Things have been rather hectic over the last few weeks as you might have gathered, so quite a bit of news to tell you about.
Business first unfortunately the season wound down a lot earlier than usual this year and so we were forced to stop our full programme a couple of weeks ago in mid October but immediately before that we decided to take a Thursday off and head over to Birmingham for coach and bus live at the NEC – our trade show, we had a great time with one night in Birmingham with a superb meal at one of our favourite Indian restaurants followed by a great night of live music at The Jam House where we saw a great band who I think I have mentioned before – The Subterraneans who were brilliant it was a great night and such a change from the Limerick music scene!
We also have made our end of season visit to Englandto visit our parents, I also made one of my famous rash purchases, we have been thinking of changing our car for no great reason other than we felt after 5 years of running our faithful and incredibly reliable Vauxhall we fancied a change. We have been thinking of putting a car on the road for custom tours and so I decided to take the plunge and buy a magnificent Mercedes E class in England. We returned home to run our weekend tours but then had to go over to UK again to collect our prize from Sheffield.
Last week we flew into Liverpool and caught the bus and train over to Sheffield where we collected the car and headed the short distance to my lovely sister Linda’s place in Chesterfield where we stayed the night before heading over to Liverpool for the night (more Indian food mmmm!) before taking the ferry to Dublin and heading home last Wednesday.
We are now home and whilst we are delighted with our purchase we are facing up to the sad job of selling our faithful car which by the way is a beautiful Vauxhall omega 2.5DT (BMW engine), it is the full spec Elite model and is absolutely gorgeous so if you fancy travelling in style give us a shout – you might be amazed how cheap a car like that is but be quick or we might decide to keep it!
We are still offering weekend tours and hope to be until the end of this month so our last 2009 tour will be on 29th November so don’t miss out – book now!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Richards Blog 22.09.09 – More guests!
I have missed a week of blogging as we have had more guests, my lovely parents arrived the week before last on Thursday and stayed until last Wednesday, I was great to see them but as usual the time absolutely flew by, they took a few tours with me and it was lovely to have some company out on the road, we were actually busy on the Saturday and needed 2 coaches so it was a bit like a family outing! Their visit always puts us in mind of the winter and some time off – it won’t be too long now!
I had a trip to Dublin with my folks last Wednesday and managed to choose one of the most chaotic days in the capital for a long time as there was unfortunately a collision between a LUAS tram and a Dublin Bus right in O’Connoll Street but at least I was on foot and never had to cope with the traffic. I headed back to Limerick on the last train and because the LUAS wasn’t running me and my dad had a great walk right up the Liffy to Heuston Station – great exercise!
The train journey was all we have now come to expect from Irish Rail, it was one of the new mark 4 trains, it was immaculately clean, smooth, punctual and the on board team were as charming as they were efficient, this got me thinking about our relative lack of success in promoting our Cliffs of Moher Tour from Dublin which included return rail travel with a reserved seat for a very reasonable package price. Competition is fierce in Dublin and 2 other companies appear to be capturing a lot of business by doing the tour by coach throughout which would seem a good idea until you realise that Dublin to Limerick is well over 3 hours by coach each way and put that on top of the 2 hours each way to The Cliffs and it starts to look like a bit of a marathon without thinking about having a look at the Burren! Still people are taking these tours but we intend to promote our products advantages more next year particularly focusing on the comfort and speed of the rail connection so watch this space as ever – we are on a mission!
Music wise I have been listening to Ian Browns’ new single – Stellify and I absolutely love it, it really does have a Stone Roses feel to it and indeed it inspired me to buy F.E.A.R one of his older solo albums and it is steadily growing on me, might have to check out some more and I cant wait for the forthcoming album!
This week is also the last of our Galway tours for 2009 and as regular readers will know this is a particular favourite of mine but the upside is one of us will be getting an extra day off work for a while. We will keep operating our remaining tours until mid October then we are going to have to see how numbers are holding up as to whether we continue our full programme or go over to weekend tours so, as ever – watch this space!
I had a trip to Dublin with my folks last Wednesday and managed to choose one of the most chaotic days in the capital for a long time as there was unfortunately a collision between a LUAS tram and a Dublin Bus right in O’Connoll Street but at least I was on foot and never had to cope with the traffic. I headed back to Limerick on the last train and because the LUAS wasn’t running me and my dad had a great walk right up the Liffy to Heuston Station – great exercise!
The train journey was all we have now come to expect from Irish Rail, it was one of the new mark 4 trains, it was immaculately clean, smooth, punctual and the on board team were as charming as they were efficient, this got me thinking about our relative lack of success in promoting our Cliffs of Moher Tour from Dublin which included return rail travel with a reserved seat for a very reasonable package price. Competition is fierce in Dublin and 2 other companies appear to be capturing a lot of business by doing the tour by coach throughout which would seem a good idea until you realise that Dublin to Limerick is well over 3 hours by coach each way and put that on top of the 2 hours each way to The Cliffs and it starts to look like a bit of a marathon without thinking about having a look at the Burren! Still people are taking these tours but we intend to promote our products advantages more next year particularly focusing on the comfort and speed of the rail connection so watch this space as ever – we are on a mission!
Music wise I have been listening to Ian Browns’ new single – Stellify and I absolutely love it, it really does have a Stone Roses feel to it and indeed it inspired me to buy F.E.A.R one of his older solo albums and it is steadily growing on me, might have to check out some more and I cant wait for the forthcoming album!
This week is also the last of our Galway tours for 2009 and as regular readers will know this is a particular favourite of mine but the upside is one of us will be getting an extra day off work for a while. We will keep operating our remaining tours until mid October then we are going to have to see how numbers are holding up as to whether we continue our full programme or go over to weekend tours so, as ever – watch this space!
Richards Blog 05.09.09 – Mixed feelings
Another week has flown by and although numbers have been a bit patchy, we have made it through to Saturday and we are busy today, the weather is still miserable but at least we are having some dry spells today between the mist and showers!
I actually got 3 days off his week and have been busy with repairs etc as well as trying to sort the garage out as it is in total disarray after the trials of the last few weeks. We also received some very sad news about the death of the son of one of our local coach operators Joe Lawlor and I hope it goes without saying that our thoughts are with with Joe and his family at this difficult time.
I received an interesting e.mail a few weeks ago and thought I would share it with you, a potential customer questioned our guest book on the website saying basically that we should have negative feedback published as well as the good. The response I gave was that we have only had one negative report and that was about one of Chris’ tours and I honestly never published it as I felt it was a little too personal and needlessly negative, it goes without saying that we cannot please all of the people all of the time but that is honestly the only negative that we have received since our new site went live 3 years ago. If this sounds like my head is swelling in the belief that our tours are perfect, nothing could be further from the truth but I do believe that our hands on approach to business means that any potential complaints are dealt with promptly by the company owners and whilst I’am sure some of our customers are not thrilled with our service they at least do not hate us enough to publish some of the vitriolic comments I read about our competitors!
Things are a bit hectic at home at the moment and we are still trying to sort everything out, we are under more pressure currently as we have guests coming on Thursday, my parents are coming over for a few days and will be great to see them particularly as their arrival tends to start the wind down of the season so happy days! We are continuing to operate our full programme until the end of this month and a more limited programme for October, one tour that will certainly be finishing soon is our Galway City and Lough Corrib tour as the Corrib Princess will finish its public tour programme at the end of the month so if you want to sample one of my favourite tours book now – there are only 3 tours left!
I actually got 3 days off his week and have been busy with repairs etc as well as trying to sort the garage out as it is in total disarray after the trials of the last few weeks. We also received some very sad news about the death of the son of one of our local coach operators Joe Lawlor and I hope it goes without saying that our thoughts are with with Joe and his family at this difficult time.
I received an interesting e.mail a few weeks ago and thought I would share it with you, a potential customer questioned our guest book on the website saying basically that we should have negative feedback published as well as the good. The response I gave was that we have only had one negative report and that was about one of Chris’ tours and I honestly never published it as I felt it was a little too personal and needlessly negative, it goes without saying that we cannot please all of the people all of the time but that is honestly the only negative that we have received since our new site went live 3 years ago. If this sounds like my head is swelling in the belief that our tours are perfect, nothing could be further from the truth but I do believe that our hands on approach to business means that any potential complaints are dealt with promptly by the company owners and whilst I’am sure some of our customers are not thrilled with our service they at least do not hate us enough to publish some of the vitriolic comments I read about our competitors!
Things are a bit hectic at home at the moment and we are still trying to sort everything out, we are under more pressure currently as we have guests coming on Thursday, my parents are coming over for a few days and will be great to see them particularly as their arrival tends to start the wind down of the season so happy days! We are continuing to operate our full programme until the end of this month and a more limited programme for October, one tour that will certainly be finishing soon is our Galway City and Lough Corrib tour as the Corrib Princess will finish its public tour programme at the end of the month so if you want to sample one of my favourite tours book now – there are only 3 tours left!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Richards Blog 29.08.09 – Another good week and some edgy rock!
This week seems to have flown by and its hard to believe we are at the end of August and at the time of year when the season starts to wind down, we have had a fairly good week and ran all our tours, I have even had 2 days off, as I think I mentioned Monday was spent servicing Celtic Princess and then most of Wednesday was taken up cleaning out the guttering around the house – not an exciting job but strangely enough one I quite enjoyed, it made a pleasant change from driving! We are working hard to tidy the place up particularly after the break in and also because we are having more guests soon – my parents are heading over the week after next and that will give us just the lift we need also it starts to make us think of the end of the season and a well earned break!
We have a few nice things to look forward to this winter and one of the nicest will be my parents’ Golden Wedding anniversary which we will celebrate in grand style – I hope! We have not finalized our holiday plans yet but suffice to say we are hoping to be heading toThailand again – now that really does cheer me up! The Weather here is continuing to depress with rain at sometime nearly every day but we are well used to that after the last 2 seasons. One thing that does irritate with all this wet weather is that the coaches are having to be cleaned every day, I have to be honest and say that I’am now heartily sick of bus washing, indeed it has now gone to the point where I often wait until the morning before the tour and if it is raining again I only clean windows and mirrors as by the time any customers see the bus it will likely be as bad as ever after the drive from home to Limerick!
We had a good night out on Thursday and saw a great band in Smyths that we last saw about a year ago – Whitewater, I think that they have really come on and whilst I was impressed with them last time, this time they blew me away – they seem to have developed their style to focus on more edgy music from the normal pub fayre , one track that grabbed my attention (and probably bored Chris!) was The Doors track L.A Women in its’ entirety and they really did it justice, I don’t know what the rest of the pub thought to it but fair play to the lads for playing it as the great Morrison intended! Check out Whitewater if you ever get chance also the drummer played a solo which had to be heard to be believed – all in all a cut above what we often hear and backed up with a superb PA system which isn’t always the case with pub bands!
We have a few nice things to look forward to this winter and one of the nicest will be my parents’ Golden Wedding anniversary which we will celebrate in grand style – I hope! We have not finalized our holiday plans yet but suffice to say we are hoping to be heading toThailand again – now that really does cheer me up! The Weather here is continuing to depress with rain at sometime nearly every day but we are well used to that after the last 2 seasons. One thing that does irritate with all this wet weather is that the coaches are having to be cleaned every day, I have to be honest and say that I’am now heartily sick of bus washing, indeed it has now gone to the point where I often wait until the morning before the tour and if it is raining again I only clean windows and mirrors as by the time any customers see the bus it will likely be as bad as ever after the drive from home to Limerick!
We had a good night out on Thursday and saw a great band in Smyths that we last saw about a year ago – Whitewater, I think that they have really come on and whilst I was impressed with them last time, this time they blew me away – they seem to have developed their style to focus on more edgy music from the normal pub fayre , one track that grabbed my attention (and probably bored Chris!) was The Doors track L.A Women in its’ entirety and they really did it justice, I don’t know what the rest of the pub thought to it but fair play to the lads for playing it as the great Morrison intended! Check out Whitewater if you ever get chance also the drummer played a solo which had to be heard to be believed – all in all a cut above what we often hear and backed up with a superb PA system which isn’t always the case with pub bands!
Richards Blog 25.08.09 – “I’am tired I said, you always look tired she said”
This week a good excuse for using a lyric from one of my favourite Elbow songs – Fugitive Motel. Things are always tough at this time of year but I suppose I just feel particularly burned out at the moment, business is good and that’s why I’am tired, whenever loadings go up I end up using my coach for tours, Chris will drive it if she is forced but I think it is a bit big and shiny for her still! We work things so we each get at least one day off per week in addition to Fridays but that goes out the window if we have to put 2 coaches on a tour or I means if we are fairly busy Chris gets extra days off but that’s just how it goes at this time of year! Things will get easier for us at the end of next month as our Galway tour will finish as the Corrib Princess ends its’ season then so at least Thursdays will be a little easier. We hope to continue our other tours until the end of October subject to demand and then we will be offering our weekend tours until November so still plenty to do!
