#beatonstearooms: The Secret of Slow

Every now and again we refresh this hugely popular post which was first published in March 2016 - as it seems to touch people where they are in a restorative way... 

Part of our ethos is to create an atmosphere where you feel relaxed, cosy and have time to 'stop and stare'. We want to encourage you to slow down and really take time to pause, reflect and restore from the moment you put your foot in the door. This post explains why we love 'The Secret of Slow'!

On the Beatons' side of the counter, we notice these benefits: it makes us more attentive, and - especially when we're busy - it avoids mistakes. In fact we've sometimes have to remind ourselves to go even slower when we're 'crazy busy' so we maintain the atmosphere of calm which we know you particularly value. 

However, especially walking in from the 'hustle and bustle of the High Street', we also know it takes a minute or two to 'readjust' to 'slow time'!  Here are our three suggestions to make it easier:

1. Engage all your senses breathe in a big sigh of relief and let your shoulders drop as you walk in the door as we greet you. Consider switching your mobile phone OFF (!) engaging all your senses while you wait for us to bring you the menu... 
   
   
2. Pick a slow-me-down, pick-me-up stress-relieving tea as you carefully peruse the list of teas on our table spinners. Our green loose-leaf teas or a calming rooibos would be perfect choices. Or surprise yourself and order something different?
   
   
3. Discover the joy of waiting and Thrive! American novelist Nicholson Baker says, ' What was the very best moment of your day? … Often, it’s a moment when you’re waiting for someone...' We love this quote. We also love where it comes from, 'Thrive' which is the ultimate guide to relieving the pressures of this fast-moving, screen based world we seem to live in. We try and keep Thrive in stock at all time and you can find a review on our book blog here: It's Arianna Huffington's 'Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Happier Life' by Ebury Publishing

Take a breath now and enjoy a moment of slow on us!  Paradoxically, you'll find you get more done in less time. 

Liz

House Poet and 'Slow Pro'

#beatonstearooms: what's 'Breakfast, the Beatons Way'?

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, that’s what we are all taught, good for the body and good for the mind! So why not start your day ‘right’ and make it a little extra fabulous by indulging in one of Beatons' mouth watering breakfasts?
Whether you're looking to start your day with a tasty Full English, some steaming porridge or a more continental warm, buttery croissant, we have something just for you…

Delicious breakfast rarebits
Or marmalade on toast
Boiled eggs and soldiers
All the above we boast  

Perhaps porridge is more suited
To your culinary needs
With syrup or fruit
Just a couple of our deeds

Scrambled or poached
On toast or with beans
We’ll do you perfect eggs
No exception, by any means  

Bagels with bacon
Salmon,cream cheese
Egg mayonnaise added
Our bagels will please  

Or a full Beatons Breakfast
To start off your day
Sausages, mushrooms
And more we’ll display! 

Dittea by Zoe Moxham. If you're an early bird and like to set yourself up for the day, pop in to your nearest Beatons for a real treat! Served until 10.30 or 11 am depending which Beatons you visit - give them a ring to check. We look forward to saying 'top of the morning' to you, with our customary heart and passion.

#beatonsbod: Laura - the literary owl of Blandford

Beatons Bod:  Laura Ellerton

What's your favourite edible or drinkable from our menu?
 A Double Espresso and Gluten Free Chocolate Brownies are my idea of a practically perfect start to any day...in fact, just writing this is making me feel hungry for one of them right now! 

What is your favourite book and why?
As a Child, The Magician's Nephew by CS Lewis, as a Teenager, As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee, as a Twenty-something, What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn and currently, When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson.  As you can see, I've struggled to choose just one, but if this article persuades you to pick up and read any one of the Books mentioned above, you'll understand why I've recommended them. Each of Them are examples of Storytelling at its absolute best. 

Which of the ways we like to go about things at Beatons means most to you and why?
I'm extremely proud of working at Beatons and feel that we really know how to make each and every one of our Customers feel special. We take our time, treat everyone as an individual and create a little haven of calm and elegance in our Tea Rooms, which is very much needed during hectic and busy Christmas Shopping Weeks! 

If you were an animal, bird or creeping creature what would you be and why?
I'm going to say an Owl...  As one of the more 'mature' (Older!) Members of Staff here at Blandford, I hope my extra years of book-selling and catering experience can be useful to pass on to younger Beatons' Owlets!  Plus, I'm not sure it truly qualifies me as a 'Wise Owl', but I'm partial to a Crossword, episode of University Challenge and Pub Quiz or two. Competitive? Moi?! 

What - outside work - makes your skin tingle?
Spending Quality time with my Daughters, visiting Art Galleries, Live Music and Comedy Concerts, Literary Festivals, Scandinavian Crime Boxsets, Lazy Beach Days in the Summer (we're so lucky here in Dorset!) and every now and again, appreciating a quality bottle of Sauvignon Blanc... 

#beatonstearooms: P is for PEARL...

Christmas is the time when we probably should be giving you a feature full of present ideas but we thought we’d give you something different and feed your inner inspiration here.

Something we, at Beatons, believe is even more precious.

It’s a pearl.

When you’re being ‘PEARL’ Present Engaged And Really Listening – you give the person you’re with a rare and special gift: your attention.

This ‘PEARL’ has a soft lustre which attracts admirers without doing anything. Your companions see their own beauty reflected in your eyes, full of deep listening.  They feel heard in a different way.

How?

It’s the non-judgemental nature of communicating when we’re being ‘PEARL’. We simply leave the moment with all its judgements and history behind us where it belongs, and the moment ahead of us for when it comes (granted it doesn’t always seem easy!)

But when we accept the moment is full enough and attend solely to it, to how we really feel, to the child pulling on our arms, the parcel to be wrapped, the creamy froth of a hot chocolate to be sipped – then the pearl is in the palm of our hand.

It would be easy to perpetuate the myth that the festive season is getting ever more stressful and demands on our time more acute. But is that true? We have supermarkets which deliver to our doorstep, cars which drive like a dream and – I think – there’s a greater appreciation for spending time in quiet contemplation, in making things together, singing together, giving together. We’d like each of our customers to receive the gift of us being ‘PEARL’ for them, especially over Christmas. Can we ask you to pass ‘the present’ on?

Wishing all our customers a peaceful and restorative Christmas and Happy New Year.

Liz, on behalf of Patrick and every member of the Beatons family