Lake District News from Linthwaite House

When I was a schoolboy I was encouraged to play lost of hearty games such as rugby in the winter and cricket in the summer. I loved it. But we also had to take part in some (to my mind) very boring athletics. Bad performance was incentivised by being whacked with a plimsoll. I mean, if you aren't built for running, what fun can there be in it unless it's to fetch a football.
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Last week I had to go to Ikea, the Trafford Centre, and then Manchester centre. Don't get me wrong, I do like Manchester, except when they give me parking tickets after 6pm. That night we had tickets to see the wonderful Wilco which softened the blow but also meant I couldn't avoid the shopping bit
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Occasionally I become a tourist. My dear old Mum hadn't been to the Lakes for over 15 years, so I was looking forward to showing off the spectacular countryside in all its glory to her. After a long drive up from Bournemouth the 89 year old lapped up a splendid afternoon tea, followed closely by dinner, and slept well in one of our new ground floor rooms.
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Just back from the AA Awards dinner on Monday night at the Hilton, Park Lane. 750 people in the wonderful hotel business enjoyed an amazing dinner produced by guest Chef Paul Gagnaire, he of the eponymous 3 star Michelin restaurant in Paris and of Sketch in London. (He also has an outpost in Las Vegas at the Mandarin Hotel.) The salmon fillet starter was beautiful in every way. The surprising main course choice of blanquette de veau, albeit with a twist, reminded me of catering college and Ceserani & Kinton; the Practical Cookery book we all learned from. The twist was ginger; onion fondue and Paris mushrooms; lettuce filled with venere black rice; and brunoise of green apple and chive. A little bit more complicated than the way we used to do it. Fabulous though. People who know me will be amazed I am not going to write about the dessert. The petit fours were amazing, though I had to restrain my wife from eating the chocolate; it was the stand that held the petit fours. She doesn’t like waste.
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In the mid 70's I sent myself on a five day marketing course at the Inst. of Marketing in Cookham. It was great because it wasn't just about hotels and no-one else on the course had anything to do with them. It was also the time Fawlty Towers came out. As the course was residential, we were off in the evenings and one night we sat down to watch Basil and co.. My leg was pulled mercilessly. Was it really like that Mike? Well, yes actually, it was.
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A week on from the riots and I've been listening with fascination to all the debate and reasoning that has been attempted in order to try to make sense of the problem.
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The continuing adventures of Mrs Blade. OK, back to 1976 ish. Lovely hotel, South coast of England; must be Hove actually. Mrs Blade, one of four permanent residents, all of whom think they are blessed with superpowers, demands to see the Manager. That'll be me then.
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One or two of you may have noticed an occasional mention of the BootBoys with whom I sometimes go walking. This one was not a particularly exhausting walk and appealingly involved a pub. Even better it started and finished at Linthwaite so can be used by our eager guests who enjoy a 5 mile ramble (each way) away from everyone else.
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Here I am back at the desk after two weeks holiday. Where, you ask? New York, Nantucket and Long Island. Not our first choice, but an old hotel friend was getting married in New York where he lives now, so it seemed like a good idea. We wouldn't have missed it for the world. But that's another story; the amazing wedding reception in a Museum on the Bowery. Wow.
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For years my PR people have told me I should do a definitive Lakes' guide incorporating all the wonderful things to do and where to eat. I have started but not finished this many times. But the Blog allows me to drip feed this information instead, so from time to time I am going to recommend some of my favourite Lake District things.
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What's not to like about the Royal Family? The wedding gave the nation a big boost of feel good. We all need that at the moment. Unfortunately, I was on a plane to Berlin for youngest son's stag so I missed the wedding of the year; but that's another story.
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Times have changed and so have customers. Many years ago in the early 70's I was an assistant manager, later manager, of a very nice 48 bedroomed hotel in Hove. It was like a mini Savoy, oak panelled, high ratio of staff to guest, and one of the first hotels in the country to have had 100% en-suite bathrooms installed. The guests were certainly very posh, many Ladies, Lords and gentlemen. Tie and jackets at dinner, that sort of thing.
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No, I'm not writing about food, but music. I love music. Couldn't be without it. From Hank to Hendrix, Bach to Wagner, if it's good I'll listen. But it has its place. Not everyone wants to listen to what I like. Look at the rich diversity of choice we have on just the BBC for example. Not to mention the commercial stations. Many of us now have iPods and can take our 2000 Lp collection around with us in our pocket, take it to a hotel even. We can listen in the car, on the train (headphones please), on the plane, and in the bath. I've loved music for as long as I can remember, from my father playing old 78's like the Laughing Policeman, LP's of 76 Trombones, Tijuana Brass, Gilbert and Sullivan, and at school by performing in Britten's Noyes Fludde - I was a mouse believe it or not. I also sang in the local church choir for many years, even doing the solo for Once in Royal David's City. All these things gave me a wide appreciation of music.
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I hate Chef's programmes on the TV. I don't hate Chefs though. Reality programmes are designed to get conflict and stress going, that's what TV Producers need to get the programme watched, and who better than a top Chef to strike fear into the heart of the average human and get some conflict going?
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