A surprise visit

Around 3 pm today, I heard our front doorbell ring and wondered who it could be. On going to the door, I saw two familiar people standing there, both of whom we hadn’t been expecting to see again until next July. Steve and Sharon greeted us with a fond hello and Steve said that he had brought something for Hubby. They were shirts and jumpers from his golf club that he wanted to give my husband.

Steve and Sharon have been visiting us every July since six years back. They normally stay for a couple of nights and we always enjoy having them with us. Last year, they married in a civil ceremony at a local hotel, and decided to come to the Lakes for a one-night break in the same hotel tonight in order to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. They explained that it would be a one-off stay only because it is their first anniversary. Hubby and I were delighted to see them and it was ever so kind of them to think about us and to share their special day with us. We parted with promises to meet again next year.

Hubby has had his fair share of gifts this year, as have I. At the end of July, one of our regular guests who is 75 years of age and whose husband had passed away some while ago, asked if he still goes fishing. Her husband used to make flies and she had a box of handmade flies to give him as a keepsake if he could use them. The fishing flies were presented in a lovely box and beautifully made. I think they look almost too good to be used!

Whenever we say goodbye to our lovely guests, it is always with the hope that we will have the opportunity of welcoming them back to Blenheim Lodge again. Sometimes, guests who live a short distance from us will swing by our guest house just to say hello instead. Elaine and Barrie, for instance, live only a 45-minute drive from our house. They normally stay between two and four nights with us at least once a year. However, because they do not live far from us, they might come to the Lakes for the day, and will then pop round to see us for a natter and tea and biscuits. Barrie and Elaine are good fun and we always enjoy meeting up with them again.

Hubby and I also hear from our guests by email or telephone now and again. Tonight, for instance, I received an email from one of our previous guests who lives in Canada. John has visited us a number of times but is now unable to travel. However, it is good to keep in touch just to see how he is getting on.

Well, running a guest house might not be the most glamourous of jobs, but when one meets like-minded guests, it is always a boon. As guests stay with us time and time again, a relationship akin to friendship begins to bloom, easily making this the best part of any B&B operator’s job. When this happens, it makes running a guest house a real pleasure indeed!

‘Blenheim Lodge . . . panoramic Lake views, peace and tranquillity, nestled against acres of beautiful fields and woodlands, in the heart of the English Lake District National Park.’