The students will be returning around now to Passfield Hall student hostel in Bloomsbury, London\u00a0WC1, where I spent a nightmare (un cauchemar) night last week. I can only hope they will be aiming for degrees in finding their way around, as the following letter to the manager may explain:
\nDear Manager, I would have enjoyed my stay with you (date) a lot more if I hadn’t been unable to go out, and had been able to get back into my room when I returned at 11.30pm.<\/p>\n
It would be helpful if you would put more notices and labels around your buildings. Too late I realized both your annexes are identical in layout, and almost identical in numbering. I was becoming desperate when my (T305) key would not open door T303. When the (no doubt) startled occupant called out that I had the wrong room, it was then that I literally thought I had gone mad (wine, yer honour? Only two teeny-weeny glasses). The layout of this annexe is identical to the layout of the annexe I was booked into. A very kind man on reception helped me renegotiate the maze of stairs and corridors finally to find my own room. I have to admit I was sobbing by this time.<\/p>\n
Earlier I had felt trapped in a seemingly deserted building as I tried the exit door to go out for the evening. From dark basement back four floors to my room (luckily the ‘phone was working) and reception told me I should ‘push the green button’. This turned out to be a dark button on a dark background about three feet away from the door. It would be very helpful to have a large notice beside this, for the dazed and confused such as myself.<\/p>\n
On the positive side, the building was clean and picturesque, the staff exceptionally pleasant and helpful, and the breakfast perfect.<\/p>\n
Yours sincerely, EMS<\/p>\n
Writing this letter has relieved my feelings but, more importantly, I hope it just may help future visitors. Tip: the John Adams Hall round the corner (jah@ioe.ac.uk<\/a> 15-23 Endsleigh Street, WC1 0DP 020 7911 5300) was a much easier place to stay at five years ago.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The students will be returning around now to Passfield Hall student hostel in Bloomsbury, London\u00a0WC1, where I spent a nightmare (un cauchemar) night last week. I can only hope they will be aiming for degrees in finding their way around, … Continue reading