Meticulous
We had a couple of days at The Newt this week. When the “special offer” came via my email, I didn’t think long and hard but opened my diary and made a booking!
What’s not to love about getting away at this time of the year, returning to a beautiful place where dinner is included as part of the deal?
We were fortunate to enjoy fine weather and immediately recognised all those details which make the place so special. That includes the people, for without exception, the staff here are charming and incredibly proud of their workplace. The gardeners readily share their knowledge and when we stopped to look at the way the ornamental grasses had been cut back, one of them came over to explain and offer advice.
Everything here is designed with a meticulous eye for detail. Nothing is left to chance. As we walked down through a series of formal gardens I took out my camera and commented on the symmetry.
These wicker fences are a world away from the photo that popped into my mind, taken in 2007 in Cambodia and most likely forgotten about had it not been for a recent conversation with Mary O and a brief mention of Angkor Wat.
Cambodia, 2007
During that trip I took so many pictures along these lines, thinking that one day, I’d create a quilt. (I haven’t - yet!)
Back to the present, where on this Shrove Tuesday, pancakes were being offered in the outdoor kitchen here at the Newt, where I was also admiring the arrangement of fruit alongside the counter.
Because that’s the other aspect of The Newt that we’d forgotten about. Generosity.
Sure, staying here is far from cheap, even on a special offer. However, we both appreciate that there are no niggling little extras here and there, no small surcharges or additional costs.
For example, the “larder” in our room, where in addition to the usual tea and coffee was a fridge with complimentary drinks, a selection of snacks, fruit and chocolate as well as a bottle of Sprankel to bring home.
Thankfully, working up an appetite in the fresh air here is not difficult!
I think both of us were surprised when the sunshine appeared just as we arrived in the Garden Cafe for lunch and as we sat reflecting on this, our fourth visit, we felt very happy to be here.
We love it.
