15-04-00 - CONTRIBUTION TO PITLOUR

CONTRIBUTION TO PITLOUR

Since I arrived at Pitlour I have been involved with many aspect with regard to the running and organising of the Estate and the House. I think it might help if I just list them:-

Running the house – employing staff.
Organising the rooms for guests
Organising the housekeeping
Participating in the household duties
- washing
- ironing
- cleaning
- cooking
- shopping
- care of contents
- maintenance of all equipment

Gardens

Finding and employing gardners and handyman
Gardening and helping with general tasks on estate – West Lodge
Instructing gardner and handyman on tasks on estate and in conjection with horses
Restoring West Lodge garden with the help of the handyman

Grounds

Cutting down trees
Helping with clearance work
Taking tubbing off saplings
Clearing debis and rubbish in preparation for restoration work on stable block
Cutting and clearing trees in Courtyard

Office work

Assisting Hamish with his office work
Setting up his office, filing and sorting out his files and
Books,
Keeping records
Organising diaries
Receiving corporate and estate persons
Organising visits
Ordering Goods
Sourcing
Picking up goods and delivery goods

Plans

Discussing plans for the Stable Courtyard
Discussing plans for Pitlour House
Attending meetings with Ben Tindall Architects
Attending numerous meeting with Henry Dempsey (Harry Taylor)
Discussing all manor of details on landscape, design, room design,
Kitchens, finish (final decision always with Hamish)

Sources paint samples
Organising paint – negotiating discounts
Dealing with contractors in Hamish’s but only with his strict instructions in
His absence
Estate
Organise all the shoot lunches, elevenses and teas
Receive guests at Pitlour House
Organise staff
Food
Presentation
Flower arranging
Setting up of the shoot complex
Hospitality and hosting of the shoot in general
Hiring of staff both for the catering and childcare

Childcare

Looking after all my children (all four)
Making sure they are fed
Making sure they attend their activities
Making sure they enjoy Pitlour and all it has to offer
Walks, riding, swimming in the lake

Entertaining

Looking after our guests
Dinner parties
Supper parties
Large events e.g. Christmas parties (50+ people) plus decoration
Teenage parties
Teenage dinner party
Small children’s parties 2 every year
Children’s friends staying overnight

Hamish

Shoe cleaning
Dry Cleaning
Sewing
Buying clothes
Organising shooting guests for him
Organising hair appointments
Organising dental appointments for all the family
Organising doctors appointments
Etc etc etc…………