The challenge of winter

Winter is a challenge in this business. No two ways about it. Any business has its ups and downs, to be sure, but hospitality it seems particualrly succumbs.

The trick is to review constantly what you do, and how you do it. For instance. We shut our restaurant about a year ago. People had slowed spending tremendously, which left us with two options. Either to a) attempt a ninja style hijack our guests as soon as they left their room in search of off site sustenance; or b) rethink what we were offering people in the way of convenient food.

Thankfully, the more sensible side of me opted for the food offering rethink. Besides which, I look terrible in black tights and ninja outfits. Not flattering at all!

So what we have now is a Guest Lounge affair. We still have our fully licensed bar with many great local wines. Open fire place, comfy lounges, magazines and books. And we have our lounge menu, which has a focus still on local produce, but so simply put together even our dog mollie- bless her little cotton socks- could swing into action in the kitchen if we got busy to push out a steak sandwhich or beef and guiness pie. Mind you, two problems there a) she's not allowed in the kitchen and b)she's a dog. Dogs like steak very much! The point is- the saving we make on having a dedicated chef on hand, in favour of an easy to cook but still tasty option, is tremendous.

So even though its winter, the lounge was buzzing last night with people milling around our open fire place, chatting, playing tennis on the wii and drinking moo brews. (yes we have a Wii). So okay- now the most expensive meal option is $15, so the revenue stream isn't huge- BUT, the costs are in line with the spend, and most importantly, the enjoyment factor for our guests (priceless) is what we are winning on here. Rethinking our offering in line with a climate of people who are, lets just say, close to their money, has still allowed us to offer a great option to our guests, and still generate a little revenue stream, where once there was very little.

So now that just leaves me to a) finish up now or b) get mollie to make me a steak sandwhich.....

Until next time
Cyndia

Winter finally here!

Hello to all my readers out there- hello? Hello? Is there anybody out there? Well, okay maybe not that many just yet, but bear with me on my ponderings.....it helps keep me sane!

Winter has finally arrived in Tassie! Its has been the warmest Autumn I have experienced here and frankly, I was beginning to feel a tad glum at the prospect of there being no snow in in the higher up areas behind us. Coming from Darwin originally, I have this thing about snow. Maybe a lack of it growing up as a child, means a love of it now. Justin looks at me incredulously when I say I love the snow. Growing up in New Zealand he had ample opportunity to get his snow fill on. I had to rely on a childs imagination whilst shaking a snow dome standing in front of an open fridge to get my fix. Not the same as running around and throwing the stuff at the nearest unsuspecting passer by.

So cradle mountain has had a sprinkling last week as the antarctic blast came through the area.

We were in Strahan at the time.

First time we have been since moving to The Island. What a treat.

We stayed at the lovely Franklin Manor and did the World Heritage Cruise.

The cruise was excellent, and despite being a little overcast, we thoroughly enjoyed the visit to Sarah Island. Lunch was a well coordinated affair and eveything was very well put together. I managed to get some pretty good shots I think! And because its not peak season, there are deals to be had and space to enjoy it all to yourself.

So, in my humble opinion, the best time to come to Tassie is now! Snow in them thar hills and deals everywhere and best of all, no crowds, plenty of solitude and thinking time!

Cheers all

Cyndia

Spritely Austin Healeys

What a treat! To see several beautifully restored MGs and Austin Healey sprites parked out the front of the motel. From a previous visit from an MG car club group, we had a couple of memers deecide to bring the Austin Healey Sprite group along to our lovely spot.

Sadly the weather was a bit ho hum, particulalry for that type of open top car, but once the BBQ was due to start out the back, the weather cleared, and the waft of sizzling snags and steaks began to fill the air.

Sadly just an overnight stop, the travellers, all bar two who required a visit from the friendly RACT man, were on their way to Strahan to continue their tour of tassie. Kind of inspires me to start restoring my MGB roadster.....

Sunnyside Up Gardening

Well, after a fairly busy breakfast, I'm not sure what really possessed me, but I decided to tackle the spot that I had been eyeing off for some time as a new sunflower garden.

The poor unloved piece of earth, right behind room 12 and 11, was crying out for some lovin', and now that it was sporting a new fence as well, I felt it might be time to tackle that little garden area today.

What a day to tackle it! The sun was out and a cool breeze kept the sun from completely baking me. Never-the-less, the ever present collection of exoitic weeds required much digging and grunting effort from me, to yield the finished product. Mind you as I dug, I managed to produce several fully formed ready for cooking potatoes. Yes! You've never seen anyone as I excited as me as I pulled those spuds out. Not sure from whence they came, but happy to eat the results.

So today I tilled and toiled, tomorrow I will sow and hopefully in about 12-14 weeks I shall reap my rewards. Pretty sunflowers, and a plethora of free mint in the minty corner.

Sitting out in the cool, surveying the back lawn, I see a sea of dandelion tufts. Its funny how life's perspective on things changes. When I was a kid, nothing would give me greater pleasure that yanking one of those tufts up and blowing hard to release the seeds, and watching them ascend into the air. Now I look and them and think, aww crap, weeds!

Until next time

Stay Nice!

Cyndia

A new year, a new blog entry

Hello all

I know, its been a little time since the last entry- no excuses on my behalf apart from being a bit busy!! But definintely time for an update on events happenign at the waterfront.

Over Christmas and New year, we were lucky enough to be part of the Sabot Nationals held at the Wynyard Yacht Club. What a trully excellent event with young sailors and their families coming to Wynyard to race their little hearts out on the beutiful bass strait waters. The weather was excellent, and well times (Week before it was ouring and the week after) so the sailign God's were smiling ont he event.

The new year has started off well, with a brand spanking new garage at the rear of the property. Justin and Robbie our retired can do man, constructed the garage, and now we are busy filling it up with stuff- including my MG roadster which is in dire need of attention. The hope is to restore the roasdster and the boat this year!!

On Waterfront News, we will be redisignign the web site this year, so I know there are a couple of out of date notes on the site currently, these will be changing soon.

Justin and I will be off the Hobart Wooden Boat festival next week, to see if we can find any relatives of our boat Pixie. Huge festival in Hobart, and we are really looking forward to a night away.

That's it for the moment

Take care, and see you this way sometime!

Cyndia