Christmas drinks...and then some!

After an exceptionally early night and fabulous lie in, breakfast in bed, a hot soak and a marvel at the underfloor heating we took a cab to paddington station. We just made it back on time for lunchtime Christmas drinks at Hoggit n Hoof.

I believe we rather over indulged ourselves in Clark whitehill's hospitality. Which sounds kinda classy. In my head it was. I haven't dared show my face in public yet to gage the feedback on that one.

It did at one stage involve being fed sausages by the lovely local butchers - in my fairy tale mind because they are gents and were helping me to soak up the booze !!! In reality probably to get me out the shop (I'm not entirely sure how I ended up there) but I do know I was making my way briefly home to meet the decorator who very kindly came all the way back from his home to let me into mine (I assured him I had keys when he called to check I had some before he locked up) ooops.

Husband thought it quite irresponsible of me to say we had keys without checking. I promptly asked him where our overnight bag was (he being the responsible adult in charge of it). Hhhhmm it appears he left it in another bar !!!!! Pot kettle.

Well I made it back to the next bar after my little diversion for overnight bags n keys. Husband had an only fools n horses moment... Y'know - the one where he suddenly realises the stripper is in fact his beloved raquelle. I would like to point out I did of course have ALL my clothes on - its just he thought look at the state of that (ok I was struggling with the push or pull logic of double doors - why is one always locked??? Plus staring through the semi frosty glass to see if they were all in the same area as when I left may have made me look slightly crazy) husband saw my arrival and thought "look at the state of that..." And realised the bumbling lush approaching him was in fact his lovely wife. The shame.

Well this bar happily served us with two drinks - I point this out just to make a point that our group was after our custom barred when ordering our next round !!! Very embarrassingly for a group of middle aged festive filled professionals (inc solicitors who in my experience are quite often the worst culprits) and pensioners (who appeared quite proud of newly acquired barred status). I would like to report something exceptionally exciting like a bar brawl, high volume singing and general unsociable behaviour brought on this barring but alas the culprit is an exceptionally mature well travelled well healed gentleman who thought it would be pleasant to order a platter of sandwiches for the group. He committed the crime of asking what the timeline would be for arrival of said platter. I was not privy to the conversation that took place but clearly a case of over stretched bar staff working their butts off and a customer clearly used to better establishments. The manager felt the need to point out I had had too much before I even arrived - I thought it a bit irresponsible they had in that event served me two further drinks in that knowledge (even if one being a pint of diet coke). Apparently according to the manager everyone was barred other than my husband. (Teflon man strikes again).

Off to the next bar where I promptly sank a few pints of soft drinks and announced my departure to the group.

Husband went on to the next party - coin club @ lucky's. he has the stamina of an ox. I was safely tucked up in bed by 8pm!