April's White House opening heralds busy season

The Mermaid Tavern will reopen in February and the White House Hotel will open on 3 April, kicking off another busy season. The intervening months are always hectic ones, and for all those who wonder what we do here all winter, the level of work and activity may come as a surprise.

There is always tree work to be done in the winter months. Sometimes it is just tidying up and topping, especially at the campsite, but the bad weather often creates more work as the months go on. It seems as soon as one area is finished, a nice storm comes through to undo it all.

The White House Hotel is having work done in the kitchen, mainly a new floor. The kitchen serves all three bars and restaurants in the hotel, so it is important for the chefs to have a practical and efficient work area to keep up with the pace.

Work is now completed on the barn at the top of the hill. During last summer, the old roof was torn off and replaced with a new one that should last for centuries. The barn is used for storage and is a base for the truckie team all year round, so is an important area for them. Even in winter storms, snow and blizzards there is work to be done, so an indoor area is often essential.

The school is often the hardest-hit area in bad weather. Teacher Mary Carey lives in Guernsey, so sometimes lessons have to be done remotely via text and email. By the same token, the older children who attend high school in Guernsey often find lessons disrupted by having to arrive late on Mondays or leave early on Fridays to ensure a visit home at the weekend.

Although this is technically a time to relax and prepare for the busy months, it is also a time of being super-organised and ready for anything.