Aberdeen City Winter Woodland Walk
During the first lockdown, like many we slowed down. My kids decided to start spending half their time with me which we still do. We bonded more. And much of that was done in our family walks round our local area. The COVID rules were that we couldn’t leave the house apart from essential reasons […]
Togetherness
This is a story about togetherness, Christmas and community spirit. Right here. In the heart of a hard working class town in the the North East of England. A special town. That is called South Shields. But it could equally have been Aberdeen! Which, despite some of the negative stories, a spirit which remains stronger […]
Thanks South Shields and Aberdeen
Great news folks! Our overseas guests who over for a training course made it to the UK today. Despite the flight closures which started earlier in the week. So ALL of our South Shields self catering places are helping guests who are in the area. For work or training over the next few weeks and […]
Keep Moving Forward
We took a great booking last week. For 2 months from this Wednesday. From 2 great guys from mainland Europe. They are in the armed forces. And coming for mandatory training. A booking we can take and stay within the rules. Like we always do. It was a life saver for both parties. Many local […]
It’s a Wonderful Life…
Wow! The last Sunday before Christmas 2020. Traditionally a day of rest! Well I think we can all agree that tradition has went a bit out of the window this year. And here in the UK it is the winter solstice, the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, when the […]
COVID Levels and Guidance for Aberdeen and South Shields – our interpretation and application
Background: We have had some, let’s just say ‘unusual’ booking enquiries recently. Or to use a good Aberdonian phrase folk who are ‘at it.’ A 2 week enquiry to have some ‘time out over the Christmas period’ which then turned into ‘take it for 1 month and if my work is longer will take it […]
Necessary Evil Versus the Power of Social Media
Until the last year or so I have been busy building our small family business up. Literally almost brick by brick. But not quite! We’ve went from 2-3 places to 8-9, 250 miles apart in the last 2 years or so. Make that 258! South Shields to Aberdeen, a trip I’ve made a hundreds of […]
Fish, Chips and Saveloy Dips!
How is everyone? I hope you are all well and managing to stay sane throughout the craziness. Wow! It’s been a whopping 11 weeks since our last update. We’re the world worst spammers! At the start of September (how long ago does that seem now?!) it was my birthday, it is every year! So I […]
22/9/20 Update
Well since the weekend when I wrote our last update we’ve received the first batch of photos from Adam and they are GREAT! We took more photos today, and a video walk though of all of the places so can wait to see and share them with you all. The vote to help us choose our […]
Aberdeen Birthday Adventures; North, South, East and West.
Hi everyone! Our last update post was way back on 27th July so I think we can officially say that I am the worlds worst spammer, haha! But I’ve been busy! After our little trip to Keswick, then South Shields, we explored our local patch to show how AMAZING Aberdeen and the Shire is and help our future guests […]
North East England Local Lockdown
There are new restrictions in place for South Tyneside as of today. South Shields earlier this summer on our family holidays This is what these restrictions mean for our self catering business and our great guests: – Residents and visitors to the area are only able to socialise with those from the same household or support […]
Sunday Afternoon Family Walk
This afternoon, well yesterday but you know what I mean, I managed to drag my teenage son and daughter out for a walk. I wanted to head into the highlands, or maybe along Deeside but the script from my daughter was to “walk into town.” So given that she accompanied me for a wee trip […]
Things to do in South Shields Part 1 – Sandhaven to Marsden Kinda Circularish Walk.
There are already loads of blogs out there on the best things to do in South Shields. And I will get round to writing a more complete one based on my extensive guide to the area which I send to all guests who book one of our South Shields self catering apartments. But most South Shields […]
Don’t let the bed bugs bite: A day in the life of a self catering operator.
7am: Just when planning planning next social media post, the guest who checked in last night texts to inform you that he has found and duly squished a bed bug! Photos of squished bug sent as evidence! The offending critter- Gaads man!! Apologise to guest by text then check if it’s a good time to […]
Fox and Matilda’s Home from Home
These 2 little bundles of energy are called Fox and Matilda! Do you want to hear their story? Fox and Matilda enjoying a wee picnic in our back garden after the intense heat of Houston it must feel such a releif to be exploring outdoors! Well the story starts when Sonny, Lola and myself were […]