As I sit at my desk, looking through my office window on a now dry and vaguely sunny afternoon, a few days before you will read this column, I am reflecting on the last few weeks.

The weather has been atrocious, inclement, unreliable, wet and cold. The main topic of conversation on everyone’s lips has been the downpours, depressing summer and having to pay for heating in winter... and this summer!

The damp has invaded everyone’s mood and has proved to be holiday limiting. It doesn’t help to hear of unseasonal temperatures in other parts that are usually hot at this time of year but are now causing the same issues as here but because it is too hot to do anything.

We have to leave the house with rainwear, umbrellas, forget dainty strappy sandals and wear wellies, worry about hair frizz and blue hands. It is sad to see the aimless wander of tourists around Edinburgh and East Lothian, wondering what to do other than have another cup of coffee to get out of the rain. The school holidays will be proving expensive for parents trying to keep the children entertained during wet days and worrying for anyone planning a wedding or marquee celebration.

We at Leuchie still have to ensure our guests have their outings and trips away but it is an even greater challenge. Our guests cannot hold an umbrella, rush in and buy a cheap rain poncho and are more susceptible and vulnerable to cold and wet. Our already complicated programme of outings taking into account guests’ choice, risk assessments, staff resource, available transport abd accessible venue takes on a whole new Ironman challenge when inclement weather has to now enter the equation.

We still want our guests to have the same five-star holiday so we have to be inventive, resourceful and flexible; luckily, the staff are fairly used to various scenarios and have a depth of knowledge of suitable contingency destinations. A picnic at the Botanics can quickly change to a cinema trip, even if the staff member is back well after their shift finishes.

The in-house entertainment programme is the most important this summer and we have been doing a lot more crafts and creative tasks with the guests. However, we have managed to find new activities that have been enjoyed.

And now the sun has fully come out; what am I fretting about, what rain, what cold? All is well with the world!