After our disturbed break last year we have not made any firm plans for holidays but just thinking about them is keeping us going! We are both desperate for time off as we have still not got the house put straight after the break in, I actually got a day off yesterday but spent it servicing Celtic Princess and trying to get a part for the heating system on Chris’ coach – still it made a change from driving! Also her coach still has a bit of a makeshift mirror, we are awaiting the arrival of a mirror glass from Spain - someday soon!
I have just finished a great re- read “Welcome to Hell’ by Collin Martin – an absolutely fantastic story of ones mans’ struggle against false imprisonment in a Thai prison, it is absolutely terrifying but equally un-putdownable! One thing that amazed me is how much torture and abuse the human body and mind can endure. If I ever go back to Thailand I don’t even intend to get a parking ticket!
After our disturbed break last year we have not made any firm plans for holidays but just thinking about them is keeping us going! We are both desperate for time off as we have still not got the house put straight after the break in, I actually got a day off yesterday but spent it servicing Celtic Princess and trying to get a part for the heating system on Chris’ coach – still it made a change from driving! Also her coach still has a bit of a makeshift mirror, we are awaiting the arrival of a mirror glass from Spain - someday soon!
I have just finished a great re- read “Welcome to Hell’ by Collin Martin – an absolutely fantastic story of ones mans’ struggle against false imprisonment in a Thai prison, it is absolutely terrifying but equally un-putdownable! One thing that amazed me is how much torture and abuse the human body and mind can endure. If I ever go back to Thailand I don’t even intend to get a parking ticket!
Richards Blog 15.08.09 – After the storm!
I suppose we are gradually getting used to the events of last week and slowly clearing up and repairing the damage that was done, it is still really hard leaving home every morning but I suppose it has forced us to tighten up on security, I think the healing process could be a long one though.
Business wise it has been a good week and loadings are finally what we would expect for this time of year and (fingers crossed) our coaches are behaving themselves. I have been to The Cliffs quite a lot lately and I’am heading back that way today. Wednesday was a bit of a stressful day as we had the Ireland v Australia football friendly in Limerick, however as usual I had a plan and for once it worked – I tried to delay our return to Limerick as much as possible to avoid the worst of the traffic, I actually arrived back a Limerick Station at 7.30 – not too bad but then just had time for a quick coffee before collecting some passengers returning from The Ring of Kerry at 8.00 and transferring them back to their hotel – a long day! I arrived home about 8.45 then had to wash and fuel my coach – its tough at the top!
After all that has gone on lately we felt that we deserved a good night out and had a great night on Thursday with a lovely meal and a few well earned drinks in town. Yesterday was spent with more clearing and getting a new tyre fitted to my coach, we have a fairly busy weekend and we are actually full for tomorrow’s tour – typical we have loads of space today but have to turn away business for tomorrow!
Business wise it has been a good week and loadings are finally what we would expect for this time of year and (fingers crossed) our coaches are behaving themselves. I have been to The Cliffs quite a lot lately and I’am heading back that way today. Wednesday was a bit of a stressful day as we had the Ireland v Australia football friendly in Limerick, however as usual I had a plan and for once it worked – I tried to delay our return to Limerick as much as possible to avoid the worst of the traffic, I actually arrived back a Limerick Station at 7.30 – not too bad but then just had time for a quick coffee before collecting some passengers returning from The Ring of Kerry at 8.00 and transferring them back to their hotel – a long day! I arrived home about 8.45 then had to wash and fuel my coach – its tough at the top!
After all that has gone on lately we felt that we deserved a good night out and had a great night on Thursday with a lovely meal and a few well earned drinks in town. Yesterday was spent with more clearing and getting a new tyre fitted to my coach, we have a fairly busy weekend and we are actually full for tomorrow’s tour – typical we have loads of space today but have to turn away business for tomorrow!
Richards Blog 08.08.09 – If I only had words!
Today I have to be honest and say I feel more down than I can remember feeling in years, I’am on our Cliffs tour and we are very busy indeed we have both had to work, so why the misery? Well here goes …….
Last week was fairly busy and although we were busy we were a little down after our guests leaving, however as usual we snapped back into the work routine and the week flew by then before we knew it it was Thursday and we were looking forward to our weekly night out, I was on my favourite Galway tour with my coach and Chris on the Cliffs with hers, all was good with the world as I headed home to sort the e.mails and get changed before Chris arrived. I pulled into our yard and headed to the back door only to notice it had been broken into, it took a couple of seconds to register but quickly a black feeling fell around me, we had been burgled! I tried to remain calm and walked around the house to find virtually every room had been totally ransacked. I needed to talk so I rang Chris and told her to pull over before breaking the news. She arrived about 15 min later while I was on the phone to The Garda and for one of the only times in my life I was struck dum, we just hugged then went inside to inspect the damage, we had some well hidden cash taken although fortunately we never keep business takings at home – they go straight into the night safe at our bank, also quite a lot of personal items and jewellery were taken and much of our furniture was damaged by the ruthless searching that had gone on.
All this is bad enough but it is the feeling of violation which I never understood – it really does cut you to the bone and stays no matter how much you try to cut it out it occupies most of your waking hours, we couldn’t face sleeping in the chaos on Thursday night and decided to stay in town once the place was secured. We phoned our friends at The Absolute Hotel and they kindly gave us a complimentary suite so we had a takeaway pizza in grand style in our room before doing the only thing we could think of in this situation – go for a drink! We settled into one of our favourite haunts – Nancy Blakes and had a few drinks which did make us feel a bit better – but not much!
After a good breakfast we returned home to start clearing up the mess and take stock of what was missing, we actually probably got off quite lightly but it doesn’t feel like it at the moment! Friday was also spent trying to catch up with paperwork and cleaning coaches but to be honest our heart wasn’t really in it and if ever we needed time to ourselves it was yesterday but as usual business came first!
Today we awoke shaken but not stirred and had to face a busy day with both of us out on tour, it was really hard leaving the house for the first time but the show must go on! however fate had not quite finished with us yet, Chris had to meet the train from Dublin which managed to be 50 minutes late after that she met an unmarked white van on a narrow section of road in the Burren and pulled over as far as she could but the van still kept driving and smashed her mirror. Normally she would take all this in her stride but when I met her at Caherconnoll she just broke down and I cannot blame her – my heart is really bleeding for her at the moment – I think women are probably more affected by the feelings of invasion of privacy and I think the break in will be in the back of our mind for years to come.
You might be wondering why I have not mentioned the perpetrators of this hideous crime but to quote the words of one of my favourite Christians song “If I only had words”
Now as some of you might know I’am not a very religious but I do firmly believe in Karma and also that in the last few moments before you leave this mortal coil everyone will take stock of their life and their achievements so I think that whoever did this will recall ruining peoples lives and taking their hard earned cash and hopefully this will ensure a life of eternal torment, hopefully happier thoughts next week folks – the only way is up!
Last week was fairly busy and although we were busy we were a little down after our guests leaving, however as usual we snapped back into the work routine and the week flew by then before we knew it it was Thursday and we were looking forward to our weekly night out, I was on my favourite Galway tour with my coach and Chris on the Cliffs with hers, all was good with the world as I headed home to sort the e.mails and get changed before Chris arrived. I pulled into our yard and headed to the back door only to notice it had been broken into, it took a couple of seconds to register but quickly a black feeling fell around me, we had been burgled! I tried to remain calm and walked around the house to find virtually every room had been totally ransacked. I needed to talk so I rang Chris and told her to pull over before breaking the news. She arrived about 15 min later while I was on the phone to The Garda and for one of the only times in my life I was struck dum, we just hugged then went inside to inspect the damage, we had some well hidden cash taken although fortunately we never keep business takings at home – they go straight into the night safe at our bank, also quite a lot of personal items and jewellery were taken and much of our furniture was damaged by the ruthless searching that had gone on.
All this is bad enough but it is the feeling of violation which I never understood – it really does cut you to the bone and stays no matter how much you try to cut it out it occupies most of your waking hours, we couldn’t face sleeping in the chaos on Thursday night and decided to stay in town once the place was secured. We phoned our friends at The Absolute Hotel and they kindly gave us a complimentary suite so we had a takeaway pizza in grand style in our room before doing the only thing we could think of in this situation – go for a drink! We settled into one of our favourite haunts – Nancy Blakes and had a few drinks which did make us feel a bit better – but not much!
After a good breakfast we returned home to start clearing up the mess and take stock of what was missing, we actually probably got off quite lightly but it doesn’t feel like it at the moment! Friday was also spent trying to catch up with paperwork and cleaning coaches but to be honest our heart wasn’t really in it and if ever we needed time to ourselves it was yesterday but as usual business came first!
Today we awoke shaken but not stirred and had to face a busy day with both of us out on tour, it was really hard leaving the house for the first time but the show must go on! however fate had not quite finished with us yet, Chris had to meet the train from Dublin which managed to be 50 minutes late after that she met an unmarked white van on a narrow section of road in the Burren and pulled over as far as she could but the van still kept driving and smashed her mirror. Normally she would take all this in her stride but when I met her at Caherconnoll she just broke down and I cannot blame her – my heart is really bleeding for her at the moment – I think women are probably more affected by the feelings of invasion of privacy and I think the break in will be in the back of our mind for years to come.
You might be wondering why I have not mentioned the perpetrators of this hideous crime but to quote the words of one of my favourite Christians song “If I only had words”
Now as some of you might know I’am not a very religious but I do firmly believe in Karma and also that in the last few moments before you leave this mortal coil everyone will take stock of their life and their achievements so I think that whoever did this will recall ruining peoples lives and taking their hard earned cash and hopefully this will ensure a life of eternal torment, hopefully happier thoughts next week folks – the only way is up!
Richards Blog 01.08.09 – We have had guests!
I think I mentioned last week that my sister Linda and her partner Russ were coming to visit, they arrived late on Tuesday night and me and Chris went to Shannon to collect them from their Ryanair flight from Birmingham, they were only staying until early Saturday morning so it was a flying visit. I tried to get Wednesday off to spend the day with them and very nearly succeeded, we had a few people coming on the train from Dublin for our Cliffs tour but in total we had 20 so ample room on Chris’ coach, however since it was a fairly busy day I thought I had better come in to Limerick to cover in case we got any late bookings or the train was delayed, so I brought our guests with me and guess what? For the first time this season the train was heavily delayed in fact it was 50 minutes late! So with quick thinking we decided that I would head off on tour and do the pick ups then take our passengers to Caherconnoll where they could have a coffee or do the tour while Chris would follow on when the train arrived with her passengers to Caherconnoll where we would put all the passengers on her coach and I would then be free to head home with our guests (we actually stopped in Ennis for a pub lunch on the way back).
This just shows how whenever we arrange anything during our season you can be sure something will go wrong and spoil the best laid plans! It was great to have some company though and Linda and Russ joined me for our Galway tour on Thursday and it being race week in Galway we had a great time even just admiring the Ladies’ fashions made it worthwhile but also there is always a great buzz about Galway during race week, we felt it was only right that we should have a bit on the feature race and we chose 4 fairly good prospects – none of which was even placed but never mind! We all had a good night out on Thursday with a superb meal at The Texas Steakout followed by a few drinks and a bit of live music.
Friday was spent relaxing and doing a bit of shopping as well as the inevitable bus cleaning before another meal out to our favourite Indian Restaurant Spice of India for another superb meal.
I took Linda and Russ back to Shannon this morning and whilst it was tough saying goodbye it had been a nice break from our routine!
This just shows how whenever we arrange anything during our season you can be sure something will go wrong and spoil the best laid plans! It was great to have some company though and Linda and Russ joined me for our Galway tour on Thursday and it being race week in Galway we had a great time even just admiring the Ladies’ fashions made it worthwhile but also there is always a great buzz about Galway during race week, we felt it was only right that we should have a bit on the feature race and we chose 4 fairly good prospects – none of which was even placed but never mind! We all had a good night out on Thursday with a superb meal at The Texas Steakout followed by a few drinks and a bit of live music.
Friday was spent relaxing and doing a bit of shopping as well as the inevitable bus cleaning before another meal out to our favourite Indian Restaurant Spice of India for another superb meal.
I took Linda and Russ back to Shannon this morning and whilst it was tough saying goodbye it had been a nice break from our routine!
Richards Blog 25.07.09 – What a week!
As you might have guessed things haven’t ran entirely smoothly at Barratt Tours this week! We have been having problems with a blow in the exhaust system on Chris’ bus – Celtic Pride and it really has tried the patience of all involved, we now have it back and I may well give it an outing tomorrow to see how it goes. We coped well without it last weekend with the ever trusty Celtic Princess and my coach Celtic Star but on Tuesday things took a sharp turn for the worse, I was driving home after our Cliffs tour when I hit a large pothole – nothing unusual in that here but what was unusual was the banging coming from the rear suspension, I took it very easy home and on inspection found 2 broken spring pins and a missing shackle on the rear spring so Star wasn’t going to shine on Wednesdays’ Cliffs tour and with Pride already under repair we only had Princess which seats 15 and guess what? – we had 22 bookings! The parts for the spring had to be specially ordered and would only be in on Friday so we were a little stuck.
