Belfast, what a blast (excuse the pun!)

Well last week-end was such a "jol", as I was on the committee for the Social Club this year, I got to help with all the decision making and planning which started quite late in October early November.

So last Friday 14 of us took the train from Connelly station in Dublin to Belfast, 1st class all the way - now I must admit that my first class expectations were very different from what we got, however it was a hoot.   Especially with my friend Dianne, never a boring moment!  She got chatting to a young guy named Matthew and I must say not shy, in a joking way asking him are you married, got a girlfriend etc etc in the first sentence, I guess it is a bit of an ice breaker, and the journey did not seem to take too long.

We arrived in Belfast at 9:15 p.m. and managed to get two mini bus taxis to take us to our hotel in Dunadry, Dianne and the guys had already decided, hotel, drop luggage and then off to the city to find the entertainment, I on the other hand just wanted to relax in a nice bath, bed and TV.  When we arrived at the hotel there was a party in full swing, a 16th birthday party and OMW - did these 16 year olds look and dress like 26 year old's, never seen such high shoes or short dresses in my life, funny how a 16 year old guy looks about 13 though - I guess girls do age before their time (some of them anyhow).

No sooner had I got to my room and Dianne was trying to convince me to go out with them, but luckily for me I said no!  So I settled down turned on the TV only to be called by Frances to say I had to come down to the bar for a drink, so off I went.  Well my having an early night turned into an early morning and I only got to bed at about 4:30 a.m. we were sitting downstairs chatting away and the guys came back from the pub at about 2 a.m. and then we just all sat and spoke rubbish until we were chased away from the lounge downstairs.

Saturday the plan was to go to the Christmas market in Belfast and maybe do some shopping, it all worked well the girls hit the shops the boys hit the beer garden, I have to go back because I never got to sample the Kangaroo  Ostrich or Springbok burger - so may take a trip next Saturday, beside the shopping was soooo cheap, it really makes you realise how expensive Dublin and Ireland is.

After the shopping it was back in the taxi to get ready for our Christmas party, which was a carvery dinner and then dancing in the ball room with a host of other companies that were having their Christmas parties too.  I managed to finish a bottle of Moet on my own - probably not such a wise thing, but then again I did not have too much else to drink.  I think I was the 2nd person to go to bed and that was at 2:30 a.m. poor Paul the young lad who sits in front of me at work passed out on the couch but then he had been drinking since 7 p.m. on Friday night and only stopped to catch 4 hours sleep on Saturday morning before spending the rest of the day drinking again.

Sunday morning we had to leave by 12 to get the train back to Dublin, somehow from 14 on the train up there were only 8 going back, most of the others hitched lifts, the train journey back was interesting, while most people Slept, Dianne drank and I laughed!

But it was so much fun and great to get to spend time with all my colleagues.