While at Summerville yesterday late morning, I made a booking for today, Monday, for just before noon with Jessica for a Spanish conversation. The assistant receptionist wrote it in the appointment book. Being a bit paranoid, I also sent a WeChat to confirm; it was.

So today I roll up to Summerville looking to practice my Spanish. Walk in, desk empty. Must be that Monday morning back to work rush. A voice from upstairs calls "Hello" and an attractive slender PRC appears on the stairs asking, in a hopeful voice, if I'd like a massage. I reply, Yes, I have a booking with Jessica. She looks a bit confused, comes down to the desk, and tries to use the walkie-talkie to announce my presence. But she's having some difficulty; seems she's not quite certain exactly how to use. IF it is working, there's no answer.

Plan B: she asks me to follow her up the stairs. On the landing, she shouts out for Jessica. No answer, the break room is empty. Must be boom time (pun intended) at Summerville. She moves up the stairs towards the next floor, shouting out for Jessica. Finally there is an answer in Mandarin with some conversation. Me, I'm thinking that must be Jessica saying she'll be down in a minute after she freshens up. What can I say, Bunkie, it's a cold world; I'm told that Jessica will come late. Good for her, not so good for me. The PRC asks if I want another girl that IS there. She is attractive, but any Spanish conversation would be rather mute; she just doesn't have the vocabulary. I could see what's available, the roster has at least 1 I know, BUT the reason I book is I've made MY selection. I decline, she shrugs (nothing in it for her), and disappears. Seems I can let myself out. Thinking of alternatives, I think where better to enjoy some Spanish than Spain. Out comes google maps, directions, calculate travel times, send a WeChat message for potential TOT's, within a couple of minutes have a reply, and I'm off to Spain.

Spain: http://www.aus99forum.com/showthread...=1#post2633554

I like Summerville, BUT there seems to be reoccurring problems with bookings. It's what I like about having the girl's WeChat. I'll contact her directly, not to bypass the shop, but to have a direct connection, either asking her to book for me, or if she wants me to book, I will, but then she knows what's up. And she can let me know if there's a change to her schedule, or if she has limited resources if it's that time of the month. But with someone you've never met, not possible, and I certainly can't count on the shop letting me know (they do have my WeChat and my mobile number when I made the booking - a simple sms can solve a lot of problems... But obviously for THEM, better to have the customer in the shop, offering alternatives. Well, at least I didn't have to listen to Summer's excuses and hard core sales pitch.)

Update: Seems I did get an SMS apology from Summerville, 90 minutes AFTER my 1 hour massage scheduled start. I didn't see it as I was occupied with the solution...