The “voice”
of
independent accommodation providers

Joy is fictitious.

Joy Appleby was born in South Essex in 1965.

She met Sam when she was in her early 20s, he was already a serving soldier, stationed in Colchester.  Sam is 10 years her senior.  He is retiring from the army in April 2010 having achieved the rank of sergeant after 35 years service.

The couple married in 1986.  Joy worked as a hairdresser before becoming a B&B owner.

The couple have no children.

Joy’s best friend is Eve Paige, who works part-time at the local Citizens Advice Bureau, the pair met in primary school and have remained close friends ever since, Joy confides her innermost thoughts to Eve.  Eve is divorced with two children, a son Paul aged 26 and a daughter Penny aged 22  who will be getting married shortly.

This is Joy’s story about her venture for the first time into the hospitality industry, her story unfolds as she learns the ropes, and in time as she discovers that when you work in a highly regulated field, with the general public, you never stop learning.  New regulations cause her to rethink existing practices and the unexpected behaviour of some of her guests completely dumbfound her. When twists and turns of fate also dictate to Joy, she finds that like any good soap opera, life in a B&B, like the soap she provides for her guests, is bubbly and fun, but she is always left with a residue to clean up afterwards.

In January 2010 Joy buys Sunfair an existing Bed and Breakfast in Southend-on-Sea, where this story is set.  She knows the area well, having spent all her life in the vicinity of Southend. She does know quite a few local people who earn a living through tourism, some were her clients when she worked as a hairdresser, so she thinks she does understand the local tourism market and she certainly understands the local people.  Jim, her web designer is her ex next door neighbour.

It is worth mentioning here that the dates that you see at the top of the chapter under the title are automatic inserts on the date that the chapter is written.  It is not necessarily the date of the event that Joy is experiencing.  If Joy thinks the date is relevant to the story, she will mention it.

Please share your thoughts with Joy, and she in turn will share her experience with you.