I don't know if it's that I've been away and need to get my head back into "business" mode, or whether I just flat out panicked...
My new guests arrived last night and, although we've had beautiful summer-like sunshine filled weather for Autumn so far, it has turned very cold almost overnight this week. We were worried so my wife went down and asked whether our guests needed any extra blankets for their comfort. They are a load of retirees about my parents age, so figured they might feel the cold. When my wife knocked on the door, she found they had the electric fireplace roaring and were quite comfortable. They said no to extra blankets and said they were "tough folk" and it took far more than a little chill in the air to bother them. Wife stayed down there for 20 minutes chatting to them, apparently lovely couple and had great stories to share.
So righto, we thought we were good. Until this morning...
It seems that only 2 out of 4 guests were present during the "offer of blankets" last night. The other 2 guests appeared this morning and complained of being bitterly cold last night! They were just about to leave to go out, so they asked us (pointedly) to drop some extra blankets off later when they returned. Sounds fine when I write this, like a normal conversation even. But it was the emphasise placed on the "we were very cold" that shook me. She said it twice and gave a stare with a grave, seriousness to it.
If my over 60's mother said she was cold, in that tone... I'd be a dead man.
I was mortified. I ran to our stores of blankets... then as I was riffling through and deciding this one, or that one, wasn't good enough... I thought "hey, lets get the best blankets money can buy!" Total overreaction, I know, but I've never had a guest tell me point blank that they were unhappy before.. so I got in the car and headed across town to the best bedding store. $250 of blankets later... (...including 2 super thick blankets, and 2 electric blankets with fleece covering and his/hers heat control zones...) I now feel prepared to respond with an arm load of fleecy ammunition.
My emotional self says "great decision, entirely the right thing, they'll be super pleased and I'll feel much better about having made that lady cold."
My business self is saying "what a complete Womble"...
PS: I hope you like the meme picture. I made it myself. At least I can do one thing right today...
