Eriska, Scottish Island

Plans from the past for the future?

Yesterday I saw myself with a few minutes to spare so I decided to try and do some sorting out of the office- clearly I had no intention of finishing the job as that would have taken more spare time than I not only had yesterday but also thought I would have over the next year but at least it was going to be a start. So off I set on the first drawer of the filing cabinet and under the heading of plans. Indeed it soon became clear that Rowena had already made a start as it seemed remarkably well organized.

Indeed at the start was the file of approved plans and drawings linked to the official colored sheets of paper from the council and historic Scotland. As I trawled through the file it soon became clear the huge amount of work not only in compiling the pans but clearly in all my parents had achieved before I returned creating the basis of Eriska and then the work I tried to carry out along side them and finally the recent work Chay and I have overseen to get Eriska to where it is today.

The next section was the plans we have and those not quite completed such as the last phase of the staff accommodation which is nearing completion now and the planned sports hall which has been an ongoing project although now that we have planning and building control it is the time we have no funds to complete but at least we are ready! Then there is the ongoing saga of the Library extension which is to have a glass structure to the lawn offering dry coffee drinking in the winter and midge free cocktail consumption on summer evenings not to mention more viewing space for the badger nightcaps later in the evening!

Finally I came across the file simply labeled - plans- it was all the ideas my parents had had and never managed to complete - from the ballroom in the old courtyard, to removing the bar from the library and creating a secret passage from the hall from where drinks could be discreetly served, to the addition of another floor over Skye and Soay with a further 5 bedrooms. Whilst I always new there had been discussions along these lines I had never really been aware that they had taken the concepts from mind to paper and indeed had plans drawn up and submitted to the local authority.The biggest challenge with any development always seems to be the area you face at that current time whether it be raising funds or overseeing constructing or securing materials but probably the biggest challenge is initially envisaging the vision and then being able to translate that from idea to paper and then insurng the transposition is accurate and that it will work. Clearly my parents were not short of ideas nor the ability to move these forward - if only I had half of those skills heavens knows what Eriska would be like today!! 

Anyway the great thing is that when I next suggest something to my mother and she believes it is another step to far I can at least remind her of the potential steps to far her and my father took in the past and probably reenact the discussions they would of had that at least there was no harm in asking the planning department about proposals, then there is no harm in gaining permission and finally we have the permission now lets get on and do it! Indeed without their vision back in 1973 Eriska as we know it would never have got onto the planning board never mind out of the ground! 

Eriska high speed connection

After much deliberation and consternation we have decided to upgrade our internet connection, whilst the incoming signal cannot be improved without continual persistence and  reminders to the off island suppliers we have taken the first step in improving the access on the island. The idea is that if we make the speed of connection as fast as possible around Eriska then at least any bottleneck will be beyond our control. With all the talk of high speed connections and each political party vying for votes we can at least prepare for the possible changes.

It is however always difficult to try and prejudge any decisions or new systems as we are never sure if we willl be part of any national upgrade and when this does eventually come how the upgrade willl affect us. To this extent we can only try and put in the best infrastructure possible at todays date and then hope that it is sufficient to meet the demands of tomorrows evolution or at least compatible. To that extent we have spent this week laying fibre optic cables and ducts around the grounds linking te stables, the maintenance area , suites and hotel so we have a stable strong backbone to the skeleton. Then next week we willl have all te ends terminated in new bridges and the system willl go live. Well that willl be the plan if we have laid the correct cable in each direction and laid them without damage. Only time will tell!

Ever Evolving Wine Tasting

This weekend we organized our spring wine event and with the support and help of Andrew Barraclough of the New Zealand Wine company we managed to lay on a tasting with a difference. The initial idea had been to center the event on a dinner with a live web link to New Zealand and one of the wine makers. the concept seemed adventurous and exciting but when we got to the nuts and bolts of the evening and arranging the link we really got cold feet and then Andrew highlighted the pit falls and our feet became freezing so a different approach was called for which did not rely on Eriska Broadband connection speed or time zone negotiation!

So on saturday afternoon we assembled a collection of Sauvignon Blanc, from new Zealand as this is the major export in terms of wine from New Zealand and concentrated on wines easily available in the UK to our guests. the first fact to arise was the huge variety of prices available across the UK depending on source and various promotions and the we started to compare and contrast each style as we were led by Andrew through te various nuances. After some heated discussions and constructive debate everybody had a few moments to prepare for dinner and we reconvened in the hall for stage two which was a concentration on Grove Mill a winery represented by Andrew and famous  for being one of te first Carbon Neutral wineries in the world.

Not only did we have a chance to sample the complete range and enjoy the pairings Robert and his kitchen team had chosen but Andrew was able to guide and assist with the tasting highlighting strengths and styles in the wines. once again it was a fascinating evening and i am certain that all would have left eriska on Sunday knowing a little more and hopefully being a bit wiser next time they were confronted by a choice in the supermarket!

Sorry you've lost me!

