This weeks blog has been prompted by Chris who is suffering from cold at the moment, I don’t seem to have caught it yet, however if I do it will certainly be worse and develop into “man flu!” She had to work yesterday as we needed a second coach for overloads – business is still ok at weekends! She bravely battled through and nearly lost her voice but she is a bit better this morning – just as well as she is going to Cork (I let her have an easier day).
Fortunately over the last few years we have both had good health with all of our ailments coming in the winter when we can usually suffer in peace but it can really be an effort trying to put a brave face on the day when you feel terrible, however I have noticed that Chris seems to get the sympathy vote from people whereas I just have to get on with it! This really isn’t fair because as everyone knows we suffer far more than women!
If we really could not work we do have friends who could probably help us out but thankfully we haven’t had to try yet! So all in all being sick is not really option however death might be an excuse in exceptional circumstances!
I’am hoping to have our new package tours online this week and we have some cracking tours planned with Murder Mystery in Antrim, The Magic of Wales, Dublin Christmas shopping and Birmingham bike show to tempt you, pleas have a look and we would love to see you on one!
Music – Coldplay – Viva la Diva – Totally predictable I know but as much as something tells me I shouldn’t like them I cannot get away from the shear brilliance and remarkable Musicality of Coldplay – is it me or does “Violet Hill” sound like Gilmour Pink Floyd? I must say Viva la Vida is another work of brilliance. The new Fratellis is a definite grower and the pick for me now is “A heady tale” – another real tub – thumper!
Book – The Masterchefs – drawing to a close now and I sill don’t know how it will end – absolutely superb! It has given me a real thirst for more Welsh and just bought “Filth” – a tale of sleaze and corruption in the police – just my kind of read!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Richard's Blog – 05.07.08 – Where is your guestbook?
You might have noticed our guestbook on the site (www.4tours.biz), we really are delighted with the kind comments that have been put on there and whilst we edit the guestbook to take out the huge amount of spam that we get in particular a kind gent called Fabiola who send us about 5 posts a day to delete! I can honestly say that in the 2 years that we have had the site we have never deleted any valid post – we honestly never only pick the best ones and you can test if they are genuine by e.mailing the people who post.
You might notice none of our competitors has the confidence in their product to have such a facility – instead they rely on testimonials which really anyone can write! We hope that people do read our guestbook and hopefully it generates some business for us.
Talking of our competition, one of our competitors had their 10th Anniversary and since they use the same lunch stop as us we kind of gate crashed the party. I would just like to offer our congratulations to them but did get to thinking about the contrast between our 10th Anniversary tour (pics here) and theirs in that they had invited the great and good of Dublin and tourism agencies etc on a specially chartered coach whilst on our anniversary day all we did was offer our customers a great tour at the best price – what we try to do everyday! I’am not saying either approach is right or wrong just a reflection of different philosophies! Maybe we miss some publicity opportunities but to use on of these new buzz phrases I suppose our success is “organic” and I think we are quite happy with it that way as we don’t owe it to anyone other than you – our friends and customers (often they are both!)
Talking of publicity we had a meeting with a true gentleman yesterday (on our day off!) who will be helping us raise our profile locally particularly with the launch of our Autumn 2008 Nicetours programme so look out for us on our new reality tv show (I wish!)
I’am hoping for a day off on Monday and after I have delivered some day tour brochures (hopefully by motorbike if the weather is decent) I intend to put our new tours for October, November and December on the website so you can book us out as quickly as possible and we can then arrange some more (dreaming again!)
Music – The Fratellis – Here it Stands – growing on me but too early to pass judgment, very different though I also got that track by Whitewater and it is steadily growing on me whilst I also heard a long forgotten favourite on the radio the other day and had to download it – Tom Robinson and War Baby – what a fantastic set of lyrics and free from Toms’ website but do leave a donation as I think he is a true gent and talent!
Book – The Masterchefs – nearly finished now and I can really highly recommend it (if you are not easily offended!) Just bought my next read – tell you next week!
You might notice none of our competitors has the confidence in their product to have such a facility – instead they rely on testimonials which really anyone can write! We hope that people do read our guestbook and hopefully it generates some business for us.
