I don't care what the weather man said
An interview with Radio Solent this morning got off to the usual local-radio jolly start. I had a bit of light banter with the weather man who confessed to preferring hotels to B&Bs because 'you know what you are getting'. Was he winding me up? Anyway, I rose to the occasion - sure that the world would be more interesting if we didn't know what we were getting all the time. May the weather man never be surprised, never have a nourishing encounter with strangers and never learn something new from a chance encounter. At least the weather won't surprise him (on second thoughts, it probably will).
posted by Alastair @ 9:27 am
3 comments
3 Comments:
I think you're being a bit hard on weather men Mr Sawday!
It's our job to predict what's going to happen, hence we don't like unpredictability...
Alastair,
What a joker "anonymous" must be. I've lived in this country for 5+ years, and it's seldom that the weatherman/person can give predictable forecasts. I say as a group they're the most overpaid professionals, for not having correct info. Talk about being unpredictable...
Love your guides and have used them exclusvely during my tenure in your country. Your website, which initially presented some challenges, is exceptional. I too, treasure those nourishing, special encounters that come as a result of reserving a room at one of your chambres d'hotes on the Continent, or at b&bs in the UK. I should say that I had one less-than- wonderful encounter out of 20 stays. I reported that in April of this year, and the establishment is no longer on your website. Wow! That's impressive.
I totally agree that your 'Special Places' are far superior to most hotels, especially the chains. (Yet let's be fair: the hotels in your BRITISH HOTELS, INNS AND OTHER PLACES are fine, as are those in THE GOOD HOTEL GUIDE.) But I have a problem with the B&B designation. Most B&Bs are predictable too, and also boring and soulless. Maybe the tourist boards should shoulder part of the blame, as their grading system is based on ticking boxes. Any hint of individuality - let alone eccentricity - sends the inspectors scurrying. As someone who runs a small guest house (no. 654 in the BBB guide), I know what I'm talking about. One bedroom has shelves filled with the overflow from my own study, and these were frowned upon by the tourist board inspector ... and that's only the beginning. (Have a look at our website: www.ygoedeneirin.co.uk)It's no surprise to me that most of your BRITISH BED AND BREAKFAST establishments (sorry, they are not establishments, but real homes which welcome real people) have no tourist board grade, no B&B signs outside, and hardly any advertising. So thank you and your team for sharing your secrets with people who like their holiday stays to be special.
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