19 September – Chilling at the Fountains – take 2

I wake – and we are actually in the same room! (Wonders never cease – ED) Once again, we take our time and leisurely begin the day. I ring down to reception and report the spa bath. Someone will look at it again, and she can't apologise enough.

After quick showers, we dress and head down poolside for a very hard morning of reading and chilling, with swimming included. Two hours of this hard work and we head back to the room. There is no sign that anyone has been – and no note on the bath – so we guess they will come later.

We cook – or rather in my case just prepare, lunch – as mentioned yesterday I had finished the bacon so I had some ham, and Pat cooked her turkey bacon. I would have eaten some of hers – but being turkey it's on the bad list of foods for me and my gout!

Again, a quick clean up, and a couple of hot drinks, and then the pool is once again calling, so grab the usual electronic books, and stuff and we go back down poolside.

After maybe 90 minutes the sky darkens once again – and we are instructed to leave the pool area. It starts to rain, and by the time we are back in the room it is a full storm. Although mid-afternoon it is dark and the rain is hammering down. Unlike yesterday it does not look likely to end so Pat decides to try the spa bath, and even though there is no note nor evidence that anyone has been in, it is working. So, a very enjoyable bath is had. Get dressed into easy clothes, and then we begin the task of the final lots of washing and drying the clothes, and of course being our last night, begin the packing.

We are chatting over tomorrow and both of us come to the conclusion that it will be a long day, having to evacuate the room by 10am in the morning, with the flight leaving at almost 8pm! So, as we have done previously, although not here, and see if we can get a late check out. So, put on some slightly less easy clothes, and go down and get in the car, to drive around to the reception, to try and extend the room.

Park in the disabled parking slot (yes there is one in reception, and it was empty) but as we cross the road there are two motorcycles parked over the ramp. So rather than a simple small lift, I have to manhandle the wheelchair up the kerb which is probably about 8 inches high.

We then have to take the lift up one floor, and into the reception area which is quite busy. Speak with one of the walking receptionist guys who passes us to one of the girls on the desk. We mention the motorbikes, and their lack of riders, but he seems a little disinterested. She, after listening, advises us that the best way is to ring the points booking number, as they can't do anything on this desk. Feeling a touch let down, we also advise her about the motorbikes – but it has no effect, she also seeming as disinterested as the guy previously.

Back into the lift and down, as we look across the motorbikes are still there, so I have to manhandle the wheelchair down again back to car, and just as I am putting the wheelchair in the two motorbike riders come out and climb aboard and ride off! (bastards! – ED)

Drive back to our building, and the parking space that we had just given up to drive round for absolutely nothing is taken, and we drive around the parking lot to try and find a space. We do find one – but it is a out as far away from the building foyer as possible.

Finally get to the room and while Pat makes a tea I pick up the phone to ring and see what they can do. As I explain she says that we can't actually extend the room – but perhaps we could use some of our points and book a room. That's ok – I would be happy to do that – only to be told there are no rooms available for tomorrow. What a joke! To say I am pissed off is an understatement, but as there is nothing we can do just give up on that idea.

Finish the drying and the packing – well as much as we can until the morning and settle down to watch a film. You can't think that the day could get any worse but…..we make a major bad decision and choose to watch Dad's Army, the big screen remake of one of my favourite 70's TV sit-coms. What can I say but complete pile of doggy-do-do! We watch the whole film – imaging it was going to get better, only it never did. When it finished, we turned everything off in a state of total disbelief!

A quick read, and sleep arrives.