Tenby Boxing Day Swim 2009

This will be the 39th swim, where over 600 people go swimming in the sea – & all in aid of charity. Organised chaos & pure insanity. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Raft, canoe, sailing dinghy & long boat races from 11 o’clock, fancy dress parade at 11.20, then ‘maroon & in’ for the swimmers. Back out from the water (never as cold as you dread) hot soup, bonfire, medal, change & …. ready to celebrate a) being alive, b) Christmas & c) surviving the Swim ordeal.

Exhilarating!

Facebook connection

Welcome to our new Facebook presence, the latest link in our sociable (media) hotel.

Jazz Brunch – Claudia and The Jazz Masters

Last Jazz Brunch of the year now behind us: Claudia was in great voice & her Masters – John, Wayne, Nino & Dom – were all in fine form. Li Harding with Gary Phillips Trio coming up on 24th January next.
Meanwhile, we’ve got a little seasonal celebrating to do …….

Lightning Strikes Tenby

24 hours after lightning strikes, Fourcroft is OK. Other businesses in Tenby are not so fortunate, with electrical equipment suffering major, sometimes terminal, damage.

Lightning Strike

At about 11.30 last night a lightning strike knocked out significant electrical apparatus in Tenby. Some shops have not been able to use their telephones or credit/debit card terminals thoughout today. Indeed, there are reports of major destruction of computers, copiers, telephone hardware and other equipment.

Fourcroft’s new fire detection system, just days away from its initial commission, sounded off last night and required an engineer’s visit today. Mercifully, the “UPS” safeguarding system we employ has preserved all our crucial electrical installations.

And, despite the inconvenience to our customers, the false alarm proved that the failsafe systems we use do ensure minimum safety standards for everybody’s benefit.

Last Jazz Brunch of the year

Sunday 29th November sees Claudia’s Jazz Masters at Fourcroft’s last Jazz Brunch of the year. The Icelandic diva brings a revised line-up to perform her mix of classic standards, reminiscent of Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.

Fourth Tenby Blues Festival

What a weekend that was! Despite gale force winds & howling rain (not wolves), last Friday saw record attendances, with Saturday exceeding even that with sell-out concerts at both the de Valence Pavilion & the late night Giltar Hotel. The pubs, clubs & restaurants saw full crowds following the Blues Trail on Saturday & healthy audience figures for the Sunday lunchtime gig. A full Lifeboat Tavern on Sunday night proved how many Festival goers had even stayed for the extra night.

All in all, a fine Festival performance that bodes well for its future. And next year’s dates: 12th / 14th November 2010. Put that in your diary!

WiFi

We are now WiFi throughout:  Evolvement  Networks, of Milford Haven, have installed a sophisticated system incorporating user name & password access controls. And, as part of the testing, we have learned that our broadband service sometimes hits 10 Mbps! For us non-techies, that’s quite fast, apparently.

Another (financial) year gone by

Our accounting year expires at the end of September so we’re now in a new year! Let’s hope there’s less economic turmoil ahead.

Having said that,  our last year has been saved by the higher costs of holidaying in the Eurozone as well as people making up their minds at the last minute, sometimes apparently after hearing the next three days’ weather forecast.

So we are fortunate not to have been as badly affected as many others and for the town not to have been presented with as many empty buildings as seemed likely earlier in the year.

We’ve just been gifted with a quote for fire detection equipment to comply with “L2″ standards and on Monday embark upon installation of a wi-fi system to cover the entire hotel. Add onto the shopping list the cost of duvets for the third (and final) floor and an industrial washing machine we’ve had to replace and don’t forget our VAT bill at the end of this month and ………… say goodbye to that little financial bubble.

However, who would want to keep money right now – interest rates are not exactly wunderbar.

Youngest makes it to the London busk-off

Phoebe  was selected into the last 10 in the latest London buskers competition. The final heat was judged yesterday in London’s Indigo O2, complete with Boris Johnson and followed by Question Time.

She didn’t make the last three, but heck, the lady done well. So congrats Phoebe Martha.