The sun is shining, except on my thumb

I start this blog in something of a state of surprise for two reasons. One - I have sustained my first blogging injury. A sprained thumb! No, really, I am actually in pain typing this, albeit I only use my thumb to hit the space bar. You may find I use a lot of very long words in this post. And two - to my horror I have received emails telling me that people are actually reading this. That is less surprise, more shock; I had come to regard this blog in quite a short space of time as something of a private confessional. The discovery that it is not private caused me to very rapidly reread what I had previously written in a state of mild panic. I think I may have got away with it though, as long as She Who Must be Obeyed doesn't find out.

I actually hurt my thumb in triathlon training, swimming at Westminster Hill (one of those humiliating training sessions in which a twelve year old girl glides past me twice every length without any effort on her part - why do I work so hard to go so slowly?). This is my second Blenheim Palace Triathlon ; I entered last year. My training has picked up sharply over the last ten days and I do, of course, have a much better idea of what I am facing this year. But the pressure is so much greater. My colleague, Roger File (our Property Director) kindly came along to support me last year with his family. They watched as I crawled around in a dreadful state (I nearly drowned, honest!) so I regaled them with tales of how demanding and challenging the triathlon actually is. To my horror, Roger has now entered this year's triathlon and will therefore quickly realise just how uselessly slow I was. The only possible ray of sunshine is that he is asking me for advice! So, here goes:

1. Rest is very important. Do absolutely nothing for at least three weeks before the race


2. Getting adequate carbs is also very important. I recommend a large bag of chips every night for the same three weeks


3. Roger - you wanted to know which bikes I would recommend. I have done some research and believe this picture represents state of the triathlon art

How long is it until the race? 8 weeks....

On the same subject, our Head of Finance, Anita Donaldson, is now working part time to accommodate training for qualification for the World Triathlon championships! I can't even imagine being good enough to contemplate that level of performance. Go for it, Anita, we are all in awe of you right now!

On Friday, we bid farewell to our popular Under Butler Stephen Duckett. Stephen is a big loss, apart from his normal duties, he also led music at Blenheim. Visitors were often surprised and delighted to be regaled on the Willis Organ in the Long Library, or on the smaller (and much more interesting) Chapel Organ. He introduced the Sunday music in the Long Library and set up the Blenheim Singers who performed Handel's Messiah at the end of last year. This loss, however, is tinged with happiness - Stephen leaves us to fulfil his lifelong ambition to take up Holy Orders. Take care, friend - we are proud that you have followed your calling. We'll try not to worry too much that total isolation from the world seemed preferable to another day with us.

In spite of the sadness surrounding the death of Tony White, our construction manager, there is some creeping optimism around the place. While the news each night still carries gloom and doom stories about recession, our numbers are well up. The weather has also been terrific, and Blenheim Palace is a bewitchingly beautiful place in the sunshine. Deep down, we feel this will be a great year to enjoy Blenheim Palace. The daffodils are out and blooming, the Palace stonework radiates a honey-coloured joy from all around, the park is as stunning a landscape as ever. Especially if you are an Annual Pass Holder (and why wouldn't you be? get it free with every Palace ticket!), I would strongly recommend popping over in the week in the sunshine to bask in this opulence. Come and sit on the slope inside Woodstock Gate overlooking the lake, gazing across at Grand Bridge and Palace in the sunshine... you will be uplifted, I promise you!

Incidentally, I had intended to write something about our business response to recession (given that this is a finance director's blog) but once again I seem to have run out of time and space. Next time...

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