Thankfully we called in the help of our friends Martins Coaches who kindly hired us a lovely 49 seat Van Hool so I drove, Chris guided and it was just like the old days, at least we were to have 2 coaches for Thursdays’ two tours as Pride was ready to collect from repairs except on the way home a further fault developed – stuck again! Martins came to rescue and provided the same coach with a driver for the Cliffs as I had to go to Galway so Chris guided on the hired coach – and so the week ended – thank goodness!
Friday (our day off!!!) was spent organizing repairs and parts and again Martins helped us out and did a great job so I have my coach back today so I feel a little happier and relieved! We are now back to our full compliment of coaches and ready to face another (hopefully easier week). We had more upheaval at home to cap all this hassle off but I’am saving news of what has been going on at Silvermine View for a while! We are really looking forward to next Tuesday as my sister Linda and her partner Russ are coming to visit so Thursday night should be a good one – we need to let our hair down a little after last week!
Thankfully we called in the help of our friends Martins Coaches who kindly hired us a lovely 49 seat Van Hool so I drove, Chris guided and it was just like the old days, at least we were to have 2 coaches for Thursdays’ two tours as Pride was ready to collect from repairs except on the way home a further fault developed – stuck again! Martins came to rescue and provided the same coach with a driver for the Cliffs as I had to go to Galway so Chris guided on the hired coach – and so the week ended – thank goodness!
Friday (our day off!!!) was spent organizing repairs and parts and again Martins helped us out and did a great job so I have my coach back today so I feel a little happier and relieved! We are now back to our full compliment of coaches and ready to face another (hopefully easier week). We had more upheaval at home to cap all this hassle off but I’am saving news of what has been going on at Silvermine View for a while! We are really looking forward to next Tuesday as my sister Linda and her partner Russ are coming to visit so Thursday night should be a good one – we need to let our hair down a little after last week!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Richards Blog 16.07.09 – Tea and sympathy (please!)
I write this as usual at Caherconnoll enjoying a cup of good Irish tea – if only we could beer that was as good as our tea in Ireland but I digress! I seem to have been here a bit this week but it has given me chance to work on my preliminary notes for my book. Thinking back to the early days of our company has been unexpectedly therapeutic and is really helping me focus on our future plans – it is easy to forget the hardship we endured to get to this point in our lives! I suppose hardship is and emotive word but it really was tough for a couple of years and many was the month we never saw a wage from Barratt Tours!
Also it made me ponder the long nights me and Chris spent together in the garage repairing a bus for the following days’ tour, one occasion particularly sticks in my mind when I got what is known as “arc eye” in other words getting blinded by a weld flash and ended up in hospital until 3 in the morning, I made my normal miraculous recovery and was heading to Killarney on tour with the bus the following day! Oh, and the exhaust was welded, not sure I could do that now mind!
If this is beginning to sound a bit like that classic Monty Python sketch when they are discussing how hard they had it growing up “that’s nothing we lived in a hole in the ground etc etc” then my apologies, all this is leading to is the thought that we have worked too hard to get this far so we are going to ride this current storm out and as you may have gathered we are gaining strength from the injustice and corruption that is blighting our industry at the moment, even though the field of play is nowhere near level there is always the second half - so look out!
Not much time for reading at the moment what with my literary endeavours but I’am still finding time for music with the band Doves being my music of choice at this time, suitably dark and melodic to just suit my mood at this time of year and to remind me of some trips to England this winter, it just occurred to me that the season is over half way through!
Also it made me ponder the long nights me and Chris spent together in the garage repairing a bus for the following days’ tour, one occasion particularly sticks in my mind when I got what is known as “arc eye” in other words getting blinded by a weld flash and ended up in hospital until 3 in the morning, I made my normal miraculous recovery and was heading to Killarney on tour with the bus the following day! Oh, and the exhaust was welded, not sure I could do that now mind!
If this is beginning to sound a bit like that classic Monty Python sketch when they are discussing how hard they had it growing up “that’s nothing we lived in a hole in the ground etc etc” then my apologies, all this is leading to is the thought that we have worked too hard to get this far so we are going to ride this current storm out and as you may have gathered we are gaining strength from the injustice and corruption that is blighting our industry at the moment, even though the field of play is nowhere near level there is always the second half - so look out!
Not much time for reading at the moment what with my literary endeavours but I’am still finding time for music with the band Doves being my music of choice at this time, suitably dark and melodic to just suit my mood at this time of year and to remind me of some trips to England this winter, it just occurred to me that the season is over half way through!
Richards Blog 09.07.09 – It’s a cheap price that we pay for existence!
I have been in deeply reflective mood this week hence the Bob Geldof quote from “Thinking Voyager 2 type things” – check it out it has to be one of the ultimate meaning of life songs! My mood has been due to the loss of a good friend of Barratt Tours Mr Noel O’Connor from Doolin Co.Clare, Noel ran a taxi business in Doolin and was a great friend and help to all of us involved in running day tours – he died in his sleep on Sunday evening and he will be much missed, our thoughts are with all his family and friends at this difficult time.
I have been reflective as I had my lunch with Noel on Saturday in O’Connors while on tour and we had a great chat about holidays etc and whilst we both agreed times were hard in the business at present it surely will come right for next year, it really has made me think about our short time on this planet.
My thoughts are not bitter about the business but I do feel it is time for us to turn over a new leaf and stop being so nice in our battles with our competitors, we are never going to deviate from our strongly held belief that the honest will survive long term in business. By honest I mean that we try to sell our tours on merit and value, we don’t offer huge agents commission and incentives, this is how our tours are such good value after all, I heard of one operator in our sector that is actually paying more in commission than they get paid for a tour! I don’t believe this is sustainable and with information being so freely available online, I cannot believe people will be conned forever, I have said it before but we are lean and green also you can be sure we are here for the long haul maybe the saying “The bigger they are – the harder they fall” could be true here. I would love to hear your thoughts on this and sometimes I feel like spilling the beans and explaining exactly where the money that is paid to some larger operators goes – its not all Shamrocks, Sheep and Leprechauns as they might have you believe! So please get in touch and tell me that you think we are on the right track with our strategy. Or better still book one of our tours and to quote from The Commitments – Support Irelands’ hardest working tour company!
We had a great night to beat the blues on Thursday, we went to an old haunt of ours – The Trinity Rooms in Limerickwhich to be honest we felt we had outgrown as they do cater for the younger crowd, I quite like some dance music but much of it I couldn’t stick all night! When we first started going they had a separate room and dj who used to play a lot of indie stuff and it was just my kind of thing but sadly it seemed to become a victim of the “r’ word! However they have just started offering some alternative entertainment with a ska band called Skazz and they were superb, as well as playing some predictable 2 tone classics they played some real old Jamaican ska – including some infectious toe tappers, combine this with a drinks promotion and a good night was had – if you are in Limerick any Thursday in July check it out – highly recommended!
I have been reflective as I had my lunch with Noel on Saturday in O’Connors while on tour and we had a great chat about holidays etc and whilst we both agreed times were hard in the business at present it surely will come right for next year, it really has made me think about our short time on this planet.
My thoughts are not bitter about the business but I do feel it is time for us to turn over a new leaf and stop being so nice in our battles with our competitors, we are never going to deviate from our strongly held belief that the honest will survive long term in business. By honest I mean that we try to sell our tours on merit and value, we don’t offer huge agents commission and incentives, this is how our tours are such good value after all, I heard of one operator in our sector that is actually paying more in commission than they get paid for a tour! I don’t believe this is sustainable and with information being so freely available online, I cannot believe people will be conned forever, I have said it before but we are lean and green also you can be sure we are here for the long haul maybe the saying “The bigger they are – the harder they fall” could be true here. I would love to hear your thoughts on this and sometimes I feel like spilling the beans and explaining exactly where the money that is paid to some larger operators goes – its not all Shamrocks, Sheep and Leprechauns as they might have you believe! So please get in touch and tell me that you think we are on the right track with our strategy. Or better still book one of our tours and to quote from The Commitments – Support Irelands’ hardest working tour company!
We had a great night to beat the blues on Thursday, we went to an old haunt of ours – The Trinity Rooms in Limerickwhich to be honest we felt we had outgrown as they do cater for the younger crowd, I quite like some dance music but much of it I couldn’t stick all night! When we first started going they had a separate room and dj who used to play a lot of indie stuff and it was just my kind of thing but sadly it seemed to become a victim of the “r’ word! However they have just started offering some alternative entertainment with a ska band called Skazz and they were superb, as well as playing some predictable 2 tone classics they played some real old Jamaican ska – including some infectious toe tappers, combine this with a drinks promotion and a good night was had – if you are in Limerick any Thursday in July check it out – highly recommended!
Richards Blog 04.07.09 – Crowds and Hookers!
It has been a very mixed week with fairly poor loadings on our tours, indeed on Thursday we had nobody for either of our tours so we took the decision to have a break and headed up to Galway for the night, the break really brought back some happy memories and helped to remind us a little about what made us get us into all this! We often used to visit Galway when we still lived in England on our holidays and it is a place I still really like there really is a real buzz about the place, we had a great meal then a few drinks around town, the visit was made even happier for me as I got a chance to sample a new beer called Galway Hooker (www.galwayhooker.ie) it is a traditional pale ale with a superb smack of hops to its taste – I thought it was absolutely great, it was lovely to taste proper beer again! My usual tipple here is Guinness or if it is well kept I much prefer Beamish, I don’t know if my taste buds are bored but Guinness seems to be getting blander with little of the roasted malt bite it used to have – let me know if any you beer tasters agree! Indeed blandness is a feature of Irish beer now with the increasing promotion of bland worldwide lager brands and ‘light’ beers, it seems to me that it is seen as an advantage if beer no longer tastes of beer – it is then said to be smooth and easy drinking but then again so is water!
Anyhow beer rant over I’am back at the wheel today driving a thankfully well loaded Cliffs tour with my new coach so I’am in a happy frame of mind after our impromptu break, Chris is having a day off as sadly we have not needed 2 coaches on a Saturday for sometime now but hopefully that will change, it is little consolation but tourism numbers in general do seem to be in decline indeed I’am finishing this blog at The Cliffs and I’am the only coach here at 4.45 on a July Saturday afternoon! I remember about 6 years ago I was at the Cliffs one Sunday in August and there were 53 coaches all vying for parking spaces!
If you think this paints a depressing prospect to potential visitors – think again prices are tumbling, the welcome is warmer than ever and the crowds are not here so if you are thinking of booking one of our tours do it today and support a genuine small company – the big guys can look after themselves! come and enjoy! I might even show you where you can find a Galway Hooker! (you have a dirty mind, hooker was a name given to the typical Galway fishing boat!)
Anyhow beer rant over I’am back at the wheel today driving a thankfully well loaded Cliffs tour with my new coach so I’am in a happy frame of mind after our impromptu break, Chris is having a day off as sadly we have not needed 2 coaches on a Saturday for sometime now but hopefully that will change, it is little consolation but tourism numbers in general do seem to be in decline indeed I’am finishing this blog at The Cliffs and I’am the only coach here at 4.45 on a July Saturday afternoon! I remember about 6 years ago I was at the Cliffs one Sunday in August and there were 53 coaches all vying for parking spaces!
If you think this paints a depressing prospect to potential visitors – think again prices are tumbling, the welcome is warmer than ever and the crowds are not here so if you are thinking of booking one of our tours do it today and support a genuine small company – the big guys can look after themselves! come and enjoy! I might even show you where you can find a Galway Hooker! (you have a dirty mind, hooker was a name given to the typical Galway fishing boat!)
Richards Blog 20.06.09 – Chapter 1 – erm…..!
I have finally taken the decision to write the full story of Barratt Tours, people have often said to me that I should write a book and do you know, I think I will! Our story is a fairly unique and I think a very entertaining one but I have to be honest in that I don’t have a clue where to start, I think I will start writing prompts that I can weave into the story as it takes shape, we fortunately documented quite a lot of our early days and Chris has been secretly writing notes for a few years so maybe something might come to fruition, I have written a very concise history in my blogs last year but I think it is time for a warts and all account, you honestly wouldn’t believe what we have had to contend with behind the scenes over the last 12 years – it will be a good read!
Let me know what you think about the idea, I think it might be quite fun but please get back to me, I don’t get much feedback and especially get in touch if you know a “tame” publisher that likes a challenge and could give me a few tips!
It has been another mixed week for numbers and whilst our Cliffs tours have been OK loadings have been disappointing for Galway and Killarney, I think it’s a pity as they are both really nice tours and I do look forward to driving either of those, highlights for me are the magnificent walks at Muckross House and Galway City but I must admit my greatest pleasure is the cruise on the Corrib Princess. On a fine day I love to hide away outside at the bow and listen to some suitably chilled music on my I pod while the scenery goes by – this job is often not too bad at all! So why not join us for a really relaxing day and try one of our other tours!
