Being a General Assistant is great fun, but there’s plenty of hard-work to be done too – just ask Miranda...

6.30am... Alarm. Ringing. Loudly. Off. Sleep... Not a chance. Bolt upright – Pete’s not doing breakfast this morning, I am. Which means 12 breakfasts ready to go by 8am.

6.40am: Quick shower, clothes on and down the stairs (snow outside, sleepy on the inside). Oops there’s someone’s jumper on the side and a couple of cups and glasses around the place. Quick tidy up and then down to the kitchen.

7.15am: Meet Sam (a volunteer who’s here for a few weeks), unlock the kitchen and get the sausages on the go. She went out yesterday mountain biking with a group (sounded awesome), but I’m going abseiling tomorrow on my day off. Beat that, sunshine!

7.30am: Panic. Coffee machine is not working and guests due in 30 minutes. Plugged in? Yep. Got coffee? Yep. Ah, fuse has gone. Find toolbox, get screwdriver and replace. Job done. Time lost? 6 minutes and 32 seconds, a new personal best. Log in the health and safety book and back to the eggs.

8.30am: Just seen a group coming down stairs: why am I suddenly thinking family Von Trap, I’ll break into song! How about a bit of Hokey Cokey, never mind the hills are alive!! Lots of excitement about the day ahead, loads of chatter. I love this bit, talking to them, finding out where they’ve been, what they’re doing, it’s like we all share a common interest.

It’s now about 10am where has the morning gone? Sam and I’ve been running around, cooking breakfast, making certain everyone has everything they want, checking people out, helping with luggage, saying goodbye. Good job it’s a lovely morning. It’s always a bit chaotic at this time with people coming and going, taking money, giving directions to people off to another town. Oh and Josephine didn’t speak a word of English – so I got to practice my French. Zut alors!

11am: Sam tells me that a tap on the first floor won’t turn off. Good job my dad was a plumber, so nipped up - water everywhere! Found the stop-cock, turned that off. That was the simple bit. Could I get the tap off? I knew what the problem was, a worn washer, but you need a plumber to fix that so I let the manager know. I’m soaked – quick change.

11.45: Much needed coffee break. The untold powers of caffeine.

Noon: I’m on room cleaning today. 10 rooms, 20 mins per room, should be done by 3.30. Vacuum around, polish, clean bathrooms and generally get everything ready for next guests. Wonder what they’ll be like? That’s the bit I really like about this; different people all the time. They come from all over the world. I was chatting about India last week, definitely on my places to visit list. If I’m done on time, I’ll nip down to the lake for a bit of a bike ride – the split shift system is great. Half way through the day you get to go out and enjoy the place before getting back for 5 to start the evening shift.

4.00pm: Time for a well earned sandwich. Meant to finish by 3.30, but just didn’t happen. Someone had walked in with muddy boots and it took me an hour to clean it all off.

Back on shift at 5. Checked in a group of 4, the Watsons, mum, dad and two teenage kids. They’re on a walking holiday around the UK. They’re only 4 days in and Sue, youngest daughter, has big blisters on her feet. Gave her a few useful tips what to do (I knew trekking in the jungle would come in use for something).

8pm: Got quite a bit of paperwork to do (reception duties), logs and reports, so better get cracking. Just heard Yusuf come in to take over the late shift, so need to brief him, particularly about the tap on the first floor: couldn’t get the plumber in today.

9.00pm: Said goodbye to Sam. She’s off out tonight, so off to put party clothes on. Yusuf needs some help with a big group that’s checking in and I’ll help on the bar tonight too. So much for putting my feet up and reading.... hey but that’s the way it goes here and that’s what I love about it.... the day’s just never what you think.