May 2010
Hello from a very beautiful and sunny Cornwall (no volcanic ash issues here!)It has been a very busy six months since our last newsletter and as usual we always provide an update on what has been going on for us both in business and family.Budock Vean is looking just beautiful at the moment with the valley garden being one of my favourite spots to walk in the mornings or at lunchtime with Kipper (our Jack Russell).
Our three spa rooms and spa area have been given a little update and in the Helford Lounge you will now find new leather sofas to curl up in with a good book.We have been very busy at the Polurrian with brand new duvets in all the rooms which are also now in the whole of the new wing at Budock Vean with plans to extend throughout the whole hotel. The Polurrian has been redecorated with lovely whitewashed and blue walls reflecting the sea and local art and pottery on display, providing a good contrast to the country tradition of Budock Vean.Our on-going work and endeavours resulted in us being awarded Silver at the Cornwall Business Awards - Budock Vean for Customer Focus and Polurrian for Growth Strategy as business has increased there by 32% over the last two years reflecting the quality on offer.
Enclosed you will find our latest offers at Budock Vean, one of which is brand new for you lovers of Crossword! Tom Johnson, my form teacher, in my first year at Nantwich Grammar School is also is a crossword genius and is running a Crossword break – looks great. Luckily he and I never exchanged many cross words at school! I
I have been spending less time working in the hotel in the evenings for a number of reasons – helping the girls with homework is one! However, for the past 20 months I have been working hard to establish a charity ‘Made for Life’ supporting people diagnosed with Cancer primarily in Cornwall but we have also run complimentary days throughout the UK with the support of Macmillan, the Mermaid Centre (for breast cancer) in Cornwall and wonderful stores like Harvey Nichols who have provided us with complimentary use of their facilities and included breakfasts etc. Our aim is to build a Made for Life Centre in Cornwall and continue providing support days across the UK. It has been inspirational to work alongside many of the people and some of the amazing women who have been diagnosed and are recovering from breast cancer have created an amazing calendar celebrating life beyond breast cancer (photographed at Budock Vean and the Polurrian which will be available from July and is being launched at the Royal Cornwall Show on 10th – 12th June.
For those of you Elvis Lovers, there will be a Made for Life Evening at Budock Vean with Elvis and friends on Saturday 11th December. Restaurant Manager, Mo is already in raptures so there will be double the entertainment! Spiezia - our organic skincare range, hand-made here in Cornwall is going from strength to strength and you will find a full range of new Spiezia Organic treatments in the Natural Health Spa including the organic Uplifting Facial which was featured in Woman & Home. In addition the new lava shell treatments are proving very popular – don’t forget to ask about them when you book.Sara, Reception Manager at Budock Vean had her baby, Ethan and he has already had his first night at Budock Vean. In addition Warren, our Greenkeeper and his partner Lynda who works in our Housekeeping department are expecting their first baby.
Mel, who has worked tirelessly for us in Marketing and as our P.A. will be leaving us shortly. Her husband, Simon has been promoted and they are off to live nearer Taunton where he will be based. As a punishment, I will be insisting that she still does the Bristol Half Marathon which we are training for in September. Mel will be missed by all of us at BV as she has been fantastic to work with. Anyone who wants to permanently relocate to Mawnan Smith will find that there is now a very lovely detached house for sale only 300 metres from the village centre and Red Lion pub!
We have made a decision to avoid any potential delays and flight cancellations this year and go to France with Hannah and Molly. They have been nagging me to go on a Camping holiday for two years now (Martin is fine with camping – I have a different view)! Finally I succumbed and a week in a mobile home on a campsite in France awaits – I have to admit it has three bedrooms but have told the girls it is a caravan but I’m not sure that they are convinced. When Martin made the announcement to Molly (age 8 now) that “Did you hear Molls, Mummy has agreed to go camping?” she looked me in the eye and replied “Who are you? And what have you done with Amanda Barlow?”Martin decided he wanted to get fit late last year so I very kindly purchased him for Christmas some one-to-one fitness training sessions with the very gorgeous personal fitness trainer, Heather Ferry who I have trained with too. It is the only time that Martin is able to leap out of bed with great verve first thing in the morning and comes back after an hour looking exhausted but very happy and has toned up too!
The winner of the prize draw and complimentary two night stay this time is Mr and Mrs Mead from Yealmpton. Congratulations!We hope that this letter finds you well and look forward to seeing you again soon.Best wishes from us all. Amanda & Martin