Now that I wash, dry and iron copious amounts of Egyptian cotton bedlinen at least a couple of times a week, I do occasionally stand in front of daytime television with an iron in my hand. So the other day when all tennis was on television at anti-social times, this being the American hard-court swing, I watched Four in A Bed for the first time. I have been urged by my chums who find my new venture quite entertaining (well, they ask so I am assuming they are not just being polite) to sign up for this show which everyone else appears to have been watching for some time. Like Come Dine with Me which my beloved was asked to be in, I am absolutely not up for having folks poking about in my drawers, running their fingers along my skirtings and make comments about the state of my loo brush! So you will not be surprised to hear that I am not signing up for the new Airbnb programme although, let me assure you, my drawers are immaculate, my skirtings spotless and my loo brush in very excellent and hygienic condition!
On to an update of the life of a B and B host. Well, it's definitely different. We have lived on our own down this long, potholey lane, the far side of two cattle grids for 31 years. So far off the beaten track that we have only had one visit from the Jehovah's Witnesses who mistakenly thought that the lane would take them to Copgrove Hall and pots of loot! And now we share all this peace and quiet with other folks - and without exception, they have all been jolly nice!
Early lessons included not hanging out the washing in pyjamas (or less/worse) and not bellowing at the dog early in the morning - one of my children does a fine impression of me sounding like Margot Leadbetter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-5Lp8v2t5A hollering at the dog which is probably not conducive to having a lie in on your holiday!
Then, of course, there's the question of 'how chummy should you be?' Generally, I try to hold myself in check - not gushing, just very welcoming. These folks are here for a holiday and not to see us. However, both my beloved and the dog are enthusiastic meeters and greeters and we've had several offers to take the dog home after a stay. This became a very attractive option when she came into season a couple of weeks ago and turned into an absolute tart over night. The object of her lust is small, black and belongs to lovely Lisa and Wayne at the Post Office. Cue multiple phone calls from strangers who read my number on her dog tag and managed to trap her somewhere between us and the centre of the village. Happily, this has now passed and she is back to normal rather than waving her nether regions at every dog she meets and tormenting poor Milton who was with us for a weekend with her dance of the seven veils!
Interestingly, there is no standard Crow House Barn guest. We've had folks from far flung places - Brazil, Canada, Poland and Hong Kong. We've had folks here for romantic weekends, work, Yorkshire Show, horse racing, walking and, latterly, foraging. Strangely, no cyclists yet though when the World Road Championships hits our neck of the woods in September that may all change. Our youngest guest (who loved the rubber ducks in the bathroom!) was 2 and half and our oldest guests were in their seventies. My beloved has done some fabulous cooked breakfasts and we've directed plenty of folks to our local pub, The Royal Oak in Burton Leonard. Others have gone more upmarket with The Ivy in Harrogate but we've also provided Cook meals to microwave and there has been many a barbecue.
So it has changed our lives, and we think for the good. We learnt some surprising stuff about folks but overall, the best thing of all is how generally delightful people are. Of course, it hasn't all been plain sailing...
When we first set ourselves up online, we did as the hosting site suggested and offered 'flexible' cancellation. One of our first bookings was for a week in August - yay! a whole week! The guest in question rang just outside the 'if you cancel you have to pay part of the reservation' window and did just that. Cancelled. Apologetic but nevertheless a significant and substantial booking lost with no come back.
Of course, we were only on this 'flexible' cancellation policy for a couple of weeks before my guru in the Lake District put me right and now we are better protected, but the damage was done. However, we managed to rebook four of the seven nights and in the interim, i.e. now, we have installed a log burning stove. This involved dealing with five years of jackdaw nests in the chimney but our excellent installers did a great job and they were filthy when they'd finished but the Barn was not! So we will now be open through the winter with a gorgeous fire to snuggle round after a lovely long walk across the countryside - or back from the pub!
So we will be open right through the year and we hope that some of our lovely guests come back and see us again. Fountains Abbey, just four miles away, is stunning in autumn and winter.
Darcy keeping her beady eye on the Intrepid Granny!
The new log burner in all its glory!
Our beautiful climbing rose, Madame Alfred Carriere, blooming for the second time this summer
Neighbours!
Every bathroom should have one ... or five!
