We were pottering around this evening, doing the evening chores as usual, when we got a surpise phonecall from Martin's cousin Stephen: "Turn over to Channel 5 quick." And when we did we were surpised to see the place where we got engaged - The West Usk Lighthouse in Newport.
The Hotel Inspector has been called in to advise the owners, Frank and Danielle, on how to go about giving the place a refurb and get more money in. In a way it was lovely to see the place again but we had mixed feelings about the refurb.
On the one hand we sort of agreed with the decluttering thing - the place was jam-packed with bric-a-brac when we stayed there three years ago. Saying that though, everywhere you looked there was something interesting. Even when you're sat on the loo it didn't stop. I vividly remember looking at the toilet roll dispenser and finding a old Victorian man sat on a bike and when you pulled the toilet roll the front wheel went round!
But the decor we felt...well..suited the place. Sort of. It was an eccentric quirky place and I think that says a lot about the people who go and stay there as well! We didn't agree with the Hotel Inspector in many respects. And later on when we watched the undercover mystery shopper pay it a visit in a second prgramme on the Fiver channel he certainly didn't agree with her either. He loved the place!! And he completely blew that travel expert out of the water on the cleanliness front. The mystery shopper stayed in the lighthouse before the travel expert visited and went round with a pair of white gloves running his fingers over every part of the room, even behind the toilet bowl. They came up spotless. No wonder Danielle was so upset with his comments. I would have been too.
By the way, we loved the darlek the moment we clapped eyes on him and took full opportunity to give him a thorough inspection when Frank wasn't around ;-))) I'd love to be able to tell you what was inside and what it was made of, but I fear the darlek would lose it's mistique so my lips remain sealed.
Frank had a friend who was involved in the original series who ended up with it in his garage. Unfortunately, his four year old son used to freak whenever he saw it so eventually Frank was asked to take it for him.
The dalek has certainly earned its keep. We were told that the local council wanted to build a roadway and get rid of the lighthouse at one point, and the darlek was instrumental in getting the attention of the national press and helping the local community successfully fight the plans.
I would hate to think the lighthouse could turn into a Premier Inn type establishment and lose it's originality and character. I hope Frank and Danielle don't take it too far.
If you'd like to see the programme, it's repeated on 5th August. I don't yet know whether that's on channel 5 or Fiver and at what time but it's well worth a peak.
