In Switzerland, I had an unenjoyable experience when I checked into a hotel and I was handed a card, which offered me a free drink at the bar. And so, when I was ready I came down and I went into the bar and I presented my card and I got a drink and the manager was there and we talked and he introduced me to his barmaid, who was blonde and Swedish. When we'd finished our drinks, it was obviously up to me to return the compliment, so I asked him what he would have and he said he'd have a scotch and would I excuse him while he made a phone call and he went to make a phone call and I then asked the Swedish barmaid what she would drink, feeling I should invite her to take a drink and she said she would have champagne and I was furious because that was expensive. I'd only had a weak scotch. So when the manager came back I said, 'I must go and I'll pay the bill', and he presented me with a bill for about a hundred Swiss francs, it was quite a lot of money, and I asked him what it was and he explained to me that there were some lessons in life we had to learn at some time or other and one was you know that Swedish barmaids do like champagne and if they want one you have to open a whole bottle and give it to them. So I thanked him very much for the lesson and asked if he'd give me a receipt for the hundred francs so that I could present it to my company and have it included in my expenses. And he was willing to do that. And so I phoned a friend and we had a wonderful dinner and after dinner I waited to see when there were no waiters about and I left and I went up to my room and I came down the next morning and they presented me with a bill for hotel and dinner and I refused to pay for the dinner and I said I've already paid for it and here's my receipt. And he realised there was something fishy about this but he didn't quite know what to do, and I said, 'Look, I'm in a hurry to go and if you don't tend to this matter now, then I shall go to the tourist board and ask them to come and referee'. So he very reluctantly took the money for the room and I left without paying for the dinner, and when I got home I wrote to the manager and thanked him for his lesson and hoped that he found mine was a quid pro quo and enjoyable for him.

Yes, it was a very difficult situation really but, you know, I knew if I didn't get that receipt I had nothing. I didn't know what I was going to do when I got the receipt, but at least I had something and I could decide what to do. So those were the hassles of travelling.