Thursday 1st - The hotel is full of Scotsmen, they are in very high spirits and a party atmosphere pervades the hotel. Kathy, Ann and myself are invited to their party after we finish our late shift, asked Mr. Phillips if we could go, but he said no - so invited them back to Ashley Court. (When all else fails - just side-step the rules!) Three of them, Tom, Jack and Jock, brought us back in a taxi, picking up some booze and singing all the way! How we all managed to climb up to our garret without drawing attention to ourselves, I'll never know. Had hilarious time - flopped into bed at 4.30am!

Friday 2nd - Had fab time last night, I feel ok, but Kathy and Ann are shattered. Eugen heard about our party and wanted to know all about it. I can't decide whether or not I care if Paul Phillips gets to hear about it too, on the one hand, I feel it cocks a snook at his intention to spoil our fun, on the other - he could report us to Head Office... Tony, who I met at Jazzshows, rang me three times this morning, agreed to meet him tonight. Went to Jazz Club with Tony had really good time, went in 'Freight Train' for coffee afterwards, played Craig's records on the juke box. Perhaps Tony took offence at my interest in Craig or maybe he just doesn't like pop music, but our relationship suddenly took a turn for the worse and he went into a sulk, the evening ends up with me seeing myself home.

Came back to Ashley Court and went in search of another bathroom to try out. Found one that has a huge cast iron bath set right in the middle of the room, it has four large claw feet, and seems capacious enough to take two people comfortably...The equally majestic toilet is set up on a high plinth - the veritable 'throne'! There's always tons of hot water on tap, so enjoy a relaxing soak - right up to my ears, before returning to the garret to write a nice long letter home. (Don't give Tony a second thought, will you??)

Saturday 3rd - Listened to my favourite radio programme of the week - 'Saturday Club', I knew Craig would be on, so I have sent in a request for Jenny and Lorna. Craig read it out. Jenny rang to tell me that she'd heard it! Working til 5.0pm, going out for a meal with Ann and some of her old friends from college. Went to the 'Shangri-La' - stayed ages over a huge meal, chatting and laughing. Afterwards went to quench our thirst at 'The Hog in the Pound', just across the road from Stratter's, Johnny R and his Dutch wife, Tilly are there, so after a few drinks we all go back to Ashley Court. Ann has bought a fabulous LP - Modern Jazz Quartet's 'Dr Kildare', so it's soft lights, sweet music and - knitting! (Doesn't the pace of our lives just make you sweat!!)

Sunday 4th - Tempers seem a little fraught at work this morning - or is it just me?? I seem to be having a go at everybody. Eugen rebuked me for being short tempered, he says I should get more sleep - he may have a point there...Brought Eugen's sweater back, after having altered it for the second time. I feel somewhat put out when Ann gives Eugen some chocolate cake that she's made - the little green demons start to rise...I do not need any competition, thank you!

Monday 5th - On the best shift - 3.0pm til 8.0pm, me'n Eugen had our tea together, shared my bounty with him (ooh, that'll show Ann and her chocolate cake a thing or two!) Chatted about jobs, babies and Christmas! Afterwards, went to Trafalgar Square, fantastic atmosphere, the square is packed to capacity. People jumping about in the fountain's icy waters - mad lot! Lots of policemen there, not doing very much, just being friendly and chatting. Just got talking to nice one called Harry, when Ann and her friends suddenly came up behind me and dragged me off to join them on a pub crawl. (How ever she spotted me in that mad melee', I'll never know! But she managed to put the kibosh on what might have been a promising relationship...)

Tuesday 6th - On early shift, someone brought a puppy into the hotel, had it in the switchroom for a while, then Eugen said he wanted it in reception, and was as happy as Larry playing with it - until the puppy did what puppies are inclined to do, then he couldn't get rid of it fast enough! (I'm not leaving you alone with our children, Eugen...) Met Maureen after work, she's working for Alitalia Airlines, but will soon be joining the P & O Lines. Now there's an interesting idea...

