A final piece of business

The newest committee to be formed in the village comes together at the hotel lounge for its first meeting. Tea and coffee is set out. This is quite nerve-wracking for me as this will be crunch time, when I learn whether my project will be embraced by the main business owners in the village, whose support will be crucial to its success.

My agenda reads:

Item 1 - ‘Is this a good idea?’

If yes, continue to Items 2-6.

If no, repair to the bar.

I am pleased to report that Item 1 is swiftly dealt with and the meeting continues on for a further two hours, only breaking up when Martyn has to repair to the bar on official business – to compete on his darts team.

For such a small village, it is intriguing that on our committee no one knew everyone, but everyone knew someone. By the end of the evening, networking is well underway, new business relationships forming and there is an air of enthusiasm about developing this opportunity to promote the community.

As Polly says, we are a hidden gem – it’s just that we don’t want to be quite so hidden. But neither, a cautionary voice warns, do we want to be overrun with tourists. A hidden gem needs to maintain some of the very qualities that makes it a hidden gem.

There is much to be done, but it is exciting to see people with like-minded objectives exchange views and be keen to work together. Sadly, many in small communities such as ours are often concerned that sharing information with competitors will be their downfall, not realising that a strong united voice will be much louder and more effective and ultimately bring benefits for many. Thankfully, this group who have agreed wholeheartedly to be involved in this project bring big thinking and a wealth of local knowledge.

“We have to be very careful when we promote ourselves internationally,” says Ian.

“For example, stalking means something quite different in America.”

Ah, yes, we wouldn’t want to be considered a group of perverts, now would we?

“And Czechs never shoot, they hunt.”

Aside from stalking and shooting there’s bungee jumping, canyoning, white water rafting, fishing, hiking, climbing, golf, skiing and après-ski such as whisky distilleries and real ale pubs to explore.

We need to be conscious of conflicting interests. John’s quad bike riders will need to stay away from the deer hunting grounds. Not just because a stray bullet could be, well, fatal, but there are conservation issues to consider.

Roles are divvied up. Our constitution is agreed. Next steps decided upon.

Finally, we repair to the bar, Items 2-6 all completed – and I have a tentative footprint in the village; a reason to return.

But first, I must pay my newspaper bill and say farewell to Bob. Should I kiss his cheek au revoir and risk rekindling the village rumours? Or will I thrust out my hand, business-like, to shake his and risk offending him by my lack of affection? Or merely smile cheerily and wave goodbye as I back out of the post office?

Social mores, in a village, are very complicated.