So things always look better in the sunshine I find but infinite expanses of mildew and general grot appear to disobey the rule. We headed to breakfast quickly yesterday to meet the others and assess the relative dirtiness!
Buoyed by some friendly faces and nice chat over toast we feel emboldened to ask for different accommodation. It turns out that a couple of students only vacated our place on the morning we arrived and had told all the others that it was amazing. We showed them the photos of the bathroom - they looked shocked!
Geoff went to do the ward round with his new boss at 7.30am. He was also given a tour of the hospital. I've been promised a trip (perhaps today) to see but have been warned in advance. I am told to expect a great number of people lying on mattresses on the floor under blankets because there aren't enough beds. In some places there are two people to one mattress. These are friends or family?? No no, these are other patients - there aren't enough mattresses to go round.... oh.
On his return the rest of the morning was spent armed with Ajax. I've developed a new test for fridge interior designers. Once you are done, imagine that students have used the fridge and turned it off with the door shut. This means that every square inch of your beautiful interior is covered in mould (various colours). Further imagine that the person cleaning it has only Ajax and a cloth - can they do it? Many fiddly corners later and an extended period of time in the bathroom and things are looking up. We can at last wash ourselves. But of course, the hot water (not that it was particularly hot) has run out and there isn't enough pressure for a shower - cold bucket bath it is.....
We are shown a new 'house' (really a studio) that is expected to be finished on Monday. I look around - it is small but has the advantage of a total absence of mould - it will not, however, be finished on Monday. The water isn't working, there's no cooker and no fridge. More crucially there are no curtains and the room is overlooked on all 3 sides!! Despite the kind offer, we decline to move in straightaway.
In the afternoon we went for a 'run'. Well, the boys could run but I wasn't anywhere near fit enough. However, this did give me plenty of time to admire the rolling countryside, the hills partially hidden in the haze in the distance and a number of people making bricks. It really is very beautiful!!
In the evening we persuaded the others to go to the local community centre for a drink rather than retire to their respective rooms (at 7.30pm) and settle in for the night. Between us, Geoff, Will, Nat and I are determined to be sociable!! Let's see if it lasts :)
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