‘Ah, don’t tell me you’ve just had a run-in with Ms Randall-Perry. Otherwise known as Elizabeth and only Elizabeth. Don’t worry, we don’t all bite like her. What did you do, call her Liz, Lizzie, or Beth? She doesn’t approve of name shortening.’

‘None of the above; she found out that I was sharing a room with her.’

He winced and pulled a face.

‘No wonder you were tempted to run,’ he said with a laugh. ‘Come on, I’ll show you where your room is. I’m Douglas.’

‘Not Doug or Dougie, just Douglas?’

‘Oh, please, do not make me sound like I’m like Elizabeth. But yes, just Douglas. People have tried to call me Doug in the past, but I just don’t suit it.’

‘Nice to meet you. I’m Edie.’

He shook my hand and insisted on carrying my bag for me. He gave me a running commentary of the different areas of the campsite as we walked through. He pointed out the caravans where they put young people who made all the noise, the leisure complex in between, the fancy lodges that were closest to the beach. He told me the best shift rotation was night security and the bin runs were the worst. He was a wealth of information, only the more he told me about life on the campsite, the more daunting the job sounded. Where was the fun Mum had promised?

‘Here we are,’ he said as we reached what looked like an old 1950s motel. There were three identical-looking floors, all with external walkways sheltering the doors. ‘There’s a staffroom there at the end of the other block. This is my bedroom, by the way; you might want to remember that one,’ he suggested with a cheeky wink.

‘Douglas, you’re not hitting on a yet another member of staff, are you?’ said a woman leaning over the railing.

‘Of course not. Would I possibly do that when it’s against the code of ethics in the staff handbook?’ he shouted up before turning to me. ‘But when did rules ever stop anyone?’

‘Douglas,’ shouted the woman again.

‘That’s your roommate, Soph.’ He sighed and did a mock bow. ‘I’ll leave you in her capable hands.’

He walked away and I made my way up the stairs.

‘Don’t mind Douglas, not all the boys that work here are as incorrigible as him. You’ll get used to him and his ways. I’ve known him for years; he’s my cousin Joel’s friend from boarding school. You got a boyfriend?’ Unlike Elizabeth she had a wide, welcoming smile.

‘Yeah, his name’s Scott.’