The Sun has finally Arrived

What a difference the weather makes to running a hotel in the country. The sun comes out and the first thing to be done is not sort out the parasols on the terrace but rush to the boiler and turn down the heating, that is the first sign of spring for an oil burning hotelier like me. The first proper sunny weekend of the year and it is a really great to see people outside on the terrace having long lazy lunches, children running around the gardens through the daffodils and even a very plucky young chap called, Isambard going for a swim in the river. Gliffaes seemed to be full of sun and laughter all weekend. We hosted two birthday lunches, a family reunion and a group of dedicated cyclists taking advantage of the hilly roads to prepare for the Etape d Tour under the guidance of cycling guru and journalist, Rob Penn. ( If you are a riding the Etape this year Rob is running two more training weekends from Gliffaes in June.)

More and more of the garden's shrubs, trees and flowers are coming out; magnolias, camellias, blue bells, wild cherry and still the daffodils keep going.

However, not everything is looking quite so rosy. The Icelandic volcano eruption has probably put paid to a whole party of Texans coming to Gliffaes for a wedding next weekend so I now have a hotel to fill in just five days. Anybody like to make me an offer for next weekend? Please do call.