We had a good night out on Thursday and saw a great band called Aftershock at Smyths, I had been getting a bit bored of some of the bands there lately – no fault of there own but a lot of the covers are the same week after week. Aftershock were a bit different and did some quite clever and more contemporary stuff probably my favorite track was “Where’s me jumper?” by The Sultans of Ping F.C – obscure stuff but regulars will know my strange tastes!
Let me know what you think about the idea, I think it might be quite fun but please get back to me, I don’t get much feedback and especially get in touch if you know a “tame” publisher that likes a challenge and could give me a few tips!
It has been another mixed week for numbers and whilst our Cliffs tours have been OK loadings have been disappointing for Galway and Killarney, I think it’s a pity as they are both really nice tours and I do look forward to driving either of those, highlights for me are the magnificent walks at Muckross House and Galway City but I must admit my greatest pleasure is the cruise on the Corrib Princess. On a fine day I love to hide away outside at the bow and listen to some suitably chilled music on my I pod while the scenery goes by – this job is often not too bad at all! So why not join us for a really relaxing day and try one of our other tours!
We had a good night out on Thursday and saw a great band called Aftershock at Smyths, I had been getting a bit bored of some of the bands there lately – no fault of there own but a lot of the covers are the same week after week. Aftershock were a bit different and did some quite clever and more contemporary stuff probably my favorite track was “Where’s me jumper?” by The Sultans of Ping F.C – obscure stuff but regulars will know my strange tastes!
Richards Blog 16.06.09 – A little piece of Liberty!
It has been quite a mixed week business wise this week, we seem to be really busy one day then really quiet the next but overall we are keeping our heads above water, I have been busy in the garage as well replacing a seemingly unbreakable suspension component which smashed on Saturday, thanks to our wonderful (or woeful!) road network, I had to drive to Portlaoise in the car yesterday for parts then spent the afternoon fitting them to my coach, also I had to prepare the small coach for test tomorrow so I’am quite happy to be working today, it really is a break to be touring today!
Our life is pretty hectic at the moment with behind the scenes plans coming to fruition for our new product and a new micro website that is coming together nicely now, it is all taking far longer than we anticipated but then that is a familiar story! I don’t know if we are doing more now or (perish the thought!) we are getting older but this season is really taking it out of us, at the moment I’am as tired as I normally am in August but I think our disrupted winter and getting the new coach ready is to blame, normally we find a routine by this time but it is taking a little bit of doing this year! I heard a great saying the other day which I think applies to us at the moment:
“I try to take life one day at a time but lately several have ganged up on me at once”
Now talk of one of my only recreations at the moment – music, I downloaded the new Madness album the other week “The Liberty of Norton Folgate” and whilst I have always loved the unique blend of ska and reggae that Madness create I honestly believe this to be one of their finest works, it really is a concept album which seems a mad idea for the “nutty boys’ but it really does work on all levels, it tells the story of an area of London which I never knew existed called Norton Folgate and up until the early 1900 s was outside the laws of the land and was a magnet for artists, poets and mad people – sounds great! I really must have a look round that area next time we hit “the big smoke” I have always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with London, I used to work there regularly after I left school and never really liked the place but since the death of Chris’ brother who lived in there just over a year ago we have become friends with some of his friends and I have mellowed a little in my attitude – our last visit was great so I’am now looking forward to our next visit and I will find my own little piece of liberty!
Our life is pretty hectic at the moment with behind the scenes plans coming to fruition for our new product and a new micro website that is coming together nicely now, it is all taking far longer than we anticipated but then that is a familiar story! I don’t know if we are doing more now or (perish the thought!) we are getting older but this season is really taking it out of us, at the moment I’am as tired as I normally am in August but I think our disrupted winter and getting the new coach ready is to blame, normally we find a routine by this time but it is taking a little bit of doing this year! I heard a great saying the other day which I think applies to us at the moment:
“I try to take life one day at a time but lately several have ganged up on me at once”
Now talk of one of my only recreations at the moment – music, I downloaded the new Madness album the other week “The Liberty of Norton Folgate” and whilst I have always loved the unique blend of ska and reggae that Madness create I honestly believe this to be one of their finest works, it really is a concept album which seems a mad idea for the “nutty boys’ but it really does work on all levels, it tells the story of an area of London which I never knew existed called Norton Folgate and up until the early 1900 s was outside the laws of the land and was a magnet for artists, poets and mad people – sounds great! I really must have a look round that area next time we hit “the big smoke” I have always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with London, I used to work there regularly after I left school and never really liked the place but since the death of Chris’ brother who lived in there just over a year ago we have become friends with some of his friends and I have mellowed a little in my attitude – our last visit was great so I’am now looking forward to our next visit and I will find my own little piece of liberty!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Richards Blog 01.06.09 – Summer madness!
We are having a crazy weekend, fairly busy with it being a public holiday in terms of passengers but for once the summer has arrived at the same time as the holidays and the result is chaos, I have never seen The Burren as busy as this weekend and we are having to change our return route as Lahinch is totally gridlocked, all comments last week about driving have been bourne out today, my skin is now thicker than ever! Chris is helping me today as we have a few overloads so she has Celtic Princess, she is doing a good job of clearing the way for me though – we make a great team!
The weather is absolutely amazing with temperatures in the mid twenties and my new air con working overtime, so at least my head is cool! I really hope this is the start of a decent settled spell – a bit of sun is doing my soul good.
Our new micro website is coming together nicely and I hope it is going to emphasize the personal nature of our business, sometimes it seems as though we are swimming against the tide of domination by the larger companies, we don’t want to fall into the trap of insulting our customers intelligence with images of Lepreachans and sheep – there are plenty doing that already, what we want to do is project our true personalities more, we are both very different in many ways but we hope that is part of the fun and adds to the richness of your experience with us! Many companies try to tell you that they live and breathe their business but believe me when it comes to Barratt Tours this truly is the case, we very rarely switch off and I think if just one of us was involved in the business we honestly would be divorced by now!
I haven’t mentioned music for a while so I have just bought the new Madness album which has received rave reviews so I shall report next week.
The weather is absolutely amazing with temperatures in the mid twenties and my new air con working overtime, so at least my head is cool! I really hope this is the start of a decent settled spell – a bit of sun is doing my soul good.
Our new micro website is coming together nicely and I hope it is going to emphasize the personal nature of our business, sometimes it seems as though we are swimming against the tide of domination by the larger companies, we don’t want to fall into the trap of insulting our customers intelligence with images of Lepreachans and sheep – there are plenty doing that already, what we want to do is project our true personalities more, we are both very different in many ways but we hope that is part of the fun and adds to the richness of your experience with us! Many companies try to tell you that they live and breathe their business but believe me when it comes to Barratt Tours this truly is the case, we very rarely switch off and I think if just one of us was involved in the business we honestly would be divorced by now!
I haven’t mentioned music for a while so I have just bought the new Madness album which has received rave reviews so I shall report next week.
Richards Blog 27.05.09 – Is it me, or does everyone hate me?
Don’t worry, I haven’t gone totally mad (just yet!!) but I really do notice how things are changing here at the moment, as you know I spend an awful lot of time on the road and I never cease to be amazed at other drivers attitudes, I have become immune to the total lack of regard motorists show to a larger vehicle and have learnt to accept that if I meet a small car on a narrow road it will always be me that has to give way and do all the braking and steering whilst the car driver sits and watches! But I have recently noticed a new phenomenon and this is mainly from local drivers, I can be doing nothing wrong other than trying to get my way through as best I can but I often find myself on the receiving end of all kinds of threats and abuse or at least and interesting array of gestures! Chris had a situation the other day where somebody pulled out in front of her far too close and then didn’t accelerate so she overtook in a perfectly safe place, she stopped at traffic lights further up the road only for the motorist to shout that he was going to report her for being a dangerous driver! Another good one was just the other day when I was in Doolin, I met a young girl in a car in the very tight spot just ouside O’Connors, I again managed to squeeze through only to glance down at her to see her cursing and waving at me with a rage that had to be seen to believed! I honestly still don’t know what I had done – I would really like to know though! You really do need a thick skin in this job!
Now I certainly don’t want to put you off visiting our beautiful country it seems most of this behavior is in cars, I had a group of flight crew from a well known US airline on my tour the other day and they told me that they had noticed everyone was much more short tempered lately so it seems this is not unique to Ireland, I think an explanation could be that people have been well off (or at least they thought they were!) for a few years and now things are slowing down it seems to be driving the masses into the foulest of humour!
I don’t think my mood has changed too much, to be honest I’am just pleased to be making a living of sorts doing a job I enjoy, we have never been ones for new cars and flash houses etc, our pleasures are simple and cheap – maybe that is why we can laugh at the others!
We are still planning a major new product and it is getting ever closer so watch this space for the most unbelievable offer in our history!
Now I certainly don’t want to put you off visiting our beautiful country it seems most of this behavior is in cars, I had a group of flight crew from a well known US airline on my tour the other day and they told me that they had noticed everyone was much more short tempered lately so it seems this is not unique to Ireland, I think an explanation could be that people have been well off (or at least they thought they were!) for a few years and now things are slowing down it seems to be driving the masses into the foulest of humour!
I don’t think my mood has changed too much, to be honest I’am just pleased to be making a living of sorts doing a job I enjoy, we have never been ones for new cars and flash houses etc, our pleasures are simple and cheap – maybe that is why we can laugh at the others!
We are still planning a major new product and it is getting ever closer so watch this space for the most unbelievable offer in our history!
Richards Blog 21.05.09 – This is the winter of our discount tents!
I couldn’t resist that title it come from an add for a camping shop that I saw years ago! The weather has been absolutely crazy even by Irish standards this week, it has overall been very cold and wet but suddenly we will get an unexpected good day like yesterday when it was beautiful around the coast and a t the Cliffs, I had a private tour and took the group up to Galway so a long day but quite a nice one with the weather co operating for once!
We have again had a tough week with unpredictable numbers, I have quite a large group today but yesterdays good weather seems to have helped! I believe the weather has a huge effect on our business and coupled with all the recession doom and gloom here it would depress even the most optimistic person!
The recession isn’t all bad in that we are now getting deals on travel and accommodation that would have been unheard of 2 years ago, as usual we are trying to diversify further and will be announcing some products soon that will offer truly remarkable value – watch this space! For us the Celtic Tiger is dead – long live the Celtic Tiger!
If you haven’t heard of The Celtic Tiger it was a phrase used to describe the outrageously overheated economy in Ireland during the early part of the millennium, all concerned were certain that it would go on for ever (including the banks it seems!) but you wouldn’t have to be too gifted an analyst to realise that an economy based on 80% property and construction might be ever so slightly delicate! I can honestly say that I don’t believe that the Celtic Tiger had much effect in our sector and some would argue it had negative effects in that it took the countries ‘eye off the ball” with regard to tourism and in many ways I would subscribe to that view - we needed to come back to earth but maybe not with such a severe bump!
We had a great night out to beat the doom and gloom on Thursday and saw a band from Mayo and Roscommon called Gorilla Radio they could really rock and did a great diverse set with everything from Lady Gaga to Metallica – personally I preferred the Metallica though!
I finally got out on my bike on Wednesday and went into town to run some errands in bright sunshine only to get caught in a monsoon on the return journey! I was quite literally soaked to the skin! I have a new waterproof overall but guess where it was? In the cupboard at home of course!
We have again had a tough week with unpredictable numbers, I have quite a large group today but yesterdays good weather seems to have helped! I believe the weather has a huge effect on our business and coupled with all the recession doom and gloom here it would depress even the most optimistic person!
The recession isn’t all bad in that we are now getting deals on travel and accommodation that would have been unheard of 2 years ago, as usual we are trying to diversify further and will be announcing some products soon that will offer truly remarkable value – watch this space! For us the Celtic Tiger is dead – long live the Celtic Tiger!
If you haven’t heard of The Celtic Tiger it was a phrase used to describe the outrageously overheated economy in Ireland during the early part of the millennium, all concerned were certain that it would go on for ever (including the banks it seems!) but you wouldn’t have to be too gifted an analyst to realise that an economy based on 80% property and construction might be ever so slightly delicate! I can honestly say that I don’t believe that the Celtic Tiger had much effect in our sector and some would argue it had negative effects in that it took the countries ‘eye off the ball” with regard to tourism and in many ways I would subscribe to that view - we needed to come back to earth but maybe not with such a severe bump!
We had a great night out to beat the doom and gloom on Thursday and saw a band from Mayo and Roscommon called Gorilla Radio they could really rock and did a great diverse set with everything from Lady Gaga to Metallica – personally I preferred the Metallica though!
I finally got out on my bike on Wednesday and went into town to run some errands in bright sunshine only to get caught in a monsoon on the return journey! I was quite literally soaked to the skin! I have a new waterproof overall but guess where it was? In the cupboard at home of course!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Richards Blog 17.05.09 – Ups and downs!
