Author: Caroline Southesk

Meet Tracy – Elsick House’s new Assistant Manager

Finally we catch up with Tracy, who has been at Elsick for a little while but is a reluctant contributor to the blog because she has always kept her talents very quiet. We are pleased therefore to be highlighting Tracy and what she brings to the team. You will always get a fantastic welcome from her when you visit and I hope you will learn a little of the lady behind the welcome.

What does your role involve?

My role has grown from when I first started at Elsick from being the housekeepers assistant to taking on the role of events organiser and assisting Karen with the running of the house and weddings. 

Tell us about your previous job? 

My previous working life was based mostly around office management although I have had a variety of others from dog grooming to working on the farm at home, not so much previous I suppose, ongoing, although I have managed to pass many of my duties there onto my sons which I am very happy to do.  I am happy to be hands on with pretty much anything asked of me. 

What do you enjoy most about working at Elsick? 

What I enjoy most about working at Elsick is being part of peoples special occasions and enjoying being in this beautiful house.  The day I came for my interview as Joyce’s part time assistant I instantly fell in love with it, so many people say they could see themselves living in it and that it exactly the feeling I think it gives you, its homely even although a tad large for your average family.

What are your interests outside of work?

My interests are mainly travelling these days, I like to have at least one holiday booked at any given time and almost always one in the bag for returning to Greece as it is my all time favourite destination, I fell in love with it at 18 and the need to return has never left me

What’s your favourite saying? 

My favourite saying, I’m not sure that I have one, I am probably well known for saying “stick the kettle on”, I don’t think you should ever turn down a cup of coffee.  Good conversations always come with cups of coffee I think.

How do you think Elsick House guests would describe you? 

I would hope guests would describe me as helpful and friendly.  I am the kind of person who prefers very much to be in the background mostly but do love being on hand on wedding days to make sure everything goes to plan.

What do you think makes Elsick House special? 

The feeling you get when you are in Elsick House is I think is that it feels homely.  Beautiful, stunning setting and homely!

MAKING THE MOST OF THE GARDEN

Elsick’s mature and beautiful garden offers a multitude of possibilities.

So close to Aberdeen and with all the space in the world to create your own fantasy, Elsick House is the one place where real privacy can be found and you can remain hidden from the outside to escape the hustle and bustle.  A good imagination is not a gift that all of us share so we thought it might be helpful to guide you through some of the ideas we have for a corporate gathering or a family and friends’ celebration. Some are tried and tested ideas and some we know would suit the grounds very well.

Within the walled garden

Join forces with a few friends, raise a plastic glass of prosecco and enjoy the borders and shrubs from a hot tub. These can be hired and fit brilliantly on the top terrace.  You can even enjoy this under the garden lighting for a bit of night-time adventure.

The setting is so well suited to croquet and other traditional games. There is a house croquet set, and if you order it in advance, a second set could be brought in for racing croquet.  Two teams can compete simultaneously, and it is hilarious and easy to adjudicate.

The marquee is up during the summer months and has a fully transparent side set slightly above the main wall so no matter what the weather you can enjoy the setting out of any breeze.  How about teaching employees a new craft on a team building day?

The Yew Garden

In the centre of this area of the garden sits a revolving summer house to make the most of the south facing lawn.  This charming wooden house makes an ideal Pimm’s bar for summer drinks or serving area for a BBQ and there are plenty of outdoor tables and chairs for a real party.  Or you could pop in a central table and let your executive team do a bit of blue sky thinking.

On a more active note, you could set up a Segway tour around the entire 1500 acres of the estate on a set route or a mystery tour and maybe even venture further afield

The garden pond

The Chinese style bridge across the pond makes an ideal photographic backdrop.  Indeed, the whole pond area is an ideal amphitheatre and anyone wanting to do presentations

The Lake and beyond

A long straight area on the estate is the ideal spot for full length archery although there are several places for a more modest competition.  Otherwise a treasure hunt for all ages can be organised through the woods and garden focusing on the amazing wildlife on display here.

The Lochter Activity centre  has great equipment that they can bring to the estate and can work with all sorts of client requirements so take a look.

For the adventurous

A little off-road karting or driving will set the heart racing and the competitive juices flowing and these can be done within team events.   If you prefer your feet firmly on the ground there is a 5km circular trail that you can pick up just on the edge of the garden.

Let your imagination run wild and remember our experienced team can help to guide you as to what will work. Contact Alison to get more details.

 

MID-WEEK WEDDINGS

Scottish mid week weddings are becoming more and more popular.  We offer a wide selection of options for those who wish to celebrate their wedding at Elsick House.  We are currently offering a significant discounted rate along with venue only packages.

A well argued piece in the Wedding Ideas magazine outlines the advantages of opting for a mid week wedding.  We hope you will enjoy reading their article on the topic.  Not only is there savings to be made on venue costs but huge savings can be made with all wedding suppliers including photographers, florists and stylists.

At Elsick House, we can offer you exclusive use of the house the night before the wedding, which you can chose to spend with your closest family and friends –  with 11 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms, we can accommodate up to 20 guests.  You will be together to share the excitement and build up to the ceremony – no hire cars, no travel, no rushing about.  At the end of the evening there are no worries or hassle waiting for taxis and other transport.   Wake up as a married couple in our beautiful bridal suite then join your family in the morning for breakfast, enjoying complete privacy in your own little haven.

For those happy to celebrate in simple style and whose family and friends are local, we can also recommend the Venue only packages for midweek weddings.  Suited for a simple celebration and wedding breakfast without accommodation, this option provides even greater value for money.  You will still have exclusive use of the house and grounds for the duration of the ceremony and celebration afterwards.

Our expert team are ready to guide you through all of the options we can offer at Elsick House.

Contact us now to find out more