Summary
Readers will recall 1992 as The Queen's "Annus Horribilis", owing to her children's marital shenanigans and the blaze at Windsor Castle. Generally though, we are more likely to have bad days than entire years, though "Dies Horribilis" is not exactly in common parlance. One of my most stressful times was spent in Texas, carrying out a survey in the diamond industry.
The day started early - the previous night, in fact. 1am found me luggage-less, staring morosely at an empty carousel in Austin airport. By 2am I was tucked up in bed - naked, obviously - listening to the shuddering boom of a generator or boiler at the other side of the wall. I put on my sweaty clothes and asked to be moved. The second room had noisy air con that wouldn't switch off. Even under the covers I was freezing and deafened. Reception sent up a technician, so it was back on with the dirty clothes. The technician couldn't turn the unit off either, so he removed the whole front panel and bodged it into place upside down with a hammer. Then he stuffed tissue in the cracks around the panel and bade me good night.See the full content of this document
Extract
Sufficient Unto the Day . . .
As I left the hotel at 8am, having not slept and still wearing yesterday's unsavoury outfit in the sweltering heat. My suitcase arrived, too late for me to change. My...
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