Life's never a bore at Blore

Chris, 37, took over from much-loved site manager Carol Nelson at the beginning of 2014. "I was a gardener and maintenance man before that," he recalls, "and in some ways I was surprised to find myself suddenly 'in charge' of the whole place! It's been quite a learning curve; but Carol's been a really good mentor, and the other staff are really helpful. I feel I've got the measure of the job, and the place. Though the learning never stops."

Indeed not; and far from abandoning maintenance and gardening, Chris's job now encompasses that - and so much more. So, what's a typical day in the life of Chris Green?

"There's no such thing, to be honest," he avers. "Tell you what: spend the day with me, and let's see what happens!"

Very well...

This particular day starts with Chris taking the dog, Charlie, for a walk. It's a glorious morning. "This is one of the few constants of my day," says Chris. Charlie needs a regular 'walkies', and so do I. To amble through such beautiful countryside, whatever the weather, really sets us both up for the day. I can't speak for Charlie, but for me it's a chance to clear my head and focus on the things on my day's 'to-do' list.

"At the forefront of my mind is tonight's Bondholder Dinner, which my partner and I run as a regular weekly event. Everyone seems to enjoy it; it's a chance for Bondholders, young and not-so-young, to get together for a glass of wine (or two) and a sumptuous five-course meal in Blore's medieval dining hall.

"But there's the rest of the day to contend with first! I like to spend as much time as possible front-of-house, chatting to Bondholders and making sure they're enjoying their holidays, but our new receptionist Alison is fast getting to grips with the fact that I have to disappear occasionally to sort out this, that or the other. As all HPB's site managers know, if it's not a repair to a bed or fixing a leaking radiator - especially at this time of year - there's always something to attend to. And today, as well as all the usual, I'm starting to think about Blore's role in the National Garden Scheme. We're opening the site to the general public on 18th July.

"Like every good manager, you need good staff. My people are outstanding - but I'm sure the rest of them won't mind me saying that one guy stands out more than most: Ian Dorland, my maintenance man. Ian is my go-to guy for maintenance issues, gardening and general ‘fix-it'ness. And today we've got a particular job to do. We're keen on birdlife up here and had a part to play in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch.

"We've been trying to actively encourage birds and other wildlife to the site. What with Blore being in a National Park, the birdlife is abundant; and today for instance we're seeing everything from kestrels to treecreepers. Ian I know can't wait for the swallows and housemartins to return to nest in our old archways. We encourage our holidaying Bondholders to fill the birdfeeders - and boy, does it work! The sparrows are protecting their nesting holes in the roof space of the main hall from marauding starlings. Although Ian's favourite bird - a regular visitor to Blore's old moat - is the kingfisher. One of Britain's most spectacular native birds - but too small to make much of an impact on the common and koi carp that populate both the moat and the adjoining pond. You can stroke the koi when they're feeding in the spring and summer.

"Anyway, enough about the wildlife. We've just had a call about a broken Z-bed, needs to be brought down a spiral staircase... I happen to know (actually, I should know!) this property is on changeover, so if we're quick we can have the new bed in before the next set of holidaymakers arrive. Down a spiral staircase though: ooof!

"In school holidays we're busy with families, all of whom understandably want to know where to go and what to do around this glorious part of England. And there's plenty out there. We've been lucky with the weather, clear and bright - and families, with or without children, seem to be having a great time."

Chris always directs new visitors to Hopton Hall, about 40 minutes' drive from Blore. Always spectacular, Hopton is arguably at its best in late winter and early spring, when the snowdrops are out in profusion.

But for Chris there's a leaking radiator to fix - an easy job compared with fitting an entire bathroom (which he and Ian managed not so long ago), but it's got to be done.

Leak identified and repaired, Chris makes a break for freedom - to the Okeover Arms, if you please. 
A quick snifter, perchance? No, strictly business; Chris is here to see how the 10% Bondholder discount he's negotiated with the pub manager is working out. Seems it's going well; the Bondholders are taking advantage of the reduction, which means repeat business for the pub. A win-win.

And so, back to Blore for the main event: the Bondholders' Dinner. Fresh cut flowers: bought. Menus: prepared. Dinner: cooked. Fire: lit. Table: set. Pre-dinner drinks: chilling. Now all he's waiting for is the guests. They've had up to 25 - but tonight it's just 10. Dining on fantastic food, in candlelit splendour, in what must be one of the most historic dining halls in Britain. Lucky them.

And it could be lucky you, too.