Wednesday 7th - Got up early enough to have breakfast in Ashley Court and discovered what I have been missing all these months! There's just everything one could possibly ask of an English breakfast - eggs done any way you want them, sausages, bacon, baked beans, tons of toast, cereals, fruit juice, tea, coffee. What a shame the kitchen closes at 8.0am - I could sit here eating all day! Went up to Ann's room after a very satisfying breakfast, listening to records and did some knitting, then fell asleep across her bed - she went out and left me to it! Luckily she came back and woke me up just in time to get ready for work. This getting up early can be a very tiring business!

Lennie and Jerry, who drive the El-Al crew in from Heathrow, arrived just as I was going off duty, invited me out for a meal. Went to the El Cubano on Knightsbridge, lovely place, very interesting food. I was persuaded to try the chilli prawns. They were served up completely whole - heads, tails, shells and all, I really did not know how I was supposed to eat them. The knife and fork prove ineffectual, the boys are using their fingers to decapitate and de-tail, but I've always been told not to use my fingers to eat with - very impolite, especially in a posh restaurant. Looking around, I see other people have no such scruples (or maybe they just didn't have my posh council house up bringing!) I really would prefer my food not to resemble too closely something that has once been a living creature and I'm wishing I'd chosen the ubiquitous, de-limbed prawn cocktail. I look everywhere except at the poor dead sea creature, whilst I tear it limb from limb, finally removing the crisp jacket - and then, after all that - discover that the prawns are very hot indeed, phew - somebody pass me the ice bucket...Think I'll stick to what I know in future!

Thursday 8th - I have decided to have my hair cut and have made an appointment at Scott's of Mayfair. (Well, I do live in a posh area of London; you wouldn't expect me to go to the East End, now would you??) It costs me an arm and a leg, but, even if I say so myself, it looks pretty good. The comments I get from my work mates are all very positive, well, nearly, Eugen says he likes my hair long - now he tells me! Ann and her friend John, picked me up from work, went to see 'Ocean's 11' with Frank Sinatra. Living out of town, John had driven up, and so we're faced with the perennial problem of finding somewhere to park in the centre of London. (Little wonder then, that so few of us ever considered having our own transport). We drive round and round, finding every single one of the dead end streets - which we'd never find if we were actually looking for them! Give up and go back to Ashley Court, where there is always plenty of parking space down the centre of Queensgate. Trouble is, it's a long walk back to the Freight Train Coffee bar in Soho...

Friday 9th - Not a lot to report - sorry, but I can't be doing exciting things everyday. But if you must know, Kathy and I went to 'The Soup Kitchen' on Knightsbridge after work, for a bite to eat then went shopping for Christmas presents. (Yes, we did it in November in those days, it hadn't occurred to shopkeepers to stock their shops with Christmas goodies in July!) After struggling home with our purchases, decide on an evening in. Ann came up later for a chat and a drink (coffee or booze is not specified...) but I managed to get on with some knitting. (I told you there was nothing to report...)

Saturday 10th - Eugen and I are both on the late shift, he has decided that my hair looks very nice now. He spent most of the evening doing the accounts in the restaurant, but Sam, the porter, told me to go in and keep him company (Eugen that is- not Sam!) It was very dark in there - it was all rather strange and creepy (or romantic - depending on who you were in there with...) I made my way between the tables, already set for the early morning breakfasters, the fluorescence of the white tablecloths led me towards the far side of the restaurant where Eugen was working in a corner, lit only by a desk lamp. He worked very diligently, counting rapidly in Switzer-deutch, for a moment, I studied the handsome profile, my heart beating uneasily. I turned to go, but he called me back, indicating for me to sit on the bench next to him. He seemed to be in a strange mood, wanting my company and yet not forthcoming - at least not in the way I wanted him to be...(It's really very simple, Eugen, just ask me out, dammit!!) I finished my shift at 5.0pm, then went up to the housekeeper's room to watch T.V. with Ann for a while, I felt morose - not in the mood for girly talk, so eventually made my way back to Ashley Court.

Haggis was on the phone when I got back, chatting up the girl who'd answered it, wanted me to go to a party, I expect if I hadn't turned up at that moment, he'd have invited the other girl. He's like that, is Alan - dead friendly, he'd chat up the talking clock! (It was a female voice in those days, by the way.) And his predilection to chat up anything in a skirt would eventually get me in to trouble! Read on.