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Competitive croissants
Nov. 2nd, 2019 09:57 amI've really got out of the habit of LJ lately (and Facebook, and anything else, really.) It's already too late to commit to a daily post throughout November - and I'll be away for a few days in Liverpool mid-month, anyway, and I hate doings posts on my phone - but I'll try to commit to posting on most days, at least.
Over the last couple of days, we've been researching holiday cottages. It's that time of year when we're getting asked to commit firmly to various dancing commitments next summer. What with the need to work around colleagues' leave and other commitments, I could see us easily ending up with a situation of having no possible weeks left for a summer-ish holiday, unless we secured the dates now. So, as a surprise last-minute plan based on an advertisement feature in a colleague's copy of a walking magazine, we've booked to walk the Isle of Man coastal path in the summer, returning by public transport each day to a rented apartment on the seafront in Douglas. Then we decided on the East Sussex/Kent border area for a holiday in the spring, though we've not yet booked this - or entirely emerged unscathed from a situation of Terminal Dithering, torn between two possibilities.
Now, for me, one of the absolutely essential criteria for any holiday cottage is a good view and seating areas, preferably both inside and outside, to enjoy said view. I wake up early, and while waiting for Pellinor to emerge, I like to be able to sit in an area that's shouting YOU ARE ON HOLIDAY! But it's amazing how many places that DO have lovely views fail to show it in their selection of promotional photos. We found several places where absolutely ever customer review waxed lyrical about the amazing view, only for the pictures to concentrate on close-ups of breakfasts, quirky ornaments and a pile of magazines.
I was particularly struck by the croissants. SO MANY CROISSANTS! Property after property had decided that it was more important to show a close-up of a croissant that could have been anywhere, rather than to show any of the features unique to the property. I might have understood it had the property been so rubbish that the only bright spot of your holiday would be the croissant you bought from a bakery down the road. But, no, there were places that looked lovely - places where customers raved about the comfy lounge, the amazing view, the spacious and well-equipped kitchen, the lovely private garden. So why croissants? Why, sometimes, four croissants in a row, compared with a brief, in-passing glimpse of a gorgeous garden?
I don't remember being struck by croissants in the Isle of Man. Is this a uniquely East Sussex/Kent thing? Did somebody start it, and all their rival cottage owners felt compelled to retaliate with an Even Better Croissant? Is the local professional holiday cottage photographer obsessed with bakery products? Are all the cottage owners in the pay of the local Evil Bakery, forced against their will to plaster their websites with croissants? When will it end?
EDIT: Few new croissants to report... but I have found one that offers a terrace where you can "enjoy barmy evenings." Another one claims to be an excellent place "for looking too chill." This was our front runner. Um, perhaps we should reconsider?
Over the last couple of days, we've been researching holiday cottages. It's that time of year when we're getting asked to commit firmly to various dancing commitments next summer. What with the need to work around colleagues' leave and other commitments, I could see us easily ending up with a situation of having no possible weeks left for a summer-ish holiday, unless we secured the dates now. So, as a surprise last-minute plan based on an advertisement feature in a colleague's copy of a walking magazine, we've booked to walk the Isle of Man coastal path in the summer, returning by public transport each day to a rented apartment on the seafront in Douglas. Then we decided on the East Sussex/Kent border area for a holiday in the spring, though we've not yet booked this - or entirely emerged unscathed from a situation of Terminal Dithering, torn between two possibilities.
Now, for me, one of the absolutely essential criteria for any holiday cottage is a good view and seating areas, preferably both inside and outside, to enjoy said view. I wake up early, and while waiting for Pellinor to emerge, I like to be able to sit in an area that's shouting YOU ARE ON HOLIDAY! But it's amazing how many places that DO have lovely views fail to show it in their selection of promotional photos. We found several places where absolutely ever customer review waxed lyrical about the amazing view, only for the pictures to concentrate on close-ups of breakfasts, quirky ornaments and a pile of magazines.
I was particularly struck by the croissants. SO MANY CROISSANTS! Property after property had decided that it was more important to show a close-up of a croissant that could have been anywhere, rather than to show any of the features unique to the property. I might have understood it had the property been so rubbish that the only bright spot of your holiday would be the croissant you bought from a bakery down the road. But, no, there were places that looked lovely - places where customers raved about the comfy lounge, the amazing view, the spacious and well-equipped kitchen, the lovely private garden. So why croissants? Why, sometimes, four croissants in a row, compared with a brief, in-passing glimpse of a gorgeous garden?
I don't remember being struck by croissants in the Isle of Man. Is this a uniquely East Sussex/Kent thing? Did somebody start it, and all their rival cottage owners felt compelled to retaliate with an Even Better Croissant? Is the local professional holiday cottage photographer obsessed with bakery products? Are all the cottage owners in the pay of the local Evil Bakery, forced against their will to plaster their websites with croissants? When will it end?
EDIT: Few new croissants to report... but I have found one that offers a terrace where you can "enjoy barmy evenings." Another one claims to be an excellent place "for looking too chill." This was our front runner. Um, perhaps we should reconsider?
