Thursday 6 August 2009

The Hotel


God I hate tabloids. There was a story in yesterday’s Metro with the headline ‘Swine flu [help-line] worker fired – for catching flu’. If you bother to read the story the woman in question was fired for not following the sick leave procedure and telling the call centre she would not be coming in. I’m not surprised she was sacked.

Last night Hay was telling me I’ve been putting on a bit of weight. Told her I’m building up my fat reserves for my annual migration to Liverpool at the weekend.

I’m not looking forward to staying at the Adelphi Hotel. If you’re a UK reader than you’ll remember that the hotel, which is a Liverpool institution, featured in a ‘fly-on-the-wall’ documentary programme in 2001. It followed the trials and tribulations of a formidable Scouse hotel manager, Eileen Downey, in her attempts to keep the place running in the face of no budget, bickering staff and an alcoholic chef.

It is meant to have undergone a massive refurbishment in recent years, yet I’ve read some horrendous reviews about the state of the place and the attitude of the staff. However, an advance scouting party of Old Conways from the former colonies settled in last night and have reported back that it’s not too bad, except possibly for the shower arrangements, which apparently leave much to be desired and comprise nothing more complex than a hand-held shower attachment and no shower curtain. We shall see.

I picked up an ‘Honest Scrap Award’ the other day from a fellow blogger, Tony, but I’m not really into these blog award things. The condition of collecting it is that I have to tell you 10 things about myself, pass it on to 10 other people and refer back to the giver - a bit like a pass the parcel with a bomb. I’ve satisfied the last condition, but I honestly can’t think of 10 things you WOULDN’T know about me. Perhaps someone can help by suggesting some questions I can answer?

12 comments:

The Irascible Fairy said...

I can think of lots of questions you wouldn't answer but those that you could, and I can post here - very few of those.

Richard x x x

Chairman Bill said...

Richard: Shoot! I'm not afraid (much).

Lovely's Blot said...

I went to a conference in Liverpool where most of the speakers and important delegates were housed in said hotel! Tales of overbooking of the rooms, guests being forced to share etc. but great if you want to admire the excentricities of the English! (There are several hotels in Eastbourne just like that!)

Alan Burnett said...

I stayed at the Adelphi once. I won't tell you what it was like because I'm still trying to forget it.
As for questions you can answer to let us into your secret psyche, try this one : If you were a variety of potato, which variety would it be?

Chairman Bill said...

Linda: You are putting my mind at rest.

Alan: I'm tempted to think that is a Facebook quiz. Obviously I'm a Désirée - albeit slightly tainted by blight.

The Girl With The Mousy Hair said...

you definitely can't take any notice of reviews. People who write reviews only usually do so because they hate the place. Especially the kind you get on the internet. If you read the reviews of the place work you would think we are all satanic.

Jennysmith said...

Aw, sweetie, would love to go to Liverpool again. Bloody loved it there.

Listen, I stayed at the Adelphi once and it was fantastic. Don't be put off by that programme. It was a fascinating programme wasn't it. But i do agree with Points of View - the staff spoke appallingly to the clients. xx

Chairman Bill said...

Kerry: 666

Jenny: My big bro lives in West Kirby. Should have stayed there and paid for the taxi. Would have cost a 10th of the cost of a room at the Aadelphi, and I'd be guaranteed a good breakfast. The Adelphi is meant to be haunted, but I suspect it's the prostitutes wandering the corridors in the small hours.

Louise | Italy said...

My 3-year-old just blew a whistle in my ear at point blank range. Not only am I now semi-deaf, I've completely forgotten what I was going to say. But I'm sure it was going to be erudite and witty. Trust me. Have a good conference.

Chairman Bill said...

Louise: Conference?

♥ Braja said...

Yes, conference. That's a label that's applied to an otherwise indescribably offtrack weekend....

Chairman Bill said...

Braja: A conference is indubitably somewhere you take your mistress. Never heard it used in any other context.