I remember the hot summer of 1976 17 years of age at college doing a course in catering. Got the chance to work at Margate for the summer so i packed a small case boarded a train and took off for the summer. I arrived at the hotel i was to work and was put into a nice guest room, i thought to myself will i stick this out.The next morning i met the head of the housekeeping who showed me the job i was to do. It involved making the guests their morning tea and taking to their rooms and then i had my floor which i had to clean. The hotel was filthy so i rolled my sleeves up and got stuck in, at the end of the week my work was praised. The summer that year was fabulous and after my shift in the morning i would take myself off to the beach to do some sunbathing, the hotel was on the sea front so it was a 2 minute walk. My meals were provided and at six pm in the evening would have my meal then i would talk to Jean, she was an elderly lady of about 58 and was so nice she did take me under her wing and i got on well with Jean. Another girl Susan came to work at the hotel and we made friends.We would go on the fair which was in margate permanently, we did have some fun. For one week in August my parents came to margate (i think they were worried), and stayed once they could see i was doing alright i think they felt happier. It is one summer i shall never forget, in September i returned to my home town to finish my studies at college. They were sorry to see me go i was sorry to.