"Taught us that we are not alone"

I was apprehensive and anxious on the journey here in the car not knowing what to expect. On arrival staff i met put me in ease and made me feel more comfortable and showed me to my room where i could set up my bits and pieces.

I found the first 2 days extremely difficult as i wasnt allowed out of my room due to the level of alcohol still in my system. I was disappointed that i didnt get a tv and the internet also didn't work, so i felt isolated not seeing anyone except staff in the beginning. I would have appreciated some form of company.

The third day i was allowed out and met the other people who were all extremely welcoming, it put me at ease and i was happy i was around people again. A member of staff organised team games of which we all participated which was great fun and also helped bond friendship with other people in the same situation as myself.

Food was superb. Everything cooked from scratch and fresh and decent variety each day, you could have not asked for better. All of the staff, including the doctors are extremely friendly and helpful and you could go and ask them about anything, which was also a great comfort.

The only problem i had in general is the way the doors close and slam through the night disturbed my sleep. I feel they should be adjusted to close slowly. I also found it difficult that i was instructed to go to bed every night by midnight, i am a night person and i like to be awake until around 2 am, and i was asked to turn the TV off at midnight and go to bed. I feel like people should be able to go to bed when they want not when they told. Being a 50 yrs old man and being told to go to bed has me annoyed. Apart from the doors and being told to go to bed its been an extremely nice stay under the difficult situation that i was in and it helped me a lot. At one of the nights there was also a leek from my ceiling and staff had to move my bed and change the bedding.

Overall my time here has been enjoyable as it could be under the difficult circumstances I and the others been and it made us support each other and taught us that we are not alone.