大象传媒

Title: Our dream job: running a seaside hotel

Film maker:	Sam and Greg Haddon
Length:	3'30"
Date:	June 2007
Subject:	hotel, jobs, , life change, Great Yarmouth

A lifelong dream

"We decided when we got together a few years ago that this was something we鈥檇 both like to do,鈥� said Greg Haddon.

"But it took us nearly 20 years to actually take the plunge. We got married, had two children and then when they got to a certain age we decided to take the plunge.

"We鈥檇 been coming to Great Yarmouth on and off for regularly for nine or ten years and we seriously started looking for a property four or five years ago, coming down for weekends. When we found the Winchester, we fell in love with it straight away.

"There were quite a few regular guests when we took over, and fortunately we've managed to keep them so hopefully we must be doing the right thing!"

"There are some really lovely people, really lovely people that stay with us,鈥� said Sam Haddon.

"The day generally starts at 6 or 6.30am, depending on how early the breakfast is. We get up, have a cup of tea and start the preparation for the breakfasts and most importantly, planning for the day," said Greg.

"There鈥檚 always something to do," added Sam. "And it gets quite frantic in the kitchen an hour before the breakfast is due to be served," said Greg.

"Once that鈥檚 out the way," said Greg, "there鈥檚 the washing-up to be done!"

"Serviettes to fold and all the little bits that people don鈥檛 see,鈥�"added Sam.

"Tom, our son, he waits on the tables in the evening. He鈥檚 fantastic really. A big hit with the guests, they all love him," said Greg.

"And Gary, our oldest, he steps in when he has to," said Sam.

"Yes, he washed up last year, but decided he doesn鈥檛 want to do it this year," joked Greg.

It鈥檚 all about the people

"The guests usually go out for the evening," said Greg. "Some of them sit upstairs in the lounge and we go and join them, don't we," said Greg.

"Yes, we take up some tea and coffee and have a chat, and find out what they鈥檝e been doing in the daytime," said Sam.

"They tell us stories," said Greg, "And jokes! I鈥檝e learnt a lot since I鈥檝e been here," laughed Sam.

"Yes, and we鈥檙e quite up on medical conditions," added Greg.

Domestic bliss

"It鈥檚 a lot of domestic work really, like an extension of running a house. Instead of having two children we have 20-plus. So you鈥�'e doing housework, cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing. A collection of all bad jobs really.

"But it鈥檚 the people who make it really,鈥� said Greg. 鈥淲ithout those鈥� we wouldn鈥檛 have any money," he added mischievously.

"No," laughed Sam. "We get some really nice people to stay and they make it all worthwhile."