After quite a busy week last week it has been down to earth with a bump and I had my first Saturday off in about 5 years as we only had a small group for the Cliffs and Chris decided to give me a break. A break consisted of catching up on a few jobs with Celtic Star and I’am delighted to have finally solved the problem I had with the PA system, we were getting feedback from the alternator which was driving us and our passengers mad!, it took the form of a low whine which really irritated! I have tried a whole load of suggestions but finally tried a fairly cheap component wired into the radio and for a change I had a bit of luck and cured it!
My other major job was tidying up the garage as it has been a bit of a hive of activity over the last few weeks with getting new buses ready, ahem accident repairs and other repairs it really was annoying me as I couldn’t find anything and I had a breathing space before my next job which will (hopefully!) be getting Celtic Princess ready for test in June.
It was looking like one of us was going to get a day off today but at the last minute we got a large group to go to The Cliffs of Moher and so I was delighted to oplige, I have a really nice group of Italian rugby players and fans so I’am having a nice day even though the weather isn’t too great! I’am also having a spin in my new coach which I’am enjoying although I still miss my old one sometimes!
My other major job was tidying up the garage as it has been a bit of a hive of activity over the last few weeks with getting new buses ready, ahem accident repairs and other repairs it really was annoying me as I couldn’t find anything and I had a breathing space before my next job which will (hopefully!) be getting Celtic Princess ready for test in June.
It was looking like one of us was going to get a day off today but at the last minute we got a large group to go to The Cliffs of Moher and so I was delighted to oplige, I have a really nice group of Italian rugby players and fans so I’am having a nice day even though the weather isn’t too great! I’am also having a spin in my new coach which I’am enjoying although I still miss my old one sometimes!
Richards Blog 12.05.09 – Porno and tyres!
It has been a great weekend and for a while we have been fairly busy, we have quite a few people on our short breaks and it has been really nice to have the same people for a couple of days in a row and I think a good time has been had by all (myself included!) Our new accommodation in Limerick has been very well received by everyone and some have commented that they don’t know how we do it for the price (maybe we are too cheap!!) I really love my job when we have a fun group and I can get to know them over a few days – it is still a dream of ours to run our own coach holidays for small groups – maybe one day!
Thursday was a really exciting day for the wrong reasons! I had my new coach on the Cliffs tour and heading round Black Head I heard a bang and a whoosh of air, I initially thought we had blown an air pipe but found that one of the rear tyres had blown out, I made it to Doolin for lunch and had the tyre changed there, fortunately the one tyre fitter there was at home! Changing of the tyre involved more than a little input from me and would make a story in its own right! Anyway I was only 15 minutes late picking my group up – O’Connors pub wouldn’t be too bad a place to be stranded though!
Getting back to coach holidays as I often say if a group of you fancy getting together to join us for a grand tour outside of our day tour season – get in touch we might be able to help you, we would love to show you some sights.
This weeks music consists of my exploration of the Manchester band Doves and I’am really starting to get into their stuff, I love the melancholy lyrics mixed with some great dance influences – really different stuff! I haven’t really got my reading into gear yet but I’am starting again on the last Irvine Welsh I bought “Porno” which is a continuation of the characters from “Trainspotting” it is recommended if you are not easily offended – it is a little blue!
Thursday was a really exciting day for the wrong reasons! I had my new coach on the Cliffs tour and heading round Black Head I heard a bang and a whoosh of air, I initially thought we had blown an air pipe but found that one of the rear tyres had blown out, I made it to Doolin for lunch and had the tyre changed there, fortunately the one tyre fitter there was at home! Changing of the tyre involved more than a little input from me and would make a story in its own right! Anyway I was only 15 minutes late picking my group up – O’Connors pub wouldn’t be too bad a place to be stranded though!
Getting back to coach holidays as I often say if a group of you fancy getting together to join us for a grand tour outside of our day tour season – get in touch we might be able to help you, we would love to show you some sights.
This weeks music consists of my exploration of the Manchester band Doves and I’am really starting to get into their stuff, I love the melancholy lyrics mixed with some great dance influences – really different stuff! I haven’t really got my reading into gear yet but I’am starting again on the last Irvine Welsh I bought “Porno” which is a continuation of the characters from “Trainspotting” it is recommended if you are not easily offended – it is a little blue!
Richards Blog 05.05.09 – The Stops
“I can’t undue the day, it wont go, wont go under the rug
I pull out the stops and you, you pull the plug”
Copyright Elbow
Dedicated to Chris about last Tuesday x
Back to wallowing in Elbows’ wonderful music this week – Guy Garveys’ lyrics somehow speak straight to me and that one is a good example. As you might remember Chris had a little spill with Celtic Princess last week and I’am delighted to say that I have managed to repair it with a little help from my friends and it doesn’t really look too bad. The small bus has been a real miss this week as unfortunately numbers are still very low but at least it has meant I have been using my new stead Celtic Star and it is going great – we need a bit of luck at the moment!
It really has been hard lately though and I must admit painting and bodywork is not my favourite – in fact in general I hate repetitive jobs but they have to be done I suppose. Unfortunately we also have got some damp and cold weather at the moment so paint is taking ages to dry, I was hoping to use the small bus today but it was still just tacky about 15 hours after painting it, however I will build it up tonight and it will be ready for whoever is working tomorrow (only one tour).
Last weekend was the May Bank Holiday and I must admit I don’t like holiday weekends (as you may remember). All holiday weekends generally mean to us is more traffic also it is hard to be working when all around you are relaxing or having fun, it is one regret I have about our chosen career that we have not had a summer weekend together in 11 years, I know we get a good break in the winter but I do miss some of the things we used to do together like traveling to Scotland etc for weekend breaks. One other thing that I regret is not being able to go to the Oxygen Festival again, I have never heard a better festival line up with (wait for it!) Elbow, Doves, James, Keane and a whole host of others – still never mind.
We hope to have a meeting this week in Dublin to discuss the new products I have been hinting at – so watch this space!
I pull out the stops and you, you pull the plug”
Copyright Elbow
Dedicated to Chris about last Tuesday x
Back to wallowing in Elbows’ wonderful music this week – Guy Garveys’ lyrics somehow speak straight to me and that one is a good example. As you might remember Chris had a little spill with Celtic Princess last week and I’am delighted to say that I have managed to repair it with a little help from my friends and it doesn’t really look too bad. The small bus has been a real miss this week as unfortunately numbers are still very low but at least it has meant I have been using my new stead Celtic Star and it is going great – we need a bit of luck at the moment!
It really has been hard lately though and I must admit painting and bodywork is not my favourite – in fact in general I hate repetitive jobs but they have to be done I suppose. Unfortunately we also have got some damp and cold weather at the moment so paint is taking ages to dry, I was hoping to use the small bus today but it was still just tacky about 15 hours after painting it, however I will build it up tonight and it will be ready for whoever is working tomorrow (only one tour).
Last weekend was the May Bank Holiday and I must admit I don’t like holiday weekends (as you may remember). All holiday weekends generally mean to us is more traffic also it is hard to be working when all around you are relaxing or having fun, it is one regret I have about our chosen career that we have not had a summer weekend together in 11 years, I know we get a good break in the winter but I do miss some of the things we used to do together like traveling to Scotland etc for weekend breaks. One other thing that I regret is not being able to go to the Oxygen Festival again, I have never heard a better festival line up with (wait for it!) Elbow, Doves, James, Keane and a whole host of others – still never mind.
We hope to have a meeting this week in Dublin to discuss the new products I have been hinting at – so watch this space!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Richards Blog 02.05.09 – A trying week!
Made it through our first week but not quite unscathed! I think we will have the good news first Celtic Star is now and the road and had a baptism of fire of Tuesday with a private tour for a very nice group of 30 from Austria, the tour took in our normal Burren Tour but with a twist – I had to take the group down to Killarney, so a really long day and I must admit to being fairly shattered when I pulled into the yard at 11 on Tuesday night, the coach however performed great and I have it with me today, I must say I’am particularly enjoying the good air conditioning, we still have a couple of niggles but I’am steadily working through them and my seat is beginning to feel like home already!
Unfortunately Chris had a minor shunt in Celtic Princess on Tuesday evening which has meant a bit (well, a lot really!) of work for me panel beating and painting, the results probably wont be perfect but major repairs will have to wait for the winter, thankfully Chris is fine – only her pride is a little dented! (It’s her first knock in 11 years so not bad really!) Just to add to the misery Celtic Pride needed a wheel bearing replaced which coupled with the previous hassles of getting the new coach ready has made for a tough week for both us and our long suffering mechanic Tom, at the moment it feels like the only way is up!
Away from vehicle problems we are still beavering away on developing new tours and one thing I’am engaged in at the moment apart from increasing our web presence is to offer a custom tour option for smaller groups on Monday or Wednesday at a great price so, as ever, watch this space!
Not much time for music this week but I have been kept (relatively!) sane by listening to the new Elbow CD and DVD, The Seldom Scene Kid live at Abbey Road with the BBC concert orchestra – highly recommended, the arrangement of the tracks surpasses even the studio album which takes some beating in particular “The Fix” which is a duet with Richard Hawley – I might tell you about him next week!
Unfortunately Chris had a minor shunt in Celtic Princess on Tuesday evening which has meant a bit (well, a lot really!) of work for me panel beating and painting, the results probably wont be perfect but major repairs will have to wait for the winter, thankfully Chris is fine – only her pride is a little dented! (It’s her first knock in 11 years so not bad really!) Just to add to the misery Celtic Pride needed a wheel bearing replaced which coupled with the previous hassles of getting the new coach ready has made for a tough week for both us and our long suffering mechanic Tom, at the moment it feels like the only way is up!
Away from vehicle problems we are still beavering away on developing new tours and one thing I’am engaged in at the moment apart from increasing our web presence is to offer a custom tour option for smaller groups on Monday or Wednesday at a great price so, as ever, watch this space!
Not much time for music this week but I have been kept (relatively!) sane by listening to the new Elbow CD and DVD, The Seldom Scene Kid live at Abbey Road with the BBC concert orchestra – highly recommended, the arrangement of the tracks surpasses even the studio album which takes some beating in particular “The Fix” which is a duet with Richard Hawley – I might tell you about him next week!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Richards Blog 25.04.09 – Another season, hopefully another dollar!
Well today is the day it all starts again! As usual I’am typing this at Caherconnoll on the Cliffs tour and I must admit that much as I try to fight it I do have a feeling of trepidation, we had flying start to our spring tours and business has definitely been up but it has been back to earth with a bump for last 2 weeks as passenger numbers have been very low. We have made a huge investment (for us!) in vehicles over the last couple of years and we are really proud of our fleet but fact is we do need customers to survive! We try to run all of our tours but it is really tough when we make a loss, however as Chris reminded me this morning I do feel a bit this way every year!
On a much more positive note I think our new coach will be making its debut on a private tour on Tuesday and I’am looking forward to that although I cannot say a first trip with a new vehicle is my favourite – it takes a while to get used to heating, air con etc but I’am sure it will be fine, my few trips locally getting it tested etc. have been very pleasant and we are delighted with the way our ‘Celtic Star” (aka Rambo!) has turned out, “he’ really is a handsome devil – much like his regular driver!
Now starts 26 weeks of constant work but I do love the predictability of our jobs particularly if we are lucky enough to get good numbers over the season, we are also working on a couple of projects that will bring us a boost, one being a new offering from Dublin that will include return rail travel, accommodation and a tour for less than the cost of one of our competitors day tours! Also we have commissioned a new website that will be a fun micro site that will link with this site but make our web presence a bit more fun and light hearted as well as revieling even more facts about your favourite tour operator - There is no hiding place it seems!
My music this week is still consisting of a joyous exploration of Elbows’ back catalogue which has led me (some would say inevitably!) to another Manchester band Doves who are currently impressing me with their incredibly diverse sound, too many influences to mention I think! They are possibly not as wordy as Elbow but just as creative and best of all they are from the North!
On a much more positive note I think our new coach will be making its debut on a private tour on Tuesday and I’am looking forward to that although I cannot say a first trip with a new vehicle is my favourite – it takes a while to get used to heating, air con etc but I’am sure it will be fine, my few trips locally getting it tested etc. have been very pleasant and we are delighted with the way our ‘Celtic Star” (aka Rambo!) has turned out, “he’ really is a handsome devil – much like his regular driver!
Now starts 26 weeks of constant work but I do love the predictability of our jobs particularly if we are lucky enough to get good numbers over the season, we are also working on a couple of projects that will bring us a boost, one being a new offering from Dublin that will include return rail travel, accommodation and a tour for less than the cost of one of our competitors day tours! Also we have commissioned a new website that will be a fun micro site that will link with this site but make our web presence a bit more fun and light hearted as well as revieling even more facts about your favourite tour operator - There is no hiding place it seems!
My music this week is still consisting of a joyous exploration of Elbows’ back catalogue which has led me (some would say inevitably!) to another Manchester band Doves who are currently impressing me with their incredibly diverse sound, too many influences to mention I think! They are possibly not as wordy as Elbow but just as creative and best of all they are from the North!
Richards Blog 18.04.09 – Back to normal!
