Spain, scouting memories and saying goodbye: The month that was June

June was a month of two halves, and this time they couldn’t have been more different.

It started with sunshine and family. It ended with saying goodbye to my father.

All together in Spain

Early in the month we took a family holiday to Spain. All of us. Claire, my son James and his wife Pippa, my daughter Rebecca and her husband Alex, and my two granddaughters, Georgia (3) and Isabella (7 months).

It was the first time we’ve all been away together since everyone became involved in the business.

That’s not a small thing.

It only happens because of the foundations we’ve built — the structure, the systems, the right people in the right roles. None of that happens by accident, and none of it happens overnight. But when it’s in place, you get moments like this. A whole family, away together, nobody tied to their phone waiting for a fire to put out.

That’s what it’s all for, in the end.

Losing Dad

Partway through the month, my father passed away. I was lucky enough to be by his bedside in his final days.

It’s given me a lot of time to think about the good times we shared. Especially the years I spent in Scouts, where my dad was the scout master — his scout name was Delta. I still remember how proud he was the day I was awarded the Chief Scout Award.

Looking back now, that was where a lot of my early leadership skills came from. Long before business, before hospitality, before any of this. My dad had a hand in that, even if neither of us thought of it that way at the time.

I’ll write more about him another time. For now, I just wanted to mark it here.

Looking ahead

Given everything this month, I’m keeping this one short.

July will bring its own list of things to work through, as it always does. But June reminded me, more than anything, that time with the people who matter is the whole point.

Remember, hospitality never stands still… and neither can we.

Dan