I'll learn the art of relaxation if I have to bust a gut doing it…

Trying to predict what may or may not pique the interest of you, the readers, two weeks hence (assuming that I ever do) is somewhat tricky, as this diary's deadline falls midway through a pleasant respite I have been enjoying from my ever-hectic workplace. One week away from the hotel buzz and I feel I've gone braindead.

Far from the hospitable crowds, I've been resting like crazy. Suddenly, it's too much work to get fired up about anything during this rare treat of uninterrupted and fiendishly lazy free time.

Besides, it's too soon to think about everything waiting for my return. But, as I've raised the subject, I'll fill you in on some of my October musings.

By the time you read this, I'll have returned to the grindstone, and no doubt I'll be feeling like the time off was just a dream I had - a sentiment shared by many, I'm sure.

So, October - it's the tail end of the season, but occupancy is doing nicely. Obviously, the front door to Cornwall is still open.

My right-hand woman, Tracy, has departed on maternity leave but I'm coping pretty well so far. Meticulous as always, she left me a treasure trove of helpful notes and instructions, and that, with my sharply honed admin skills (and obvious wit!), should see me through.

I shall miss her presence and the tremendous support she gave me. I hope I'm sailing through the invoicing, petty cash, wages, personnel and training matters (we now have four employees doing NVQ levels 2 and 3, thanks to Objective One funding and the Hotel & Catering Training Company) I've inherited from her and am fitting them around my normal workload.

We're halfway through our budget year, so some review and planning, as well as tweaking of draft budgets for next year, is called for - and before you can say "Jack Frost" it'll be Christmas, and there's all that still to think about.

No doubt our progress (or regress) will be dictated by the builders. As I write, they are setting up for phase one.

We're hoping for time to go back to the drawing board on just about every aspect of our operation, as we want our staff to be involved in planning and to appreciate why the order of the day is to maximise, minimise, efficient-ise, energise and effective-ise.

Our objective is to ensure that our end product becomes most eminently and enviably hospitable. Oh, the thought of a bit of competition does gird the loins. Roll on, spring.

Yvonne Scott is general manager of the Idle Rocks hotel, in St Mawes, Cornwall, a privately owned, 27-bedroom property.

Next diary from Yvonne Scott: 21 November