After my deviations over the last few weeks it was firmly back to earth with a bang at 6.50 this morning when the alarm went off to wake us up for what will be an interesting day. There are 2 events that will spoil my well ordered and rehearsed plans for today’s tour.
Firstly we have the Ballyvaughan hill climb motor sport event which will result in closure of part of our route causing me to divert and miss out part of Black Head, I have come up with a plan that will involve a bit of doubling back but will at least mean the group will see Galway Bay so hopefully it will work out.
The other hassle is tonight as there is a big rugby match in Limerick (Munster v Leinster) which kicks of at 7.30 so the traffic will neatly coincide with our return toLimerick and to add to the fun I have people to make the Dublin train – Lanzarote seems a long way back now! When I eventually make it home we have to jump straight into the car and go to pick up the new coach which has been having its air con serviced locally so no early night!
Next week promises to be hectic with tests on buses, meeting and picking up and handing out our new brochures in Limerick and Dublin as well as one of us having a private tour on Friday, so no rest for a while, also of course we will be starting our full programme next weekend so starts 26 weeks of work without a break – good job we enjoy our work, it sounds strange but after all the traveling and being apart in the winter a bit of normality might be no bad thing!
Firstly we have the Ballyvaughan hill climb motor sport event which will result in closure of part of our route causing me to divert and miss out part of Black Head, I have come up with a plan that will involve a bit of doubling back but will at least mean the group will see Galway Bay so hopefully it will work out.
The other hassle is tonight as there is a big rugby match in Limerick (Munster v Leinster) which kicks of at 7.30 so the traffic will neatly coincide with our return toLimerick and to add to the fun I have people to make the Dublin train – Lanzarote seems a long way back now! When I eventually make it home we have to jump straight into the car and go to pick up the new coach which has been having its air con serviced locally so no early night!
Next week promises to be hectic with tests on buses, meeting and picking up and handing out our new brochures in Limerick and Dublin as well as one of us having a private tour on Friday, so no rest for a while, also of course we will be starting our full programme next weekend so starts 26 weeks of work without a break – good job we enjoy our work, it sounds strange but after all the traveling and being apart in the winter a bit of normality might be no bad thing!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Richards Blog 13.04.09 – Station Approach
“I haven't been myself of late
I haven't slept for several days
But coming home I feel like I Designed these buildings I walk by”
Copyright Elbow
Back to my currently favourite band, Elbow this week they seem to have a song that reflects my every mood and no wonder they have such dedicated fans. We are travelling yet again this week and taking a last chance to visit our folks again in Sunderland over in NE England this week. Chris is spending some time looking after her mum leaving me to be looked after by my lovely mother – a real hard job but hey such is life! I’am being fed to excess and generally spoilt – bliss! Chris and me had a great day yesterday and headed out for a long walk round some of my old patch from when I was a kid, I took Chris up to Tunstall Hills which brought back great memories ranging from going up playing to going up rather later with bottles of cider – all good stuff and great memories from a great child hood, as I hope my regular readers realise I love our life in Ireland but there is always something magical about going back to where you grew up. That’s what I think my Guy Garvey is talking about as he returns to Manchester in the above quote, this feeling might be peculiar to us Northerners but I have a feeling it wouldn’t matter where you grew up the feelings remain the same, its just it’s a bit more ‘grim up north!” – only kidding!
I have spent a great day today in Sunderland just aimlessly walking around and taking in the sights and sounds of a city that has changed beyond recognition since my childhood. Sunderland was one of the biggest ship building ports in England as well as a major coal mining town and I always felt it was an amazing place to grow up, I could write a book about sights and sounds but I will just share a couple of vivid memories:
The launch of a ship was always a big event and I well remember seeing one, the ship would tower above the buildings and if you think a ship looks massive in the water it is nothing compared to how it looks on the slipway. There would be the platform at the bow which would contain the inevitable dignitaries like yard directors, ship owners and the chosen one for the naming ceremony! After the long and inevitably boring speeches would come the breaking of the bottle of champagne over the bow! While all this was going on the underside of the ship would be a hive of activity as workers started removing chocks and shoring before the leading ganger would knock out the last chock and several thousands of tons of steel would start gracefully moving towards the river punctuated by chains snapping and clouds of dust. The ship would then float into the river where it would be caught by tugs, turned around and moored before the start of months of fitting and finally sea trials. There are still Sunderland built ships around the world so they certainly built them well!
As well as the ship yards there were dozens of other industries involved in supplies components and equipment so here goes one more, when I was a kid and inevitably being sent to bed early I became aware of a strange but somehow comforting sound that could be heard in the still night air over the town, it was a kind of low drone or rumble which would vary in pitch every few minutes. I never really thought about what this could be until curiosity got the better of me and I found out that the noise was a Doxford engine. Doxfords built some of the finest marine diesel engines in the world and when an engine was completed it was tested and set up on a test bed for several hours right through the night. I never reallt thought about this until recently but I think this might account for the “diesel in my veins” but I do still have a love for the sound of a good internal combustion engine in particular the mechanical symphony offered by a Napier Deltic – all another story!
I hope that you have enjoyed this bit of indulgence, I promise I will be back to business next week!
I haven't slept for several days
But coming home I feel like I Designed these buildings I walk by”
Copyright Elbow
Back to my currently favourite band, Elbow this week they seem to have a song that reflects my every mood and no wonder they have such dedicated fans. We are travelling yet again this week and taking a last chance to visit our folks again in Sunderland over in NE England this week. Chris is spending some time looking after her mum leaving me to be looked after by my lovely mother – a real hard job but hey such is life! I’am being fed to excess and generally spoilt – bliss! Chris and me had a great day yesterday and headed out for a long walk round some of my old patch from when I was a kid, I took Chris up to Tunstall Hills which brought back great memories ranging from going up playing to going up rather later with bottles of cider – all good stuff and great memories from a great child hood, as I hope my regular readers realise I love our life in Ireland but there is always something magical about going back to where you grew up. That’s what I think my Guy Garvey is talking about as he returns to Manchester in the above quote, this feeling might be peculiar to us Northerners but I have a feeling it wouldn’t matter where you grew up the feelings remain the same, its just it’s a bit more ‘grim up north!” – only kidding!
I have spent a great day today in Sunderland just aimlessly walking around and taking in the sights and sounds of a city that has changed beyond recognition since my childhood. Sunderland was one of the biggest ship building ports in England as well as a major coal mining town and I always felt it was an amazing place to grow up, I could write a book about sights and sounds but I will just share a couple of vivid memories:
The launch of a ship was always a big event and I well remember seeing one, the ship would tower above the buildings and if you think a ship looks massive in the water it is nothing compared to how it looks on the slipway. There would be the platform at the bow which would contain the inevitable dignitaries like yard directors, ship owners and the chosen one for the naming ceremony! After the long and inevitably boring speeches would come the breaking of the bottle of champagne over the bow! While all this was going on the underside of the ship would be a hive of activity as workers started removing chocks and shoring before the leading ganger would knock out the last chock and several thousands of tons of steel would start gracefully moving towards the river punctuated by chains snapping and clouds of dust. The ship would then float into the river where it would be caught by tugs, turned around and moored before the start of months of fitting and finally sea trials. There are still Sunderland built ships around the world so they certainly built them well!
As well as the ship yards there were dozens of other industries involved in supplies components and equipment so here goes one more, when I was a kid and inevitably being sent to bed early I became aware of a strange but somehow comforting sound that could be heard in the still night air over the town, it was a kind of low drone or rumble which would vary in pitch every few minutes. I never really thought about what this could be until curiosity got the better of me and I found out that the noise was a Doxford engine. Doxfords built some of the finest marine diesel engines in the world and when an engine was completed it was tested and set up on a test bed for several hours right through the night. I never reallt thought about this until recently but I think this might account for the “diesel in my veins” but I do still have a love for the sound of a good internal combustion engine in particular the mechanical symphony offered by a Napier Deltic – all another story!
I hope that you have enjoyed this bit of indulgence, I promise I will be back to business next week!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Richards Blog 05.04.09 – A week of bliss!
Well, you will be pleased to hear I’am keeping it brief this week! This has to be the nicest spot that I have ever written my blog in I’am sitting next to the pool in Lanzarote, the sun is beating down and the wind that has cooled a little over the last couple of days has dropped and the temperature must be 25 or so – absolutely gorgeous! We are spending lazy days doing not much really and nights eating great food and drinking too much! We had a great night last night in Tropical bar, the nightlife is very quiet by our standards mainly because the vast majority of tourists here are families but last night being Saturday late on a whole load of local youngsters invaded the place and the dj cranked up a load of Spanish and latino house music which I much preferred to the mass market euro dance that seems to be everywhere here, in particularly Lady Gaga who is driving me gaga! The vibe from the great music and the lovely warm locals really made a great night and I’am afraid we were the only tourists left by 3.30 when we left. As you may gather I do really like Canarion people in general, I find a warmth an friendliness that is often so lacking from holidays – in some ways a bit like our other favourite spot – Thailand.
We left on Thursday and I must admit that today is the first time that I have not thought about business and started relaxing, I guess I may have switched off in time to switch on again for work on Friday and a tour on Saturday, we are actually making a last trip to England the week after then it really is back to the grind before starting our full tour programme on 25th April, then follows 26 weeks on relentless work, much a I enjoy my job I don’t even want to think about it so I shall sign off now and head to the bar for a livener – Cheers for now !!!
We left on Thursday and I must admit that today is the first time that I have not thought about business and started relaxing, I guess I may have switched off in time to switch on again for work on Friday and a tour on Saturday, we are actually making a last trip to England the week after then it really is back to the grind before starting our full tour programme on 25th April, then follows 26 weeks on relentless work, much a I enjoy my job I don’t even want to think about it so I shall sign off now and head to the bar for a livener – Cheers for now !!!
Richards Blog – 28.03.09 – Holidays at last !
Those of you who regularly follow my blog will know that we had to cancel our annual holiday in Thailand this year due to Chris having to stay in England to look after her mum (who is due out of hospital on Monday). As our full tour programme starts on 25th April it was not looking much like we would get a break but I took the decision that we have to get some time off together and booked a week in Lanzarote leaving on Thursday – not Thailand but at least it should be warm! We will therefore not have our weekend tours next weekend and if you were thinking of booking - my apologies – we hope you understand!
It has been a crazy week at home trying to get the 1001 things that needed doing done including new brochures, getting our new coach finished and and …….! We have also been talking to some our accommodation providers and we have secured some great accommodation for this years package tours, there has never been a better time to book rooms inIreland, we have therefore managed to keep our prices at last years’ level – some feat in today’s business climate! We often think we are too cheap and we do get e.mails confirming what is included, I often feel people cannot believe our prices compared to other comparable tours. As you might realise we are so competitive because we operate our own vehicles and we never offer commission to third parties, look at our competitors and see how many travel sites and supposedly impartial review sites include their products, why do you think that is?
Anyhow despite the lack of holidays we are spoiling for a fight and now have the vehicles, itineraries and pricing to meet the big boys head on and believe me after 11 years we are still spoiling for a fight!
I don’t know if I mentioned this but I’am currently re reading a book called “Buses under fire” which tells stories of the people involved in operating the bus service in Ulster during the troubles and it makes fascinating if a little disturbing reading. One of the great characters was the Managing Director of Ulsterbus and later Belfast Citybus a gentleman called Werner Huebeck who as you may gather was German born, Mr Huebeck was an utterly formidable person and took many hard decisions during that difficult time and is probably best known in transport folklore for removing bombs and suspect packages from buses himself and largely refusing the assistance of the British Army, this sounds rather dramatic but reading between the lines I believe he was not a great maverick but a meticulously calculated risk taker and he knew precisely what he was doing! Also Werner had a unique way of doing business when dealing with both sides of the troubles he would never do deals or favours and because of this he has always said that he had the upper hand in any negotiations as he had what he terms the “moral superiority”.
I truly believe that our growth has been truly organic and built solely on the strength of our commitment and the quality of our product, we were never in this business or indeed this country before and so have never been able to call in favours and connections, indeed it could be said that we have a moral superiority that many of our competitors could never have – just a thought!
I’am even having a holiday from Blogging until I get back but be warned I may come back from my break with even more crazy thoughts in fact there is one burning in my head right now – if you think that I’am tour mad you could be right – watch this space!!! By the way, no Elbow quote this week – I think I have rambled on enough!
It has been a crazy week at home trying to get the 1001 things that needed doing done including new brochures, getting our new coach finished and and …….! We have also been talking to some our accommodation providers and we have secured some great accommodation for this years package tours, there has never been a better time to book rooms inIreland, we have therefore managed to keep our prices at last years’ level – some feat in today’s business climate! We often think we are too cheap and we do get e.mails confirming what is included, I often feel people cannot believe our prices compared to other comparable tours. As you might realise we are so competitive because we operate our own vehicles and we never offer commission to third parties, look at our competitors and see how many travel sites and supposedly impartial review sites include their products, why do you think that is?
Anyhow despite the lack of holidays we are spoiling for a fight and now have the vehicles, itineraries and pricing to meet the big boys head on and believe me after 11 years we are still spoiling for a fight!
