December 2011
CHRISTMAS - PROBABLY THE BEST, EVER!

As it's now January, we can look back on probably the best Christmas ever! Guests came and went without a trace of snow hindering their travel or enjoyment and with one of the mildest festive seasons for a few years it appears that everyone has arrived, enjoyed and left 'Composers' really happy and all ready to kick off 2012 in style. Our decorated properties and the festive lighting around the grounds proved a winner with everyone and from the guest book comments it appears that our ' goodies for the festive season' also appealed. Judging by our well filled bottle bank, it seems our guests enjoyed the 'odd' tipple adding a new dimension to the words 'festive spirit'!

The beauty of living here in Berwick is that Auld Lang Syne - Old Years Night (or to us mere English - New Years Eve) can be enjoyed at the fabulous annual celebrations in Edinburgh, a mere 50 minutes away - and we did!! Phenomenal firework show, great crowds and a stunning 'happy' atmosphere makes being in the Capital, on that night, very special. Why not try it for yourself??

As we leave 2011 for a new year, we say a big 'thank you' to all those who have stayed with us in the past year - we have just received word that 'Composers at Woodlands' has, once again, achieved 5 star status with 4 Gold Awards for exceptional service and accommodation. We enter 2012 with great anticipation and look forward to greeting more guests in the coming year - some returning and some already booked who are visiting us for the first time. Who knows - this time next year, we may even be suggesting that 2012 was "probably" the best Christmas - we shall see!! All the best to you, dear reader for 2012.

November 2011
CLEARING UP, LISTS-----AND STILL CUTTING GRASS!

At this time of year, you would expect to be battening down the hatches, making long lists and wondering what the weather was going to throw at you. This time last year we were knee deep (sorry - it was nearer the waist!) in snow and unable to get out except with a trusty 4x4. One year on and we have been enjoying (that surely isn't the word?) cutting the grass, having to re-vitalise the sit on mower already consigned to its winter quarters so we could continue mowing up to the end of the month. Having done all that, we then took off for a few days holiday in Southern Ireland enjoying days of warm sunshine exploring the far west coast - how weird are the seasons?

But, as we approach 'winter', there is the inevitable closing down of parts of the 'Composers' grounds, plus clearing up and stacking away all the play equipment, the trampoline and the summer furniture from the paddock followed by making endless lists to ensure that our 'end of season' clearing and maintenance is fully completed. The leaf blower has done overtime clearing driveways, patios and walkways whilst gardeners has been beavering away pruning, trimming, lopping and cutting back. The next list is the best of all - the Christmas list!! 'Composers' is gearing up for December guests with our usual array of Christmas lights around the grounds, the woodland and copse and around the properties. OK so we know how dear electric is but with LED technology and a careful 'timer' on the systems all our guests enjoy a festive atmosphere throughout their stay without it costing us (and the planet) a fortune!

The next list is the goodies needed for the menu at our final 'Come Dine With Us' weekend event. We have checked it (yes, twice!) and are confidently awaiting the Come Dine Guests to our table for the Festive Banquet and entertainment. Last, but not least, we have the present list - our growing family gives us the perfect excuse to exercise grandparent prerogatives and spoil the newest member of the family. So that's it. Clearing up done, lists ticked, grass cut for the last time - Ho Ho Ho - it'll soon be Christmas. A very happy one to you, dear reader!

October 2011
BUSIER THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR!

Anyone who knows us - past guests in particular, will know that 12 months ago we were shut down after the disastrous flood which erupted under our properties. This time last year we were frantically trying to accommodate guests elsewhere, cancel reservations, re-book and juggle people and dates through the chaos of the re-fit. Thankfully, this year we have just been full throughout the month with some wonderful visitors. October has been so clement and the guests books are full of comments applauding the beauty of Northumberland, with some people actually getting on to the beaches to paddle. OK so they are brave - but the sunshine did help the numbing effect of the North Sea!! Highlight of the month have got to be seeing so many children and young people at 'Composers'. There is no doubt that youngsters make us all feel that we are not QUITE our age!! Half term seems to have stretched longer this year with our Scottish and English families taking up 2 different weeks.

Even the grass cutting has had to continue and the 'sit-on' mower has been in action far more than we anticipated. The autumnal weather has brought the usual masses of pine cones and leaves, but (as they say) its not over 'till the fat lady sings' and it looks like her dying aria is not due for a week or two yet with the need to cut again in November (YES!) on the cards. Hopefully with that final cut we can concentrate on getting ready for our December guests, the special Come Dine With Us weekend and our Christmas and New Year holiday makers. So here we go, another month gone and so much to look forward to - and then we'll be looking into 2012 and another year of guests, old and new, keeping us all feeling young at heart!

September2011
WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

With all good intentions our monthly blog was due for writing within a couple of days of the month end, and we failed to meet the deadline! Time, it seems, has just rushed by and the best of intentions went with it. We assumed that once the main holiday season was past with the last Bank Holiday, life would slow down. How wrong we were! Bookings in September began at a frantic pace as past and new guests decided to take advantage of special tariffs, good weather and (maybe) a sense of resignation that no matter what the financial woes of the UK and Europe, it was a safer bet to stay in the UK! So guests simply kept booking and we simply kept saying 'YES'.

The month has been busier than we anticipated and even some of our 'good intentions' for maintenance have drifted off timetable. The good weather has meant grass cutting and mulching has gone on longer than usual and even the dropping pine needles seemed unwilling to leave the trees. The month started with the Berwick Food and Drink Fair, an annual event which is gaining popularity and guests using the time to enjoy not only the Fair but also other tourism attractions around the area.

The middle and end of the month saw owners, Dee and Martin, off site with musical events in the Midlands. Service Manager, Carrie, supervised guest arrivals and departures alongside the mountain of washing and ironing which she famously disposes of week by week. Towards the end of the month, days scheduled for maintenance disappeared as we indulged in some glorious sunny days where work was the last thing on our mind. The Play Paddock will be the centre of attention in October, no doubt, as the 'house full' sign goes up for the 2 weeks of the half term. Schools have one week generally, but with our close proximity to the Scottish Border (schools in Scotland are a week ahead of English holidays!) we look forward to 2 weeks of meeting and greeting guests from both sides of the Border, some regulars and a number who are making their way to 'Composers' for the first time. And guess what? By the time they all leave we will be into November!!! Where does the time go???