Predictably, there is a little sign in the bathroom saying that if, hypothetically, I should have forgotten any of the items listed, that they can be delivered to my room free of charge. You know the sort of things: toothbrush, shaving kit, sewing kit... none of the stuff I actually need.
What did I forget to bring?
1. Trousers that fit. I've brought plenty that are some distance away from being do-up-able, and another without a button (note to self - must get that sorted, and stop taking that pair away with me on business trips until fixed). But only one pair that resemble anything that could be described as wearable.
2. A belt. OK, so I managed one pair of trousers, but not a belt to keep them up. The same belt might have got me out of jail with some of the other pairs too, in an emergency.
3. My iPod. Technically not forgotten on this trip, but left on the plane on the way back from Paris last week. (Yes, Linda, I'm still going on about it). Good news is that its replacement has made the trip here successfully, although I'm sure to abandon it on the plane to China on Wednesday.
4. An ability to sleep for more than 15 minutes. On the positive side, it's a deep sleep. I think I've managed nearly an hour's sleep in the last 3 days. I feel positively refreshed.
5. Business cards. To be honest, this is genius on my part, and learned from bitter experience. If you give them a business card during a meeting, I've apparently given written permission to phone daily. Now I try and avoid giving even my name to anyone, even though sometimes this causes me problems checking in for a flight.
I pressed the "Delighted to Serve" button on the phone in the room but they were unable to help with any of my missing items, but I'm sure that, like Linda, they were "delighted" to hear the story of the lost iPod.
