Grammar in context : business letters - personal letter (extract) 

Past, present and present perfect tenses

Julian, mate! How's it going?

We're __________(have) a great time here in sunny Brightlley - as you might well imagine. It _________(rain) almost continuously since we _________(arrive)  last Friday and the forecast is for more.  Still, the weather is nothing compared to the mind-numbing dullness of the town which boasts one pub, a fish and chip shop and a bus station with no buses. The best thing about it is the road to Manchester, which is fifty miles away.

On top of all this, the hotel is probably the worst I _________(ever / stay) in. Three people have already __________(go down with) food poisoning and another woman ______________(walk) out on the first night after she ____________(bite) by bed bugs. For this luxury we_______(pay) a hundred pounds a night!

When we ___________(try) to complain on the first day, the manager ____________(run away) and ___________(lock)himself in his office, so we tried to call the tour company. In fact we______________(try) ever since but you only get the engaged signal and I___________(begin) to wonder if they're still in business or whether they__________(go)  bankrupt - which of course they justly deserve! Anyway, we___________(write) a joint letter demanding our money back. Not that I think it'll do any good.

Still,  we_______________(do) a bit of sightseeing. There's a disused insecticide factory just up the road and the town boasts one of the largest cemetaries in Northern Europe, so we_____________(go) to see these two 'attractions'. We also ______________(manage) to get drunk in the pub on Saturday night but I_________________( think) there was probably something wrong with the beer as Tommy _________________(complain) of headaches and stomachache since _______________(drink) a pint of the horrible stuff.

Anyway, back home on Wednesday, thank god. See you then.

Paul

Solution

Julian, mate! How's it going?

We're having a great time here in sunny Brightlley - as you might well imagine. It has rained almost continuously since we arrived last Friday and the forecast is for more.  Still, the weather is nothing compared to the mind-numbing dullness of the town which boasts one pub, a fish and chip shop and a bus station with no buses. The best thing about it is the road to Manchester, which is fifty miles away.

On top of all this, the hotel is probably the worst I have ever stayed in. Three people have already gone down with food poisoning and another woman walked out on the first night after she was bitten by bed bugs. For this luxury we've  paid a hundred pounds a night!

When we tried to complain on the first day, the manager ran away and locked himself in his office, so we tried to call the tour company. 
In fact we've been trying ever since but you only get the engaged signal and I'm beginning to wonder if they're still in business or whether they've gone bankrupt - which of course they justly deserve! Anyway, we've written a joint letter demanding our money back. Not that I think it'll do any good.

Still,  we've done a bit of sightseeing. There's a disused insecticide factory just up the road and the town boasts one of the largest cemetaries in Northern Europe, so we've been to see these two 'attractions'. We also managed to get drunk in the pub on Saturday night but I think there was probably something wrong with the beer as Tommy has been complaining of headaches and stomachache since drinking a pint of the horrible stuff.

Anyway, back home on Wednesday, thank god. See you then.

Paul