Luckily, I had been to see a school production of "Oliver" (Twist) the night before arriving at Thomas House, Bath, where we had been unfortunate enough to book two rooms for two nights!

The greeting was frigid to non-existant, coupled with a suggestion of immediate payment in cash (declined!). Breakfast IS at 9.am (no negotiation there then !)

The double room, although large, was poorly equipped with no basin, no information folder and the thinnest, roughest towels possible. The bathroom (shared) was on the ground floor, two flights of stairs below, which was OK until 3am and a nocturnal visit later!

Breakfast was where I needed to put into practice everything "Oliver" had taught me. A large dish of cornflakes greeted us, which is a lot more than the proprietor did. Don't even ask for a choice. I then set about the task of having to ask for 1.sauce, 2. mamalade/ jam. 3. more milk. 4. more toast. 5.the female proprietor to cease her phone... more