Talking of our competition, one of our competitors had their 10th Anniversary and since they use the same lunch stop as us we kind of gate crashed the party. I would just like to offer our congratulations to them but did get to thinking about the contrast between our 10th Anniversary tour (pics here) and theirs in that they had invited the great and good of Dublin and tourism agencies etc on a specially chartered coach whilst on our anniversary day all we did was offer our customers a great tour at the best price – what we try to do everyday! I’am not saying either approach is right or wrong just a reflection of different philosophies! Maybe we miss some publicity opportunities but to use on of these new buzz phrases I suppose our success is “organic” and I think we are quite happy with it that way as we don’t owe it to anyone other than you – our friends and customers (often they are both!)
Talking of publicity we had a meeting with a true gentleman yesterday (on our day off!) who will be helping us raise our profile locally particularly with the launch of our Autumn 2008 Nicetours programme so look out for us on our new reality tv show (I wish!)
I’am hoping for a day off on Monday and after I have delivered some day tour brochures (hopefully by motorbike if the weather is decent) I intend to put our new tours for October, November and December on the website so you can book us out as quickly as possible and we can then arrange some more (dreaming again!)
Music – The Fratellis – Here it Stands – growing on me but too early to pass judgment, very different though I also got that track by Whitewater and it is steadily growing on me whilst I also heard a long forgotten favourite on the radio the other day and had to download it – Tom Robinson and War Baby – what a fantastic set of lyrics and free from Toms’ website but do leave a donation as I think he is a true gent and talent!
Book – The Masterchefs – nearly finished now and I can really highly recommend it (if you are not easily offended!) Just bought my next read – tell you next week!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Richard's Blog – 28.06.08 – Do you really think I look slim?
I hinted last week that I’am on a diet so I might as well make it official, back in February after our hols I looked in the mirror and decided I was turning into a real coach tour driver (developing a large belly!) and also with the trauma of turning 21 again I decided it was time to do something, Chris also wanted to join me (although her problem isn’t quite as severe as mine!) So we now becoming leaner as well as greener !
This job really is the worst for dieting as we are either driving or eating all the time! We also get no exercise so it really is not good, so here is a breakdown of how a typical Cliffs tour used to go followed by the improved version!
Breakfast – Tea and Cereal (ok really)
Mid morning at Caherconnoll – Tea and a beautiful scone with 2 butters and jam
Lunch in Doolin – Irish Stew or Fish and Chips.
Afternoon at Cliffs – Tea and snack followed by a snooze on the back seat!
Dinner – whatever is going but often a takeaway or a ready meal with a beer or glass of wine (large)
So here is the improved version :
Breakfast – Tea and oatabix with some fresh fruit
Mid morning at Caherconnoll – Tea and a neutrigrain bar (not too bad really!)
Lunch in Doolin – Open ham or chicken brown bread sandwich (or if I’am weak kids portion of Bacon and Cabbage!)
Afternoon at Cliffs – Piece of fruit with water follwed by a good half hours walk around the Cliffs (weather permitting!)
Dinner – We are trying to eat less processed food and so it might be a curry or stir fry type of thing with a very small glass of wine (we get 6 glasses out of a bottle!).
The change really has made a difference and I’am delighted to have lost a sone and a half already and I honestly do feel drastically better, I really enjoy the walking and it gives me a great chance to listen to more music on my ipod.
Talking on ipods I’am the proud owner of a first generation nano which I absolutely love, I have looked at the new ones with video etc and I can honestly say I have no desire to change I love the great design and simplicity of the old one and hell, even I can work it!
Music – The Fratellis – Here it Stands – My downloading activity has been curtailed by our pc choosing to have a heart attack this week but I’am still absolutely mad on that Muse album, I cannot get Invincible out of my head – didn’t get to a gig Thursday night but could well do this week.
Book – No change but really enjoying The Masterchefs – highly recommended (if you are not easily offended!)
This job really is the worst for dieting as we are either driving or eating all the time! We also get no exercise so it really is not good, so here is a breakdown of how a typical Cliffs tour used to go followed by the improved version!
Breakfast – Tea and Cereal (ok really)
Mid morning at Caherconnoll – Tea and a beautiful scone with 2 butters and jam
Lunch in Doolin – Irish Stew or Fish and Chips.
Afternoon at Cliffs – Tea and snack followed by a snooze on the back seat!
Dinner – whatever is going but often a takeaway or a ready meal with a beer or glass of wine (large)
So here is the improved version :
Breakfast – Tea and oatabix with some fresh fruit
Mid morning at Caherconnoll – Tea and a neutrigrain bar (not too bad really!)
Lunch in Doolin – Open ham or chicken brown bread sandwich (or if I’am weak kids portion of Bacon and Cabbage!)
