week has been a return to normal, showery, windy and mid teens. 

It’s a special day, in a way, for me, and one to be proud of. England play rugby and cricket today, and their coaches have something in common. Both Brendon McCullum and Lee Blackett (assistant coach for now..) were fortunate enough to be coached by me in their teens. Blackett for several years at rugby and cricket when we were at Lytham, and McCullum just for a short cricket season as an under 14 in Dunedin.