Evidence that keeping up with the Joneses applies even when you're not in your own house

One of my favourite parts of a self-catering holiday is writing in the guest book, and seeing what everyone else has written.

Once we stayed in a house where it was clear there was a competition going on, a bit like this......

Mr & Mrs Williams, Devon.  'We saw the squirrels and the rabbits twice in the garden.  Lovely weather, despite a little rain.  Fish & chip shop really recommended.'

Mr & Mrs Smith, and Daniella, Yorkshire.  'We saw the squirrels and the rabbits twice, and also spotted a fox.  Not a spot of rain all week.  Loved the pizza restaurant - real Italian food.'

Pete and Sandy Brown, Essex.  'We saw squirrels, rabbits, a fox and a badger.  Weather incredible. Could have been in Alicante.  And we really recommend the French restaurant, the escargots in garlic and parsley butter especially.  Bon appetit!'

The Baker family, Cardiff.  'We saw squirrels, rabbits, a fox, a badger, a herd of wildebeest, David Attenborough and a full camera crew.  Tropical weather and tans to die for, better than we got in Mauritius the last ten years.  Tried restaurants run by Heston Blumenthal, Raymond Blanc and Rick Stein, shook hands personally with each chef, and were invited back. Favourite meal was the breast of stick insect with seaweed foam, pea skins and jus made from the sweat of a mongoose and flavoured with eggshell.'


The restaurant manager felt, rightly so, that diners might need
motivational tableware.







Comments

  1. Anonymous4/5/14 14:34

    I know what you mean about Visitors Books. I find I am either over effusive or almost rudely brief reacting against the person who has written before me. Made me laugh...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran Hill4/5/14 15:15

      One day I want to write. 'Had a lovely time. Weather superb. The bodies of those meant to have spent the week here are in the cupboard under the stairs. Really enjoyed using their shower gel and the salmon they'd brought with them. Sorry about the broken lock.'

      Delete
  2. SmitoniusAndSonata4/5/14 14:53

    Oh Heavens , those old things ! WE saw two pensioners in wooly hats , someone writing postcards home and a family in matching cagoules .
    But then , unlike you and those previous guests , we"d just stayed at home .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran Hill4/5/14 15:16

      Brilliant! That made me laugh! Especially the matching cagoules.

      Delete
  3. stephen Hayes4/5/14 15:25

    I don't usuallt write in guest books but Mrs. Chatterbox fills entire pages writing nice things. If she didn't like a place she just writes a little, but always she finds something good to say.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran Hill4/5/14 15:30

      Mrs Chatterbox sounds like a very nice lady. Always finding something good to say is a brilliant principle for life.

      Delete
  4. Steve4/5/14 22:55

    "Won a place on Masterchef... have shot squirrels, rabbits, fox, badger, and a good proportion of the wildebeest to make a pie with a nice Richard Attenborough jus. You can all eat at my place when I open my restaurant."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran Hill5/5/14 00:30

      They're going to be queueing down the street for a table.

      Delete
  5. libby5/5/14 00:38

    I try to avoid writing in them at all.....but do love to sit reading them when we first arrive!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran Hill5/5/14 04:22

      As long as it doesn't say, 'Lovely holiday apart from the dry rot in the bedrooms, the mould on the kitchen ceiling, and the infestation of mice in every other room.' That wouldn't be a good start to the week ...

      Delete
  6. BadPenny5/5/14 01:16

    You are funny. I giggle when the ENTIRE family writes a comment each !
    We dined at a top Hampshire fish restaurant on Saturday - we were treated so no bill to pay ! Our daughter is a waitress there so I knew about all the strange & unexpected dishes... it was delightful seeing other diners' reactions particularly an elderly couple to my right who were enjoying every minute.... bread ice cream anyone ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran Hill5/5/14 04:23

      Yes, and especially when all the writing is really neat and tidy and then someone lets their 3 year old 'write' a comment which covers a whole page!

      Delete
  7. River5/5/14 04:13

    Definitely a serious case of one-up-manship going on there
    Really? Breast of stick insect?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Martin5/5/14 11:58

    Our daughter left the honours to SW when they stayed in a holiday let recently. She was full of praise and listed all the things she liked, then ended by suggesting the whole kit and caboodle should be moved away from the noisy road!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Iota 23/8/14 10:12

    You are very funny.

    ReplyDelete

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