Afternoon at Cliffs – Piece of fruit with water follwed by a good half hours walk around the Cliffs (weather permitting!)
Dinner – We are trying to eat less processed food and so it might be a curry or stir fry type of thing with a very small glass of wine (we get 6 glasses out of a bottle!).
The change really has made a difference and I’am delighted to have lost a sone and a half already and I honestly do feel drastically better, I really enjoy the walking and it gives me a great chance to listen to more music on my ipod.
Talking on ipods I’am the proud owner of a first generation nano which I absolutely love, I have looked at the new ones with video etc and I can honestly say I have no desire to change I love the great design and simplicity of the old one and hell, even I can work it!
Music – The Fratellis – Here it Stands – My downloading activity has been curtailed by our pc choosing to have a heart attack this week but I’am still absolutely mad on that Muse album, I cannot get Invincible out of my head – didn’t get to a gig Thursday night but could well do this week.
Book – No change but really enjoying The Masterchefs – highly recommended (if you are not easily offended!)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Richard’s Blog – 21.06.08 - Can you combine business and pleasure ? (I hope so!)
Things are frantic at the world headquarters of Barratt Tours at the moment, as well as dealing with the day to day chores of running our tours and vehicles, Chris is particularly busy putting together some exciting Nicetour packages which include the murder mystery break that I already hinted at, a house party in Tramore and The Dublin Christmas Market. I have not been idle in this respect (contrary to popular belief!) and I got to thinking about whether I could combine my newly revisited passion for motorcycling and coach tours.
Of course I can! We are going to try to offer a tour to Birmingham in England in November – but why? So we can all visit the Motorcycle and Scooter show at the National Exhibition Centre. It is very early days but I posted a thread on biker.ie and believe it or not we are getting a few enquiries already. There will be plenty of driving in that weekend but it would be a great change to have a load of biker buddies to look after instead of tourists – should be interesting!
So what other hobby can I combine with business? Another thought is my love of all things vintage (hi, Chris!) no really, I intend to get our finest coach – Bertie aka Celtic Spirit finished this winter and might just offer a weeks tour in classic comfort for enthusiasts and incurable romantics like me!
As ever I would love to hear your thoughts on this and it helps to reassure me that someone actually reads this! Please get in touch if only to say “hi” or better still, “have you lost weight” (we are both on diet at the moment!). A good friend of mine who was once in the coach trading business used to always say to people “have you lost weight?” before offering the deal of a lifetime on a one owner, low mileage bargain, and do you know, it worked!
Music – The Fratellis – Here it Stands – Only just downloaded the new album and will reserve judgment for the moment but I don’t think it is going to beat their debut album – Costelloe Music, but who could expect that? as I don’t ever recall hearing a better first album other than possibly The Arctic Monkeys. Whilst on music we enjoyed a terrific gig by Whitewater at Smyths bar in Limeick on Thursday night they have a single out for download so I may check it out by next week.
Book – No change but really enjoying The Masterchefs – highly recommended (if you are not easily offended!)
Of course I can! We are going to try to offer a tour to Birmingham in England in November – but why? So we can all visit the Motorcycle and Scooter show at the National Exhibition Centre. It is very early days but I posted a thread on biker.ie and believe it or not we are getting a few enquiries already. There will be plenty of driving in that weekend but it would be a great change to have a load of biker buddies to look after instead of tourists – should be interesting!
So what other hobby can I combine with business? Another thought is my love of all things vintage (hi, Chris!) no really, I intend to get our finest coach – Bertie aka Celtic Spirit finished this winter and might just offer a weeks tour in classic comfort for enthusiasts and incurable romantics like me!
As ever I would love to hear your thoughts on this and it helps to reassure me that someone actually reads this! Please get in touch if only to say “hi” or better still, “have you lost weight” (we are both on diet at the moment!). A good friend of mine who was once in the coach trading business used to always say to people “have you lost weight?” before offering the deal of a lifetime on a one owner, low mileage bargain, and do you know, it worked!
Music – The Fratellis – Here it Stands – Only just downloaded the new album and will reserve judgment for the moment but I don’t think it is going to beat their debut album – Costelloe Music, but who could expect that? as I don’t ever recall hearing a better first album other than possibly The Arctic Monkeys. Whilst on music we enjoyed a terrific gig by Whitewater at Smyths bar in Limeick on Thursday night they have a single out for download so I may check it out by next week.
Book – No change but really enjoying The Masterchefs – highly recommended (if you are not easily offended!)
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