We have had guests to stay every weekend in May which has been excellent. The email has been quite active with enquiries, but there is something about the b&b guest that doesn't wait for your reply, and if someone gets back to them quickly then they book that one. Strange as I would want to collect all the information and then decide on which one I wanted to stay in based on the information that matched my tastes. .... and of course when the computer broke down recently we lost two potential bookings.

One of the other b&b owners came for tea yesterday, and immediately described our house and its situation as so tranquil and peaceful as well as being modern and uncluttered. That was a lovely compliment.

Easter 2009

It has been the best Easter weather for many years. We have had some perfect guests to stay, and they came back from the local pub, The Feathers, on Easter Monday evening having taken part in the quiz and also won half the raffle - so a teddy bear, rabbit and Easter egg arrived with them. They have been enjoying the Feathers in the evenings, and most days went to Otterton Mill at some point for their scrumptious food. We could have filled the house 7 times over for Easter, but interestingly despite having three sets of guests in April last year - this year there is no one else booked in.

We got out on Easter Day with our friends who have a new boat, and spent three hours enjoying the warmth and glassy sea - it was superb. The red sandstone cliffs of the Jurassic Coast always look so fantastic from the sea.

The next weekend

What a contrast from last week - this week has been cold and windy. I went away with work and came back to two more requests for bed and breakfasts over the Easter break. What a shame everyone wants to come away the same weekend.

We have the new digital television to put up in the small double room this weekend as our analogue signal runs out soon.

More sun....

A whole week of sun - how wonderful. Just received another booking for July so people are beginning to think about booking again now. But interestingly, Sunsail who we like to go on holiday with ourselves out of season have just written to say that they are not opening any of their three resorts in Turkey this season - crikey, what a cost and what a loss! We will have to rethink our late September break idea.

Marketing 2009

I have extended the marketing this year. I am still with the Budleigh Salterton TIC, but have also joined the South West Coast Path Association and in fact my July bed and breakfast booking is for a couple who are walking the path.

2009 1st blog

This is the 6th day of sun - how wonderful and still only March. Interestingly though I could have filled the house 3 times over for Easter with bed and breakfast guests, but apart from that I have only one booking so far for the summer and no other bookings yet at all. This time last year there were three couples booked in for April. So a little different at the moment. But what I didn't do on my forms is note when people booked, so I will do that this year.

But, I am getting the house ready for the bed and breakfast Easter guests, and have bought them both an Easter chocolate rabbit, have sourced my twisted willow for the Easter decorations to go on ... and had fun buying a few more (I get tempted every year)