And Why Did We Agree To This?

Ah here it comes - that familiar feeling of falling asleep whilst still working....

Yes friends, it's midnight nearly and I've been working since about 8 this morning, so I'm back in the territory of working a solid 16 hour day (most days) as we work to get our new pub open and ready for business as well as ensure our current pub is working to its optimum level (whoops Local Governement speak making an appearance).

What does it mean in plain English? How about I'm knackered!! I had forgotten in the last 18 months what hell it is getting a new business up and ready to open. A bit like having a baby - you forget the bad bits - the pain and the tears - you only remember the joy of the final event!

In this really busy period leading up to us opening at the end of the month the phone hasn't stopped ringing and 9 times out of 10 it's for me, and if I'm not taking calls then I'm making them. One of my main priorities this week has been engaging a website designer / builder, now that has been an interesting experience. I've talked systems management and content, design briefs, hosting and domains...... by the third call I was making conversation about this subject rather than merely grunting and coughing at what I thought was appropriate points in the conversation!

We're going to go the full nine miles and have new websites for both pubs, and we're going to link in with FaceBook and Twitter - how techie is that!!

Staff training evenings have been held for our new team - now, they were good fun! I've done a lot of delivering training courses in my life and it is something I really, really enjoy - so that was no chore at all. My husband did the responsible drinking bit, legislation and the perfect serve. Menu's have been decided and priced, and the appointed Cook is eager and raring to go.I have a shopping list a mile long which ranges from beds and bedding / laundry contractors to cushions, pictures and candles.

The pub itself - the White Hart Hotel is another great example of a building site at the moment, but our target opening is the 30th April at 7.00p.m! How much do you want to bet that we'll still be getting last minute things done 5 minutes before we open the doors???