Chapter Ten: January

Part of my marketing strategy was to create a new market. As we had twenty eight bedrooms, all en suite, close to the shops as well as seafront, I knew that our prime position was an excellent selling point. But in our first year, we had only had one coach party stay with us, and I wanted to correct that. I also worked out that a lot of our guests came from East Anglia/Cambridgeshire/Fenland areas, so decided that initially this would be a good area to market.

Before we left, I had a conversation with Moaner.

‘I don’t feel well,’ she said

‘I’m sorry, what’s the matter?’ I was genuinely concerned for her well being.

‘I am depressed, and don’t know what to do with my life.’

‘But I thought you were happy here. The job is easy, the guests are mainly pleasant people, you get on well with the staff, what is there for you to be depressed about?’

‘I just don’t know where I am going.’

‘But we have already discussed this. When we really get on our feet, and make a success of the Sheldon, the plan is to buy another hotel, Pam and I will move into that, leaving you to run this one all on your own. It will be your empire, something to have the complete responsibility, something you have always said that you wanted.’

‘Yes, but what if it takes longer than anticipated?’

‘What will be will be, dearest Moaner. I can’t do any more than I am, you know our plans, you are part of them if you want to be. Your call here.’

There was nothing more I could do or say to her, so we made appointments with quite a few coach companies, two a day where possible, planning on being away for ten days. We left Moaner and Alice in charge. Staying in cheaper B&B accommodation, it was good to have a little break away from the hotel as well. My older sister lives in Chelmsford, the lower part of the area we intended visiting, so we initially stayed with her for a couple of nights, then moved onto the coach companies. I kept in contact with Moaner, there was a steady small stream of incoming guests, sufficient for us to tick over with limited staff.

We had been away for three or four days, keeping in contact with sister, when she had to be suddenly admitted to hospital for an operation, which proved to be completely successful and no further complications or problems. However, that meant cancelling the marketing plans. I rang the hotel to notify Moaner, but there was no reply. I tried her mobile. No reply. I tried Alice’s mobile. No reply. I managed to get through to a friend, who went round to the hotel, finding doors locked, no staff in attendance.

There was nothing for it, I had to leave Pam with my sister, visiting her in hospital to support my brother in law, while I drove the 120 miles back to the hotel. Fortunately no guests were booked in, so all I had to do was open the doors, turn the vacancy sign round, and then start making phone calls. I finally managed to get through to Moaner, no apology, she just informed me that as I was now back she would call in the following day for a chat. Alice was nowhere to be found, it was just me to run the place.

By the next day I had found Alice, who had sheepishly returned. She had told me that she had received permission from Moaner to be absent, on full pay. I told her that she was now back, but she had better behave.

I sat in the dining room with Moaner mid morning, and the conversation went something like this. I am pretty certain of the main accuracy, because it is indelibly seared on my memory.

‘What happened the last few days? Are you okay, because you left the hotel closed, unattended, without any authority or permission.’

‘I am depressed.’

Believe me when I say that I was patient, understanding, calm, speaking in a caring concerned way to a friend and employee. Nothing aggressive, not patronising, trying to get to the bottom of everything.

‘Yes, you mentioned that before, but surely that was no excuse for leaving the hotel in the way you did. Is there something you are not telling me?’

‘I hate the hotel. I hate my life, the hotel is making me depressed, I want to give in my notice. The only way that I can continue working here is if I work Monday to Friday only, from nine to five. I can’t cope with anything else.’

Now that stopped me talking. I had to think very carefully how to respond. What I wanted to say was ‘you stupid cow, we have paid you an exorbitant salary while covering for your shortcomings, tolerated your pathetic behaviour, given you time off when you least deserved it, and still given you a job, when all we wanted to do was get rid of you because you don’t deserve to have a position with any degree of responsibility.’ But I didn’t.

‘Sorry to hear that, but of course you appreciate those terms just aren’t possible to agree with. We would all like a job like that, but that just isn’t going to happen, which I am sure you know already. So do you REALLY want to leave?’

‘Yes Harry, I want to leave. Immediately.’

No word of apology for leaving us in the lurch. But then she continued

‘I will tell Mark as well.’

Me. ‘I didn’t know you two were in touch.’

‘Oh yes, I have been telling him everything you have been doing with the hotel.’

With that, she stormed off.