The infamous Barbara of the Sheraton!

We arrived at the Sheraton staff house and had to stand while a young lady who stank of alcohol checked us in. She kept forgetting what she had said, and which part of the paper work she had completed. Another lady came in and before even saying hello, said to the alcy , :have you told them our first rule in cleanliness?" She was the house captain. When we got to the rooms we were shocked to find that they where filthy. We had been put in separate rooms (me in 37). IN my room I had someone called Barbara whom everyone kept telling me "oh shit, you're in with Barbara, she's crazy!" The third person in the room was in hospital. Probably had her bones broken by the infamous Barbara.

Well I never met Barbara on the first night as she worked a different shift to me. This was great news as it meant I had the room to my self in the evenings. The legend of Barbara grew. There had been no space cleared for me to put my things, but I thought I better make my own space so that my first impression isn't one of weakness. I couldn't fall asleep for the first few nights, as it felt strange being in a new place. I lay awake waiting for Barbara to appear and when she finally did, I lay stone still pretending I was asleep, in fear of incurring the wrath of Barbara! I don't know why, but I just sensed danger from her. Barbara was Scottish, as are most of the staff, apart from the Irish and an occasional Italian or Egyptian.

The next day we were up at 6am, on the underground at 6.20 and at work at 7am. Free breakfast and then starting work at 8am. I did eventually meet Barbara, at work - it was a brief hello and a firm hand shake, and that was it. To my consternation she did not bite my head off or snap me in two.