Oh my goodness…what can I say about this Summer, in fact this whole year has been utterly amazing for the Doll’s House. (Nan would be so chuffed – “Nice one girl” she would say after a cheeky cackle and a nudge in the ribs!)
We have been so busy, made so many friends (who knew that people who owned beach huts or “HUTTERS” were so lovely!) and received some fan-bloody-tastic comments…We are on cloud nine. There isn’t anything that could make it better.
For us this was a project of complete love for the beach and a dream of owning a beach hut all rolled into one. It is now a thriving beach hut rental business, which has crept up and taken us by complete surprise but also delighted us immensely. We receive such lovely comments and feedback from every single person who hires out the Doll’s House.
It has been a lesson in organisation which I had not had before. Having an administration background I thought I could apply my previous work process to this…..Erm a big fat no!! Running this is a completely different ball game…I have had to learn to be patient but quick off the mark at the same time, I have had to co-ordinate my family life around the bookings, something I had never considered before, I had to become more approachable and willing and learn to have complete faith in complete strangers.
I have had my fingers burned and realised that no everyone can be trusted but it was fine as it made me realise that the way I worked needed to be altered….which I did and now all is well and runs smoothly.
I am also receiving enquiries for 2016, which has delighted me, and if I am honest scares me….the realisation hit home this weekend that this is now much bigger and not what we originally set out to do. Don’t get me wrong, we love what we have achieved; we have given the hut back the love that it hadn’t had; we returned it back to what it once was. No longer is it an empty unloved, tatty shell left to rot and get damp. It is now a glorious thing of beauty basking in the bright white paintjob and the mini-beach I have created at her feet (Shells, pebbles, oyster shells and sand). It is now a fully stunning, very popular, well maintained and busy little hut.
It is also NOT what we intended to do. As much as I love and cherish and thrive on what it has become, this is not the dream we had in mind. Sounds awful doesn’t it?! Apologies. My family and I have not yet been able to use the hut ourselves AT ALL as I have forsaken our time for more bookings, and it does get addictive. And now we don’t enjoy it. We love the Doll’s House and I am very protective of her, but she is now no longer fun.
So…..we have decided to sell her. She can now be owned by someone who is happy to take her on and continue to love her. I know I know I know, it’s just a shed, why do I sound like I am referring to a member of my family….because I am that’s why. For the last year, the beach hut has day-by-day become a HUGE part of my family’s life, and I/we will miss her.
There you go ..I have put it in writing. I have put it out there and admitted it. We are selling the Doll’s House Beach Hut.
We have had an absolute blast and loved every single moment, and are thankful to everyone who has supported us, given us advise and encouragement. And we will truly miss being part of the “hutting community”…..Who knows maybe we’ll be back to bring another little “Doll’s House” back to life……………..Watch this space.
Thanks
Stacey and Gill
xx