Water, Water, everywhere!

Let’s face it, there’s never a good time for a water tank to burst, but for it to happen on a Saturday night in the height of the season with the Inn fit to bursting – if you'll pardon the pun, it really doesn’t get much worse.

Our old tank, cut-up for removal

Of course, all you lucky folks with a B&Q at the end of the street can count your blessings but here in the Glen we are a long way from the nearest plumbing supplier far less one that opens on the Sabbath. However, we managed to limp through breakfast thanks to innovative staff and cheery guests who graciously accepted bottled water to brush their teeth with many insisting on carrying their own buckets to flush the loos.

"Right", said Fred, "did anyone measure the gap?"

Monday morning the plumber & joiners arrive and after some minor adjustments to the loft hatch the tanks are in place ready for Gavin to do his magic. Pity the local supplier was 'out of stock' on a pretty major piece of the jigsaw so Keith headed off on a 160 mile round trip to Inverness to get the crucial part.

"Now, where does this go?, wish I'd brought me specs!"

It's been an eventful couple of days, the front desk has been bombarded by requests for information from guests, customers & staff alike. Without water & working toilets we had to decant some of our residents to another hotel, bars were unable to open and many folk requiring refreshments & food were turned away. The impact on the business has been significant and it's not just about the pounds, shillings & pence that are missing from our tills, we'll get over that - although not so sure about the cost of putting it right - what we care about is the disappointed look on the faces of folk who turned up on our doorstep only to be turned away, many of whom we may never see again, a missed opportunity to offer our unique brand of  hospitality.

Gavin: Tank Commander!

Our apologies to those folk we couldn't look after and a very big thank you to our staff & guests who put up with us during this trying time. We talk a lot about the recovery when things go wrong, and occasionally you don't necessarily need to go the extra mile, you just have to get your finger out, get on with it and do the best you can.