It’s at this time of year, with the cold mist creeping in through the front door and the sound of the fresh frost crunching under foot whilst I walk to work, that it starts to dawn on me that Christmas is just a few weeks away.
Whilst my two young daughters have been reminding me for weeks that Santa is getting ready, and my wife has been buying the contents of Hamleys ready for the big day, it had not quite sunk in that Christmas was so close.
We have, of course, been planning the festivities since January, such is the task of making changes to the festive arrangements, lining up the right suppliers, thinking about staffing needs or signing off menus (I am ahead this year as I have just agreed the menus for Christmas 2012!). Over the coming weeks we will serve over 1000 bottles of Champagne, prepare over 200 Turkeys , pull 2000 Christmas crackers, produce over 2000 mince pies and decorate 15 Christmas Trees!
For me though, Christmas is not all about eating, drinking and being merry (although it is a very good excuse), it’s about being with my family. Yes, I work over Christmas, but they are now a recognised fixture in the hotel during the Christmas period. They attend the hotel carol service on the 24th and will be in the Front Hall on Christmas Day with shrieks of excitement and anticipation as Santa comes down the main drive on his golf buggy sleigh with gifts for all ages. Then, if the weather permits, we will go for a walk in the perfectly picturesque gardens on Boxing Day morning when we have traditional country pursuits available for everyone to have a go at. The girls haven’t mastered the laser clays just yet but are fascinated by the Falconry display.
So, back to my original thought, Christmas is just a few weeks away. Well, the planning is done, the food is being ordered, the champagne will be chilled, the trees will soon be decorated and the open fires will be burning so all that is left for us to do is welcome back old friends, and new, to enjoy a truly traditional Christmas at Ashdown Park.
Ben Booker - General Manager - 24th November 2011
