public Item checkBlocking(String direction) {
		Item blocking = null;
		
		if (direction.equalsIgnoreCase("e")){
			direction = "east";
		} else if (direction.equalsIgnoreCase("w")){
			direction = "west";
		}else if (direction.equalsIgnoreCase("n")){
			direction = "north";
		}else if (direction.equalsIgnoreCase("s")){
			direction = "south";
		}else if (direction.equalsIgnoreCase("u")){
			direction = "up";
		}else if (direction.equalsIgnoreCase("d")){
			direction = "down";
		}

		Enumeration<Item> ei = items.elements();
		while (ei.hasMoreElements() && blocking == null) {
			Item item = (Item) ei.nextElement();
		 //if ((item.getBlocking().equals(direction)) &&
		//	 (!item.getIsOpen())){
			if ((item.getBlocking().equalsIgnoreCase(direction))) {
				blocking = item;
			}
		}

		return blocking;
	}