This week was a London week for me with a few meetings in the big city but for once I managed to collate them all together and this cut down the traveling although it still left me away from eriska for a couple of nights which is never ideal. This was made especially difficult given the fact that the internet connection to the hotel was severed and not only did that make it difficult to communicate with the hotel, cut off access to data i needed for the meetings and give an added worry it also meant that the guests at the hotel had to manage without access too. Fortunately we were quiet at Eriska and those staying did not value the internet highly on their requirements indeed all seemed to have come on holiday to escape the worries of modern life- the Internet being one of them- a lesson maybe we could all learn from!

Anyway after trying to resolve the problem remotely then talking the team through changes finally we gave in and brought in help from outside.Immediately help arrived we were able to resolve the issue and whilst the most important factor was the reconnected link it also happened to be the only part we could comprehend as after a few minutes of explanation i found myself stopping our internet guru and using the time honored phrase- "Sorry you've lost me there" ironically this was not the first time that day I had heard the phrase and even more worryingly it was on the same topic as one of the meetings in London was discussing the agenda for the General Managers Conference next January and one of the attendees suggested an internet expert to help fathom out the problems we face.

However even the description of the topics seemed to make us glaze over as we were lost in a maze of shortened words, titles and in truth it could all have been a foreign language. It did not take us long to decide that tehb topic had relevance howvrer we were then left with silence as we thought of suggested speakers who could help us understand and in short no one could actually suggest a speaker that would be  able to break down the subject to a level we could all work with and feel comfortable. In earnest maybe the speed of the web and connection times and restraints on connection times are not really the barriers but more the biggest challenge is understanding and basic communication itself?

Wood Pellets good for the enviroment the pocket but not the heart!

A wise old man once told me that if something sounds too good to be true there is probably a hitch or a sting in the tail and our new wood pellet system was just that. In reality I knew it was all too good to be true but my pleasure and naivety got the better of me and now my heart and humility is taking a pounding. Last week I asked about consumption of the pellets and was reliably informed that we had used less than half of the order making the new system incredibly affordable and looking em like we could pay back the vast capital outlay in te first couple of years and not have to wait 5 or 6 for the full benefit.

In reality I was so shocked by this that I inquired from a second source and was told the same about consumption and balancing this against the fact that the new system took quite a long time to get up to speed and indeed for the first couple of weeks was off more than on I thought all seemed possible. However we came to a bit of a realization today when the dial on the machine registered no more pellets to be found. I then instigated an investigation only to find the machinery was more effective than man and indeed there were no more pellets. So I sent word to our other store which I had been informed was almost full and here we discovered how the error and misconception had been made. The pellets were staked up against the sight glass and indeed looked pretty full however behind the wall of pellets was the realization that that was simply all that was left and behind the bins were full.

So me heart sank and after an hour of redistributing pellets and brushing up scraps we got enough together to get us back running and we now have enough to see us through until the next delivery comes before the weekend. Indeed the good news is that the estimated consumption is exactly as predicted and we should come in on target with plans and budgets especially as the last 4 weeks have been especially cold and consumption is as high as we will ever require and also the price of Oil that we have replaced is probably only increasing making the wood pellets even more economical. However for the sake of my heart and new grey hair I think we will find another way to monitor consumption and rely on direct sight and not guess work for the next estimate.

Follow your leader helps correct maintenance issues!

Sometimes when I am called to a fault I think I am having deja vu and sometimes it is all new to me but hopefully I will learn the more I am required to fix plant and machiner- the best lesson would be that prevention is better than cure but I suspect this will take time to work through! Like a treasure hunter when I am asked to solve a maintenance problem and having removed lagging and covers , squeeze between hot pipes to reach the problem and then find not only minor temproarary repairs but also tools, I begin to surmise that these sort of issues have happened in the past.

On this occassion it was a spiral of steam eminating from a box on the wall of the hotel which drew my attention to a potential issue. Indeed as soon as I opened up the hatch the steam and warm air showed me that what I had hoped was a small problem indeed was an issue which could not be ignored. The good newss about finding the earlier solution was that it gave me some idea of how to solve the issue this time round however I hope that learning form earlier mistakes has shown me that a temprary solution is just that- temporary- and we will have to solve it correctly in the long term.

Anyway after a bit of cursing and getting soaked, and with gudidance and suggestions form Chay, the system is back and running and we have the temptrary solution under control, with another minor future problem headed off at the pass, as I noticed a week joint and while teh water was off I was able to replace it, in fact this was easier than the major issue to resolve but had it happened unmonitored it would certainly have caused more Chaos. So now one less thing to learn and one more permanent reapir to complete! 

Lifelong learning

Yesterday I was invited to Queen Margare  University with other collegues from the industry. It was an invitation which came out of the blue but as soon as we arrived the programme became clear. The university was keen to set up a dialogue with some of those they had worked with in the past and hoped to help mine this knowledge to grow and develop their courses for the future. This all seemed simple till we sat round the table and it soon became clear that whilst we all had the industry in the back of our minds we also all faced differing challenges and dilemas.

