The owner of Burncoose House, the luxury Georgian country house, which is part of the Caerhays Holidays portfolio, has written a hilarious new book called ‘Ghastly Holidays – things my father never told me’.
David Williams’ new poetry collection – out now with a pound from every copy sold benefitting ABF The Soldiers Charity – draws on his own extensive travels and provides a series of comedic, tongue-in-cheek revelations about some of his more memorable experiences.
It’s based on the idea that negative experiences are a vital ingredient in every great holiday. However rotten they may seem at the time – and make no mistake, Delhi belly is rotten – such nasty holiday moments should be embraced and celebrated.
There are few moments in the calendar more highly anticipated than the summer holiday – some 21 million Brits will be jetting off for their annual escape over coming weeks, says David. “But despite our best intentions (and hours of research and planning), things can—and do—go wrong, often disastrously so. Whether it’s the lack of English food and Delhi belly or sunburn and overpriced cocktails, most getaways fall short of the idyll we expected.”
“Over the summer, millions of Britons will return home feeling deflated about all or part of their holiday. But within a week or two of being back, those same individuals will – often without realising it – use those negative experiences to their advantage. In time, those negative experiences will become the sole highlight of their holiday.”
Williams’ research, which draws on more than 20 years of travel in 26 countries, suggests that the spectrum of emotions one suffers on a ghastly holiday experience – from mild disappointment to seething anger – will:
- Bring families closer to together
- Turn an average getaway into a ‘legendary’ one and spice up an otherwise nondescript vacation
- Boost travellers’ social media accounts or social status through colourful or hilarious stories and interesting photos
- Impress friends and family with tales of ‘survival’ and (mis)adventure
- Bolster self-confidence – and, perhaps most importantly of all…
- Provide Britons with new material to moan about on their return to Blighty
David’s own luxury holiday business Burncoose House, is very far from ‘ghastly’. Part of the multi-award winning Caerhays Estate, Burncoose was recently renovated to create stylish accommodation and a venue for weddings and events
“Burncoose House is actually a really lovely luxury holiday home thanks to my dear wife – which I hope is now a wonderful place for people to enjoy a pretty non-ghastly holiday! We’ve thought of everything we can to make sure people really enjoy the best that Cornwall has to offer,” says David.
Williams grew up in Cornwall and, though living now in London is the owner of Burncoose House. He’s married, with four grown-up children and is an Executive Director with Savills the leading global real estate advisor, which he joined in 1982.
David began writing poetry some 20 years ago, as a means to entertain his children and help them go to sleep while on holiday. As the poems accumulated, his wife threatened to dispose of them as they were cluttering up the house, so he decided to publish them to great success!
Available from Amazon or direct from www.oortpublications.co.uk Price: £9.99.