I don’t know if I mentioned this but I’am currently re reading a book called “Buses under fire” which tells stories of the people involved in operating the bus service in Ulster during the troubles and it makes fascinating if a little disturbing reading. One of the great characters was the Managing Director of Ulsterbus and later Belfast Citybus a gentleman called Werner Huebeck who as you may gather was German born, Mr Huebeck was an utterly formidable person and took many hard decisions during that difficult time and is probably best known in transport folklore for removing bombs and suspect packages from buses himself and largely refusing the assistance of the British Army, this sounds rather dramatic but reading between the lines I believe he was not a great maverick but a meticulously calculated risk taker and he knew precisely what he was doing! Also Werner had a unique way of doing business when dealing with both sides of the troubles he would never do deals or favours and because of this he has always said that he had the upper hand in any negotiations as he had what he terms the “moral superiority”.
I truly believe that our growth has been truly organic and built solely on the strength of our commitment and the quality of our product, we were never in this business or indeed this country before and so have never been able to call in favours and connections, indeed it could be said that we have a moral superiority that many of our competitors could never have – just a thought!
I’am even having a holiday from Blogging until I get back but be warned I may come back from my break with even more crazy thoughts in fact there is one burning in my head right now – if you think that I’am tour mad you could be right – watch this space!!! By the way, no Elbow quote this week – I think I have rambled on enough!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Richards Blog – 21.03.09 – Asleep in the back !
I’am enjoying this Elbow lyrics idea, I have managed to use an album title as my blog subject this week, I had a tour the other day with a very nice group other than the fact that they spent most of the time we were traveling sleeping! I’am a poor traveller on a coach as I fall asleep very quickly (if I trust the driver!) and I’am never sure whether to take sleeping passengers as a compliment or an insult! I suppose it’s a compliment in that they are relaxed and comfortable with my driving but they are clearly not gripped by my commentary!
I got thinking about this on Thursday night when me and Chris went out for a meal and a few drinks in Limerick, the meal was at The Texas Steakout and was as good as ever by the way. We then retired to Smyths bar for refreshment where there was a local band playing called the Lollygaggers, when we arrived there was about 10 people in the bar who were largely indifferent to the band despite us applauding particularly when they did a great Bell x1 cover and I really felt for them trying to whip up a reluctant crowd – they had the same problem as me the other day!
When the bar filled up a bit the atmosphere changed and a lively night ensued and the you could tell the band relaxed and enjoyed themselves and I will guarantee everyone else in the audience felt the same. This is often how I find my job goes one day you seem to be talking to yourself then another you have a laugh and interact with the passengers and I feel my best comes through on those occasions but if I get no feedback no matter how hard I try not to I find myself simply “going through the motions” I’am sure you have guessed which days I prefer, on the days when we have a bit of fun time seems to fly!
Now I know a lot of people are shy and just because they aren’t cracking jokes doesn’t mean they aren’t enjoying themselves if fact I have been amazed on occasions when someone I have hardly interacted with all day leaves the tour at night and tells me they had a great day and gives me a generous tip - that’s a great feeling, they have taken what they wanted from the experience and enjoyed themselves in their own way.
So if you are taking a tour, try to have a chat with your driver if you like what he or she is doing and you might find you get even more from the tour but then again if you are the loner type sit back and enjoy but if you do enjoy your day make a point of telling your driver – you might be surprised how much a small bit of encouragement means to them.
We are going to pick the winner of our “Name a coach” competition next week I think we both like the same one but we are still open to suggestions so drop me a line if you have one. We also have some news next week about a new micro website which will be much more interactive and lively with a forum and maybe an alternative blog which might appeal to those of you who follow my blog. By the way if you do have any thoughts or comments about this blog or anything else why not e.mail me or are you “Asleep in the Back?”
I got thinking about this on Thursday night when me and Chris went out for a meal and a few drinks in Limerick, the meal was at The Texas Steakout and was as good as ever by the way. We then retired to Smyths bar for refreshment where there was a local band playing called the Lollygaggers, when we arrived there was about 10 people in the bar who were largely indifferent to the band despite us applauding particularly when they did a great Bell x1 cover and I really felt for them trying to whip up a reluctant crowd – they had the same problem as me the other day!
When the bar filled up a bit the atmosphere changed and a lively night ensued and the you could tell the band relaxed and enjoyed themselves and I will guarantee everyone else in the audience felt the same. This is often how I find my job goes one day you seem to be talking to yourself then another you have a laugh and interact with the passengers and I feel my best comes through on those occasions but if I get no feedback no matter how hard I try not to I find myself simply “going through the motions” I’am sure you have guessed which days I prefer, on the days when we have a bit of fun time seems to fly!
Now I know a lot of people are shy and just because they aren’t cracking jokes doesn’t mean they aren’t enjoying themselves if fact I have been amazed on occasions when someone I have hardly interacted with all day leaves the tour at night and tells me they had a great day and gives me a generous tip - that’s a great feeling, they have taken what they wanted from the experience and enjoyed themselves in their own way.
So if you are taking a tour, try to have a chat with your driver if you like what he or she is doing and you might find you get even more from the tour but then again if you are the loner type sit back and enjoy but if you do enjoy your day make a point of telling your driver – you might be surprised how much a small bit of encouragement means to them.
We are going to pick the winner of our “Name a coach” competition next week I think we both like the same one but we are still open to suggestions so drop me a line if you have one. We also have some news next week about a new micro website which will be much more interactive and lively with a forum and maybe an alternative blog which might appeal to those of you who follow my blog. By the way if you do have any thoughts or comments about this blog or anything else why not e.mail me or are you “Asleep in the Back?”
Richards Blog – 18.03.09 – Throw those curtains wide !
Well we are back to it, I write this at Caherconnoll on our Paddys week special Cliffs tour, we actually started last Saturday so breaking in gently! It is an absolutely beautiful day today and it truly is a pleasure to be back behind the wheel after a slightly disjointed winter!
The great news is that Chris is finally back home and her mum is well on the mend, we actually arrived back on the old faithful P&O ferry last week after some great fun over the last 2 weeks. First of all it was the sad anniversary of Chris’ brother micheal passing away but we chose to remember it in a way that I’am sure he would have been proud of on a pub crawl around the West end of London to some of his favourite haunts with his friends then a superb drunken Malaysian meal – a great night! Also a good day inLondon was had (for me anyway!) as our visit coincided with the London transport Museum annex open day at Acton. There was some great stuff to see for a bus and train bore like me and the highlight was a ride round the local area on RM1 – the first Routemaster bus built in 1958 – they don’t make them like that anymore!
The other big event was Chris being 40 (again !!) on 11th March, we celebrated on our way back to Ireland in Liverpool and had a great night in some great pubs and a superb meal in a great Indian restaurant called The Masterchef – so nice to get a real un pretentious Indian meal and you can bring your own wine – great for the recession that we all talking ourselves into at the moment! On the subject of Liverpool if you like a magnificent traditional pub go to The Philharmonic – it is truly stunning and a great pint as well!
The other big event was Chris being 40 (again !!) on 11th March, we celebrated on our way back to Ireland in Liverpool and had a great night in some great pubs and a superb meal in a great Indian restaurant called The Masterchef – so nice to get a real un pretentious Indian meal and you can bring your own wine – great for the recession that we all talking ourselves into at the moment! On the subject of Liverpool if you like a magnificent traditional pub go to The Philharmonic – it is truly stunning and a great pint as well!
Well, back to work, we are now operating our Cliffs most Saturdays and Cork and Blarney on Sundays until 25th April when our full programme starts, our new coach is nearly finished and I will be announcing our winning name soon but if you have a suggestion send it to me and I might just like it better – you never know!
Music – As I think I mentioned we went to see Elbow in Newcastle a couple of weeks ago and I can honestly say it was the most impressive and enjoyable gig I have ever been to, those guys have serious talent and I love the wordy lyrical songs that really make you think, if you like a truly deep and insightful song check out “Switching Off” from their first album, I’am so impressed with Elbow that I’am going to start giving you an appropriate Elbow quote to sum up my week so this week is predictable – “Throw those curtains wide, one day like this a year would see me right”
Us let loose in Soho!
Me and a proper bus!
Richards Blog – 28.02.09 – Still home alone!
Well Chris is still in England but it has been a really busy week with vehicles coming in and out of the garage for various repairs and jobs. A long term job has been on our new coach which is really looking lovely now, as it has had a full re-trim the interior is literally as new but that showed up some lovely wood work which was looking a bit faded and tired so it has been taken out, sanded and varnished and stained – not a big job on the face of it but very time consuming and extremely boring! In fact the kitchen has become a bit of a production line with timber lying everywhere – good job I’am on my own! As well as that I have been steadily working my way through servicing, a few repairs and a couple of oil leaks – so a busy week.
I should also re count the exciting journey bringing the new coach home back last month. We collected the vehicle from our normal coachbuilders – Gardiners at Spennymoor in County Durham and started on the journey across to Liverpool where we were booked on the night P& O sailing to Dublin, we left about 2.00 to give plenty of time as the weather was not great – freezing cold with snow flurries. We headed across the famous A66 over Bowes Moor and Staindrop the weather was glorious with sun and a blanket of snow, the road was fine though Chris had a turn at driving over that stretch and I took over for the next section towards Tebay then onto the M6 motorway as I was heading towards Kirby Stephen I realised all was not well, the engine wasn’t pulling well and we had an awful lot of black smoke, I immediately recognised the problem from my Renault Truck sales days – the exhaust brake had stuck on. We stopped and I managed to get underneath (in deep snow – lovely!) and I was right, we needed some wire to tie the exhaust brake, we found a friendly car garage who helped us out – all for £7.00 – not bad. We then headed to Liverpool a little behind time but with time in hand. I then reversed into the lower vehicle deck on the P & O Ferry Norbank – this was fairly awkward and done entirely on mirrors with inches to spare – Chris didn’t volunteer to drive at that point!
We then retired to the bar for a couple of well earned drinks and a very good dinner before turning for the night in a very nice cabin. Sweet dreams were shattered when we were woken at 4.30 just off Dublin, we arrived in Dublin Port at 5.30 and headed down to start the coach, I turned the key and nothing! Flat batteries now, I must now point out that the batteries were entirely my fault, I had the heated mirrors on when reversing and forgot to turn them off! Anyway P & O were really helpful and provided jump leads and we got a jump start from one of their vehicles, we then headed home and arrived about 9.30 – what a journey!
Just one aside to that I remember bring my last coach Perry over on the same ferry in 2001 and that wouldn’t start so maybe it’s a good omen!
I will post some pics of the journey next week as Chris has them in UK, I’am hopefully heading over by ferry and car next week and even better hopefully bringing Chris back – news next week!
Now for a bit of Music – I have recently re discovered the band Elbow, I heard some of their early stuff and liked it although somehow I never caught up with them until on my last trip to England when I bought their latest album “The Seldom Seen Kid” and I have to say I’am bowled over by it, so much so that I’am going to see them in Newcastle on Thursday night, I will let you know what I think!
I should also re count the exciting journey bringing the new coach home back last month. We collected the vehicle from our normal coachbuilders – Gardiners at Spennymoor in County Durham and started on the journey across to Liverpool where we were booked on the night P& O sailing to Dublin, we left about 2.00 to give plenty of time as the weather was not great – freezing cold with snow flurries. We headed across the famous A66 over Bowes Moor and Staindrop the weather was glorious with sun and a blanket of snow, the road was fine though Chris had a turn at driving over that stretch and I took over for the next section towards Tebay then onto the M6 motorway as I was heading towards Kirby Stephen I realised all was not well, the engine wasn’t pulling well and we had an awful lot of black smoke, I immediately recognised the problem from my Renault Truck sales days – the exhaust brake had stuck on. We stopped and I managed to get underneath (in deep snow – lovely!) and I was right, we needed some wire to tie the exhaust brake, we found a friendly car garage who helped us out – all for £7.00 – not bad. We then headed to Liverpool a little behind time but with time in hand. I then reversed into the lower vehicle deck on the P & O Ferry Norbank – this was fairly awkward and done entirely on mirrors with inches to spare – Chris didn’t volunteer to drive at that point!
We then retired to the bar for a couple of well earned drinks and a very good dinner before turning for the night in a very nice cabin. Sweet dreams were shattered when we were woken at 4.30 just off Dublin, we arrived in Dublin Port at 5.30 and headed down to start the coach, I turned the key and nothing! Flat batteries now, I must now point out that the batteries were entirely my fault, I had the heated mirrors on when reversing and forgot to turn them off! Anyway P & O were really helpful and provided jump leads and we got a jump start from one of their vehicles, we then headed home and arrived about 9.30 – what a journey!
Just one aside to that I remember bring my last coach Perry over on the same ferry in 2001 and that wouldn’t start so maybe it’s a good omen!
I will post some pics of the journey next week as Chris has them in UK, I’am hopefully heading over by ferry and car next week and even better hopefully bringing Chris back – news next week!
