Juscht a liddle drinkie

So last night was the staff party. Finished work at... well, actually, the usual time cos I still had work to do, but officially we finished about four. Had a hotel booked with one of my work collegues who'd got a baby sitter for the night so he and his partner didn't have to rush back. seemed the best way to go, a taxi to my sisters would have cost almost as much as the hotel did and without breakfast. ;)

Handy too, I park about.. half a mile from work I guess and walk in. The hotel was between work (and the restaurant we had our meal) and where I park the car. So after work I just hopped up to the car, picked up my bags, then back to the hotel to check in, shower and change. Not a bad hotel. Bed was -hard- but comfortable. Decent shower, which is a bonus.

Anyway, we met up in the pub next to the restaurant. as usual I was one of the first to arrive with everyone else slowly turning up during the course of the next hour or so. By the time we eventually made it to the restaurant myself and the business' sales director were about 3 pints down each with everyone else struggling to catch up. So as usual, felt half cut before the food even arrived.

In my defense I was very sedate with what I drank during the course of the meal, unlike some. I think I was anyway. ;) We went to a Spanish tapas restaurant that I'd eaten in a couple of times before and recommended. I don't think the recommendation was a bad one either. The food was excellent. My meal consisted of meatballs for starters in an absolutely perfect tomato and olive oil sauce with cheese, then the special paella for main course. Delicious tomato tinted rice, chicken breast, spices with fresh king prawns and shelled mussels. Not normally a fan of shellfish but I was obviously merry enough not to be put off. Thankfully so, because the food was devine. couldn't eat it all though, was absolutely bloated by this point. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, I had great amusement with my boss and his girlfriend by joking around with the sales director, who happens to be gay, about the waiter who, if he wasn't gay then I'll eat my hat.

So during the course of the meal they got increasingly flirty with each other ("I enjoy hanging around with older men...") etc. I think my gay boss harbours the secret assumption that I'm probably gay since I'm not actively dating someone and know more about cult gay tv than he seems to. We share a similar snipey sense of humour too, that comes across as high camp. I'm not remotely gay, but can see where he might get that impression. ;)

Anyway, much amusement was had by the wife of one of my collegues offering the waiter a tenner to get his shirt off. Which he actually did. I think it was more for Guy the gay's benefit than anyone else's. And my secretary's attempt to hide the fact it was her 21st birthday the day before was blown out of the water when my boss remembered before the meal and arranged for presents. We had to stand up and sing happy birthday to her which the whole restaurant joined in. Totally embarrassed her. I think next year she'll take the minor embarrassment of the balloons in the office over that.

Anyway, my collegue Jim got absolutely steaming drunk. A Scot who can't handle his drink. By the end of the evening my boss was myttering to Guy and I that he was going to 'fuckin' slap him in a minute' if he didn;t sober up slightly and stop embarrassing us all. Not that he bothers me, I'm used to it by now. Everyone started to make their escape, ignoring his cries that we should go to the godawful over 25s nightclub. Apparently no-one did. I headed off at that point but I heard this morning that Guy and another work collegue had headed off to the gay nightculb we ended up in last year while the rest of us staggered home.

Anyway, the whole experience got me thinking about the difference between this year and last and the people that are missing from my life, or whose roles have changed in the last year. Thankfully before I could get too maudlin I was back at the hotel and in bed.

Woke up in the middle of the night to hea Jim and his partner having a blazing row in the room next to mine. Well, her rowing, him just slurring "nooo" occasionally. I don't think I'll mention I heard any of it. ;P

So, good night all in all, and good fun. Exhausted today though, and slow buckling down to work. still, it has to be done....