External Link/Members OnlyThis was (supposed to be) a half booking for £60.
CommunicationsUsual agency procedure. Arranged by telephone a couple of hours ahead of time and I received the address by text. Real life briefly got in the way and I had to put the time back slightly. In the end, the booking was made for quarter of an hour later than the original plan.
LocationLeia was working from a house on a pretty standard Wallsend estate. It’s one of those where the upstairs and downstairs are actually separate flats, meaning you have to be careful which door you knock on. Not especially discreet.
First ImpressionsTo get to the door I had to squeeze past several garden chairs on the front path suggesting people had been enjoying the fine weather not long before I arrived. The door was ajar so I pushed it gently assuming this may be for discretion so I could sneak in quietly. However, it was on a chain and I ended up knocking. Leia’s first greeting was the less than welcoming: “You’re early”. I countered that, no, in fact I was bang on time for the rearranged slot - a point she did quickly concede.
She clearly wasn’t ready, and said so. I’d already guessed this from the “welcome” and the frumpy, fluffy dressing gown she was wearing. I was shown into a dingy, messy bedroom and asked to wait a few minutes. Great. As I did, I heard voices and my feeling of impending doom and a crap half hour further worsened. I decided to walk.
When Leia returned I told her my decision and went to leave. She seemed surprised and suggested I’d heard her neighbour who’d come for the cat! To be fair, she offered a partial refund. I declined this on the basis that I’d messed her around slightly by moving the original time back, and also it seemed the quickest way out of there!
As I left, I bumped into the aforementioned neighbour who was heading to her door, confirming my earlier thoughts about the lack of discretion and other people being around.
ConclusionNot the best use of £60 and a round trip through the Tyne Tunnel. I’m pleased I walked though. Leia was rude and ill prepared despite the extra time she had as I’d pushed the appointment back. It’s also an unsuitable set up for visitors needing discretion. Oh, and while I’m on, I think it’s a “couple of years” since she was 30 as claimed on the website. That’s a minor point in the grand scheme of things though!
