Day 154 - Home to Calais - oops! my drinking mistake

It really is true when they say the weekend goes faster than any two days of a weekday, in these days of university graduates doing all sorts of thesis', even for the most ridiculous of things and I did read that somebody had done a study of how many times on average people typed teh instead of the and it was something like 0.0921232132 which does make you wonder, anyway back to my point, you would imagine that someone somewhere will have done some study into the seconds of a weekend and seconds of a weekday, anyway the upshot of my point is that no sooner did I seem to be arriving at home on Friday evening then I was saying goodbye to the dog and I was back in the car and heading to Halifax.  This week I had a treat and both my dog and son was up when I left for work as I was that bit later at 6.30 a.m.
It was to Calais but via Halifax to pick up my Halifaxian colleague, before heading south to Leicester to collect my Leicestonian colleague.  One thing that is quite clear that if I decide to chuck this job of a project manager then I will become a taxi driver, another job with travel.
What was nice this week was then when we arrived in Leicester our colleague was very hospitable and we were invited in for tea and some light Indian refreshment and I have to admit that the fare he brought out, a type of spicy crispy type thing was very nice and very moreish and had to try hard to say no when he wanted to give us more.  My more daring Halifax colleague decided to take his tea with some spice in, but I am afraid I am more boring or traditional, which ever you like to say and just had the old PG Tips with milk.
After a short interlude we were back on the road and heading for the Channel Tunnel.  The plan to be at the services before the tunnel so we could take a quick conference call before boarding the train.
With it all done and dusted we were on the 3.20 p.m. shuttle and in the Calais hotel by 5.00 p.m. local time.  After some time to unpack and with me staying the full four nights I have unpacked everything and put them out in the cupboards and I mean everything not just hung my suit and shirts up we were regrouping in the reception for a trip to the nearest supermarket for provisions.  As I had brought no food with me I sufficed myself with a cooked roast chicken which should do for two days at least, some breadcakes which looking at the number for 5 euros would keep me going all week and some to take home and a bottle of HP Sauce for some flavour.  We returned to the car and then rather embarrassingly drove back to the carpark of the hotel and I knew as we entered the carpark we had not driven far, but as we left by the exit route, this road took us onto the same roundabout as the hotel.  But I will say that the bags I had used for the shopping were heavy and that is why I needed the car.
Upon my re arrival at the hotel it was time for a meeting with my team of two Belgian colleagues and my Halifax one which took until just after 8.00 p.m. at which point one of my Belgian colleagues decided he was going out to do a bit of Western Swing, which he did describe to me and showed me a video on his phone which looked quite exciting stuff and the other one wanted to go for some dinner.  I decided to go with her for dinner to keep her company but as I had my food in the room I opted just for a drink and this was my mistake of the day.  Firstly we decided to walk back to the supermarket complex since it was just over the road and that took us less time than to drive in the car.
As she ordered I said I would like a blond beer and pointed to the glass of it on the drinks menu.  The really have to get better pictures of the drink as I ended up with what you can see on the photo below.  Suffice to say I managed just half of the drink in the hour we sat there talking and ashamedly left the rest, but it was a good job as that half had my head spinning a little.  I will point out for non regular readers, I don't drink a great deal as most of the time I am driving and don't touch a drop when I have to drive anywhere and when I do have a drink it will be a small beer or very occasionally a very small whisky which is consumed over a couple of hour period.
I stumbled out of the restaurant and trying not to find anything, especially the Christmas decorations even slightly amusing, we walked back to the hotel.  I was glad to get to my room and drink the complementary bottle of water that the hotel had kindly provided.
It was time for some work but after only a few minutes I rethought and decided it was a good time to go to bed and try and get an earlyish night as I was planning to be up at 6.00 the next day.
So that is where I leave you, blog done and ready to hit the bed.

Night All