Now for a bit of Music – I have recently re discovered the band Elbow, I heard some of their early stuff and liked it although somehow I never caught up with them until on my last trip to England when I bought their latest album “The Seldom Seen Kid” and I have to say I’am bowled over by it, so much so that I’am going to see them in Newcastle on Thursday night, I will let you know what I think!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Richards Blog – 22.02.09 – Its been a while!
Fitting a new water pump!
First of all appologies for not updating my blog for nearly 2 months but life has been more than a bit strange of late! Chris is still in England looking after her mother who is thankfully now well on the mend. Meanwhile I have been working flat out getting everything ready for the season including (amongst 1000 other things):
Fitting a new water pump to Curt (aka Celtic Princess) Curt has had a great season but has been tactfully telling us all is not well with his fan belt and tensioner system by giving the occasional squeal, so I decided it was time to investigate this included removing the radiator and must of the front of the bus! Once there the radiator was suspect and water pump so as usual everything was replaced with Mercedes parts and I’am delighted to report he now sounds sweeter than ever and ready for 2009!
Robbie (aka Celtic Pride!) has also had a whole load of attention both by me and our long suffering mechanic Tom to overcome some problems that developed last year. After all that work it was looking a bit tatty with a few scratches and stone chips so in the Barratt spirit of never ding jobs by half the whole front end was repainted and even though I say it myself it now looks great!
Our new coach Celtic ??? (remember our competition?) is coming along well and I should have some pics soon,at the moment I’am fitting a new PA and DVD system, again we never scrimp on PA equipment as it is vital that it is reliable for your enjoyment and we now have the same system in each coach as we consider it to be the best.
So plenty to keep me busy here but just one quick story, I have been back to England to see Chris a couple of times but the last one was priceless! I had spoken to her on the phone and she seemed really down as her mum was still in hospital and she was on her own so I planned a surprise visit, I asked a friend of mine to invite Chris out for Dinner to cheer her up one Sunday night so they arranged to meet in a pub in Sunderland. Meanwhile I had booked a flight from Shannon to Newcastle and was going to turn up instead of him. I really had to cover my tracks so said I was having a day out on my motorbike, I texted Chris through the day telling her where I was (all lies!!) and when I got to Sunderland gave her a quick call to check she was in the pub pretending I had stopped in Limerick for dinner on my way home! It all took planning but her face when I walked in to that pub was a picture, I will remember that moment for ever – I think it was the boost that we both needed.
A bit of music for you now – if one song reminds me of that happy meeting it is by Irish band Bellx1 called The Great Defector – check it out – it just fitted in with that occasion so well!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Richards Blog – 03.01.09 – Happy New Year!
Well we had a lovely relaxing Christmas with the families but decided to head off and do our own thing for the New Year Celebrations, we decided to have 3 nights in Birmingham – one of our favourite cities, calling Birmingham a favourite might sound odd but it is really lively and a great place to eat for us with our love of Indian food.
Talking of food we went to our favourite restaurant on our first night, Dawat in Sparkbrook which is a typical Balti house with a modern twist and to make it even better you can bring your own drink! I can particularly recommend the Chilli Chicken – not for the faint hearted!
On New Years Eve (and my Birthday – 21 again!) we celebrated in style at The Jam House – a superb music venue part owned by Jools Holland no less. It was a great night and the music excellent, in particular the headline act The Subterraneans put on a great show with some excellent covers including a great favourite of mine “She sells Sactuary” by the Cult. The band have been playing alongside Hazel O’Connor (remember her?) and there is a great video on their website http://www.thesubs.co.uk/ That vid inspired me to check out some of Hazel’s tracks including “Give me an Inch” - good stuff!
After all that fun we had a great chilled day most of which was spent in bed recovering at our hotel, then watching Dr Who in the afternoon – not my usual thing but I enjoyed it nonetheless – simple things! On 2nd Jan we headed back to Sunderland to plan the delivery of our new coach next week – watch this space!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Richards Blog – 29.12.08 - Merry Christmas!
Further to my last blog talking about the end of our most challenging season it is time to look forward to next year and enjoy the Christmas and New Year Celebrations. I’am typing this at my mothers in Sunderland in North East England where we are spending Christmas, our celebrations started back on 20th December when we headed over to Manchester to join my sister and see The Pogues at Manchester Arena, it was a great show and many of my fave tracks were played including my all time fave “Rainy night in Soho” and “Broad Majestic Shannon” but one of the highlights for me was the support – The Stranglers no less who were superb! We enjoyed Manchester as well and the Christmas markets were really great – a festive time was had helped by some great Manchester ale – Holts Bitter being the best!
We headed over to UK on 23rd December by ferry and had an early Christmas present when we went to see our new coach and we are absolutely delighted with it – watch this space it will be heading back next week! We had a lovely break and a great Christmas with the families, we are heading away for New year but I will report on that in the next edition !
Finally I would just like to pass on the compliments of the season to you all and we hope we might see you on one of our tours next year.
We headed over to UK on 23rd December by ferry and had an early Christmas present when we went to see our new coach and we are absolutely delighted with it – watch this space it will be heading back next week! We had a lovely break and a great Christmas with the families, we are heading away for New year but I will report on that in the next edition !
Finally I would just like to pass on the compliments of the season to you all and we hope we might see you on one of our tours next year.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Richards Blog – 30.11.08 - End of our Annus Horribillis – Thank goodness!
We ran our last tour of 2008 on Saturday and typically for this year it wasn’t without its problems but at least it draws our hardest ever season to an end!
Business wise it has been very challenging with poor visitor numbers and the absolutely terrible weather we experienced particularly through what should have been our “peak” season in August. We have also had a share of vehicle related problems but nothing too serious, just expensive! We have, as always, survived and will come back stronger and wiser and ready to fight the recession that everyone is talking us into! I think a good thought for us this season is “if it doesn’t kill us it can only make us stronger!” Believe me we are certainly stronger and so the competitors that have taken some of our business this year had better beware – we are spoiling for a good fight – so bring it on!
Personally our lives have not been great this year and it really started back in February when we got back from Thailand and were faced with being involved in a court case that went back many years but caused me a few sleepless nights but came out ok at the end! Next came the tragic death of Chris’ brother Michael and the stress for both of us in making funeral arrangements etc. Now unfortunately Chris’ mother has been taken ill and will be having a major operation early next year forcing us to cancel our holidays in Thailand after Christmas.
So all in all not too happy a picture but at least we have a bit of time to ourselves although we are currently busy planning for next year and preparing our sales vehicles, in fact it is all go at the Silvermine Garage at the moment, cleaning servicing and repairing vehicles as well as having a long overdue clear out including re cycling our stock of old brochures totaling 15 boxes!
I suppose finally I should tell you where I’m writing this, delighted to say in my chair in front of the telly at home with a nice pint of Marstons beer, so heres to 2009 – it can only get better – cheers!
Business wise it has been very challenging with poor visitor numbers and the absolutely terrible weather we experienced particularly through what should have been our “peak” season in August. We have also had a share of vehicle related problems but nothing too serious, just expensive! We have, as always, survived and will come back stronger and wiser and ready to fight the recession that everyone is talking us into! I think a good thought for us this season is “if it doesn’t kill us it can only make us stronger!” Believe me we are certainly stronger and so the competitors that have taken some of our business this year had better beware – we are spoiling for a good fight – so bring it on!
Personally our lives have not been great this year and it really started back in February when we got back from Thailand and were faced with being involved in a court case that went back many years but caused me a few sleepless nights but came out ok at the end! Next came the tragic death of Chris’ brother Michael and the stress for both of us in making funeral arrangements etc. Now unfortunately Chris’ mother has been taken ill and will be having a major operation early next year forcing us to cancel our holidays in Thailand after Christmas.
So all in all not too happy a picture but at least we have a bit of time to ourselves although we are currently busy planning for next year and preparing our sales vehicles, in fact it is all go at the Silvermine Garage at the moment, cleaning servicing and repairing vehicles as well as having a long overdue clear out including re cycling our stock of old brochures totaling 15 boxes!
I suppose finally I should tell you where I’m writing this, delighted to say in my chair in front of the telly at home with a nice pint of Marstons beer, so heres to 2009 – it can only get better – cheers!
Richards Blog – 29.12.08 - Merry Christmas!
Further to my last blog talking about the end of our most challenging season it is time to look forward to next year and enjoy the Christmas and New Year Celebrations. I’am typing this at my mothers in Sunderland in North East England where we are spending Christmas, our celebrations started back on 20th December when we headed over to Manchester to join my sister and see The Pogues at Manchester Arena, it was a great show and many of my fave tracks were played including my all time fave “Rainy night in Soho” and “Broad Majestic Shannon” but one of the highlights for me was the support – The Stranglers no less who were superb! We enjoyed Manchester as well and the Christmas markets were really great – a festive time was had helped by some great Manchester ale – Holts Bitter being the best!
We headed over to UK on 23rd December by ferry and had an early Christmas present when we went to see our new coach and we are absolutely delighted with it – watch this space it will be heading back next week! We had a lovely break and a great Christmas with the families, we are heading away for New year but I will report on that in the next edition !
Finally I would just like to pass on the compliments of the season to you all and we hope we might see you on one of our tours next year.
We headed over to UK on 23rd December by ferry and had an early Christmas present when we went to see our new coach and we are absolutely delighted with it – watch this space it will be heading back next week! We had a lovely break and a great Christmas with the families, we are heading away for New year but I will report on that in the next edition !
Finally I would just like to pass on the compliments of the season to you all and we hope we might see you on one of our tours next year.
Richards Blog – 22.11.08 - Absent friends !!
Its been a tough week for me as on Monday I parted with “my” bus – Celtic Explorer or Perry to his friends! We really do get far too attached to our buses but as you may have gathered if you read my blog regularly Perry has been a bit special! We have operated it (him?) for 6 seasons now and other than one fairly minor breakdown with Chris a few years ago it has been really superb and it was really hard to part with particularly when you don’t know if its’ replacement will be anywhere near as good! Perry has gone to Flynns coaches in Castlemaine, Co.Kerry and we hope they have as good luck with him as we have!
I actually typed this weeks’ blog in 2 sessions firstly in O’Connors pub in Doolin and currently in the departure lounge at Shannon Airport as we are heading to UK again on business and pleasure, we are going to check the progress of our new coach which is now painted and should be going for trimming soon so we are hopeful that we might take delivery before Christmas. It’s been a long time since we have bought a coach that has had as much refurbishment as this one so it will be really exciting to see it taking shape. Our new purchase means that we will have air conditioning on all our tours for next season so lets hope we have the weather to make good use of it! We are heading back on Friday with one of the Mercedes Vario coaches we have bought which has been painted and paneled so will be as good as new and up for sale very soon. Incidentally we are flying back on a new service from our fiends at Ryanair fromShannon to Newcastle which is great for us so lets hope it lasts and might be extended to daily soon.
Before leaving our yard after spending hours removing signwriting!
Richards Blog – 08.11.08 – A week away - bliss!
Writing this at our new coffee break – The Burren House as Caherconnoll has closed for the winter and it is a wild day but I must admit to being in good spirits as we had our first real break for 27 weeks last week. We have been over to Birminghamto attend a coach trade show at the NEC we really enjoyed our few days and saw some interesting things which will be used in our new vehicle (which should be painted now). As usual we looked at all the new and exotic coaches and I was just musing over how my attitude has changed since we first visited the show in 1997, then I looked at the coaches and thought “one day we will have one of those” but now I ‘am older and wiser I look at them and think “very nice but how do you pay for it and what happens when that swanky computer screen flashes up a fault right in the middle of the Burren on a stormy day in Novemeber!”
If you think this shows a lack of ambition you are dead right – I’am quite happy with what we have and our current vehicles are plenty complicated enough thank you! I must admit to currently worrying how good my new purchase will be since its predecessor has been so great! But such is progress…….
After attending to business we went to Chesterfield to visit my sister, Linda, we had a great time there and celebrated Guy Fawks night (5th November) by going to a firework display with bombfire and the most terrifying white knuckle fairground ride (a very lame ghost train!) but a great laugh was had before flying back from Birmingham to Shannon (Ryanair again and no problems at all!!).
Instead of books and music I'am starting a new feature and putting some pics into my blog each week:
Us and Russ (my sisters' partner)
Chris (with ears!!) with Linda and Russ
If you think this shows a lack of ambition you are dead right – I’am quite happy with what we have and our current vehicles are plenty complicated enough thank you! I must admit to currently worrying how good my new purchase will be since its predecessor has been so great! But such is progress…….
After attending to business we went to Chesterfield to visit my sister, Linda, we had a great time there and celebrated Guy Fawks night (5th November) by going to a firework display with bombfire and the most terrifying white knuckle fairground ride (a very lame ghost train!) but a great laugh was had before flying back from Birmingham to Shannon (Ryanair again and no problems at all!!).
Instead of books and music I'am starting a new feature and putting some pics into my blog each week:
Us and Russ (my sisters' partner)
Chris (with ears!!) with Linda and Russ
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