Written on 2 April 2019
It's 7.30am, another spectacularly early start.
Out of bed at 5.30, and my husband immediately occupied all the available space, with the exception of the bottom left corner of the bed where Samson politely waited for us to feed him in between naps.
First one into the foyer. I know this because the night desk guy always jumps, as if he's forgotten what a human being looks like. The strip lighting forces me to squint. I wave a vague good morning, wondering whether I can catch a micro nap in the lift.
But I'm not alone in the lift. A single mallard duck stands there, waiting politely. Its feathers a little ruffled.
“Morning.” I say to it with a nod.
“Hello. Floor four please. I can reach the buttons.” I press the button obligingly, and pull out my phone to avoid small talk.
On floor four the duck hops out, with a little nod to me.
“Hold the lift!” A cocker spaniel gallops towards the door. This particular spaniel was known for being a bit of a chatterbox, so I press the shut button, feigning attempts to hold the open one. The doors shut on the dog, who had to pull up quickly to avoid smashing into the lift door.
I continued my ascent in silence.