However over the course of the meeting it also became clear that with the help of the university and hard work ther was huge potential to help develop our young people and help encourage the correct kind of candidates into the industry. The biggest complaint did seem to be the gulf bewteen the ability and learning of the candidates and their expecations of the industry and the demands and expectations of the employers. It all seems so simple when you sit round a table to be able to round the square and insure that the universities offer what industry wants and industry feeds back int the system its needs and desires but i am sure these sort of engagements have happened many times before in the past and we still all seem to be back at the base.

However we all parted at the end of the evening agreeing to try harder and to strive to work together for the good of the industry and the country. This was I suspect the easy part of the task, now we must get into the fine details of how we can achieve this and really try to make a difference.

First Grass growth

No sooner does the ice recede and the ground soften up just a little than spring is most definitely upon u. the first sign was the snowdrops peeking through the ground but we are certainly well on our way out of winter now as I met gerry on his grass cutter setting off to the golf course.

It already seems like months ago that we were winterizing the machines and preparing them for a hibernation of a few months and here we are not only preparing to cut the grass but having seen the box full of grass cuttings and been able to smell the fist signs of spring are definitely here. No sooner will we have started than we will be back in our schedule of cutting grass on an almost hourly basis. Once we are up and running it is nearly a full time job to keep on top of the list with greens 3 or 4 times a week, fairways twice a week, semi rough weekly and tees and approaches more than once a week.

Howeer before we become to frenetic we will have to remind our new inhabitants of the third fairway that they need to move on. they have to date down a fine job fertilizing the fairways , although we have had to advise players to clean their balls and not to lick them! before there second shot to the green but the grass is already glowing with nutrients and I am certain it will pay off in the long term. It does however act as a double edged sword firstly keeping the fairways shorter without machinery for few weeks longer and secondly because there is more grass on the fairways the birds tend to avoid the greens and there shorter grass. maybe next year they will return with more friends and do some more fairways for us- I have already asked Gerry to prepare signs to move them out to the new holes that would certainly benefit from more fertilizers!

Weather wc 7th February

As I drove home from Edinburgh last week through the snow I realized how fortunate we had been over the winer period, despite some treacherous driving conditions and weather over the last 2 months we seem to have been able to avoid the worst of it and most importantly;y so have our guests. Weekends have tended to be brighter than during the week and over Christmas and New Year arrival days and departure days seemed to ease in terms of temperature. Sometimes the fact the weatherer is not as bad as expected can be seen as being as positive as when we get stunning weather and periods of long sunshine here at eriska.

Anyway all seems to be returning to normal now and the ground has certainly begun to not only thaw but retain some heat and even the snow drops seem to be peeking out from the grass. Lets hope that a traditional winter of weather can now be followed by a more old fashioned glorious summer!!- or failing that a pleasant spring! so whats ahead in the short term?

Today: Dry and becoming brighter during the day with the possibility of some sunshine, especially towards the West .

Monday: It will be dry with clear spells and an even Brighter day than Sunday although it may seem colder night with a widespread frost developing.

Tuesday:Another dry day with some bright or sunny spells, especially in the west. Cloudier skies inland will allow temperatures to rise slightly

wednesday: Dry and although rather cloudy with some hill fog, brighter spells developing. Over hills a keen chilling East wind.

 Thursday:It will be a dry but cold few days with plenty of crisp winter sunshine. There will also be sharp frosts at nights.

Friday: Rather cold  on Friday with a mixture of bright spells and scattered sleet and snow showers, mainly in the north and and on higher ground

Saturday: There is also a risk of further bands of rain, sleet and snow spreading in from the south, particularly later in the day but should start dry if cold.

Corridor facelift!

What started as a simple plan to freshen up a corridor with a lick of paint developed over time into a major task of refurbishing all the corridors and the front stairs. Needless to say so did the budget!! Initially we added another corridor to the tasks and decided to plaster over one of the granite walls that had been left exposed when the hose was converted- it had always looked a bit out of place and mad It seem like an add on rather than a corridor so tghis seemed wise- then having accepted that tis was the way to go and having engaged a plastered to carry out the work, it only seemed sensible to ask them to coat the front stairs at the same time as it was not economic sense to have them unload their materials set themselves up and do a small job then go through the reverse palaver of dismounting when they could do the front stairs at the same time.

Next was a serious look at the lighting and whilst I wanted to increase the lights and upgrade the lighting slightly these ideas soon changed as after consideration we discovered that the firelighting was on its last legs so these had to be replaced so after discussions we decided to replace all the lights and took the opportunity to change them all to new generation energy efficient fittings which not only save the environment but offer a clarity and and strength other bulbs cannot afford.

Then having committed to all this it seemed only sensible- I was reliably convinced- to do the carpet too and after this the handrail on the front stair followed on. Now it is all complete we can appreciate the cost and time effort althouggh the fact that it will not directly benefit any of the rooms does grind a little but i can console myself that it is now safer for all!! Anyway in short its another area of the hotel done and like the forth road bridge work on the fabrics will carry on for ever- it seems!!