Catching Up

I believe apologies are in order....sorry that it’s been such a long time since I blogged last.  What a summer it has been.  We’ve been busier that we’ve ever been before.   I can’t believe that it’s been almost a month since I sat down to write and we were suffering through Fogust!  Now here we are butting up against the Labour Day weekend, a sure mark of the end of summer and finally our summer has arrived.  How not to enjoy warm sunshiny days? 

So, what have we been up to since we last chatted?  Let’s start with the courtyard.  Just a few blogs ago, I showed you a courtyard under construction. 

And now you ask?  I won’t say that Mother Nature was exactly “kind” to the Gypsy Tea Room because when they were finally ready to serve their first guests “al fresco” the weather changed and dining outside was only a dream.  This weather though is more like a dream come true now and on a beautiful summer evening a few weekends ago, dream became reality. 

This summer also brought us another highlight and quite an honour as Murray Premises Hotel was chosen to host Rick Hanson and his team as they began the 25^th Anniversary of the Man In Motion Tour.  For three nights, Rick used us as his home base to begin his journey – starting at Cape Spear.   Press conferences were held.  Interviews were conducted.  Pictures were taken.  We can all only stand back in awe of this remarkable individual and wish him well as he travels across the country.  We were thrilled that he took the time for a picture (in the new and improved courtyard!) with:  (l-r) Kelly Finlay (General Manager), Rick Hanson, Lori Coleman (Sales Associate), Adam Chiu (Guest Services Agent). 

If you want to follow Rick as he travels across the country, go to his website:  Rick Hanson 25th Anniversary Relay

To all of you, we wish a happy Labour Day Weekend.  Here’s hoping for sunshine, warm breezes and plenty of family.  Happy Labour Day Everyone!

The Joys of "Summer" in Newfoundland!

Ahhhhh August.  Or as we're calling it here - Fogust or Augember or Fogagedon or Augtober.  Maybe just call it "Summer in Newfoundland".  Anyway you look at it, it makes enjoying our beautiful province a bit of a challenge.  Twitter has been buzzing with all the different words to describe our weather.  We're certainly not short of creativity although I have to give credit where credit is due - "Fogust" is also trending out there on the other side of the country.

Hats off to our exceptionally, resilient travellers though - Or maybe hats on!  Today is just one of those days.  Pea Soup has nothing on our fog today and the airport has become something closer to a waiting room.



Just a little while ago I was helping a large group of people as they struggled to get all of their luggage into the hotel.  I mentioned how tough it was, lugging around all the bags and that they looked like they could use some help.  As I'm holding the door, one of them says those words that we all dread.  "Our flight was cancelled".  Turns out that they were on their way back from the airport where they had learned that our weather had gotten the better of them.  We chat some more as the front desk team tries to hurriedly figure out where we can put them.  It's madness as the phone rings off the hook.  People need rooms, people cancel rooms, people need to stay.  Pure craziness! 

In the end though, keys in hand they head back upstairs to rest and relax.  That's when you hear it.  One of them turns to the other and says, "I guess we just weren't supposed to leave". 

And even with all the nuisance and frustration, they really didn't sound unhappy!  Just point them in the direction of George Street.