Feeling a trifle sketchy this morning.

First Christmas party of the season at the Churchill War Rooms (my main conclusion about which is that the place must have properly pen and inked when it was full).
All good fun, but at dinner I had the misfortune to be sat next to the most extraordinary fellow. He was unable to converse in anything but a full-throated shout (despite the fact that he was no more than two feet away from me) and apparently thought nothing of shouting across me at my other neighbour while I attempted to eat. He also ate like an animal, hunched over his plate with his face no more than six inches from his food.

The man was to all intents and purposes sub-human. :-(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Burney

First Christmas party of the season at the Churchill War Rooms (my main conclusion about which is that the place must have properly pen and inked when it was full).
All good fun, but at dinner I had the misfortune to be sat next to the most extraordinary fellow. He was unable to converse in anything but a full-throated shout (despite the fact that he was no more than two feet away from me) and apparently thought nothing of shouting across me at my other neighbour while I attempted to eat. He also ate like an animal, hunched over his plate with his face no more than six inches from his food.

The man was to all intents and purposes sub-human. :-(

---

I encountered such a bellowing sort of chap at a function recently, coincidentally. He turned out to be a Westminster lobbyist for the chauffeur-drive industry, which struck me as an odd profession. Anyway, he was very much of the bawling Hooray Henry school. (His table manners were impeccable.)

Was your chap posh or common?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir C

I encountered such a bellowing sort of chap at a function recently, coincidentally. He turned out to be a Westminster lobbyist for the chauffeur-drive industry, which struck me as an odd profession. Anyway, he was very much of the bawling Hooray Henry school. (His table manners were impeccable.)

Was your chap posh or common?

---

Oh, he was common. Some sort of northerner, in fact. He was so ill-mannered as to almost redefine the term. He appeared simply to have no concept of how to behave at all. Him bellowing at me was bad enough, but I kept having to suppress a reflexive urge to stab him in the eye with a fork every time he stuck his head between me and my lunch in order to bellow at my other neighbour.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Burney

Oh, he was common. Some sort of northerner, in fact. He was so ill-mannered as to almost redefine the term. He appeared simply to have no concept of how to behave at all. Him bellowing at me was bad enough, but I kept having to suppress a reflexive urge to stab him in the eye with a fork every time he stuck his head between me and my lunch in order to bellow at my other neighbour.

---

Grim business. We must hope that you don't suffer PTSD as a result of this experience.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir C

Grim business. We must hope that you don't suffer PTSD as a result of this experience.

---

I am feeling a bit triggered just thinking about it. Although that could just be the unfortunate combination of Champagne, red wine, brandy and ale coursing through my veins. :-(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Burney

I am feeling a bit triggered just thinking about it. Although that could just be the unfortunate combination of Champagne, red wine, brandy and ale coursing through my veins. :-(

---

*BRANDYKLAXON*

Self-inflicted, I'm afraid. Champagne, red wine and ale I'll allow. The addition of brandy, I'm afraid, causes me to withdraw my sympathy.

Soory, b. I don't make the rules.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Burney

First Christmas party of the season at the Churchill War Rooms (my main conclusion about which is that the place must have properly pen and inked when it was full).
All good fun, but at dinner I had the misfortune to be sat next to the most extraordinary fellow. He was unable to converse in anything but a full-throated shout (despite the fact that he was no more than two feet away from me) and apparently thought nothing of shouting across me at my other neighbour while I attempted to eat. He also ate like an animal, hunched over his plate with his face no more than six inches from his food.

The man was to all intents and purposes sub-human. :-(

---

Come on, man, I'm not that bad! Had you chuckling a couple times.

Also, it's not all intents and purposes. It's all intensive purposes. And it's not admirable, it's admiral. Admiral party we had.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir C

*BRANDYKLAXON*

Self-inflicted, I'm afraid. Champagne, red wine and ale I'll allow. The addition of brandy, I'm afraid, causes me to withdraw my sympathy.

Soory, b. I don't make the rules.

---

:-( I think the last time I vomited due to drink was brandy-related. It was about 7 or 8 years ago - again after a Christmas bash (The Ritz, I think). The brandy and port stage of proceedings had gone on a very long time and I ended up consuming a frankly ridicules quantity of the stuff. I felt grand until, after leaving, I was lurching across Green Park mumbling and cursing and was taken unwell. I sat on a park bench as my legs had become unsteady, whereupon I proceeded copiously to deposit my stomach contents all over my shoes. I eventually squelched my way home with my shoes filled with puke and had to throw the things away. Pair of Barkers as well. :-(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eastgermanautos

Come on, man, I'm not that bad! Had you chuckling a couple times.

Also, it's not all intents and purposes. It's all intensive purposes. And it's not admirable, it's admiral. Admiral party we had.

---

Oh I can forgive Americans. They are crass and loud, but they are simple creatures and know no better - like large, over-friendly dogs.

This chap had no such excuse.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Burney

Oh I can forgive Americans. They are crass and loud, but they are simple creatures and know no better - like large, over-friendly dogs.

This chap had no such excuse.

---

:hehe: I like that.
I am curious to see how this American party I am going to will be.

they are so optimistic. I've been talking to my colleagues over there and me being my sarcastic grumpy Jack Deeesque type character, they are just so positive about everything. Everything is awesome or will be amazing. Though my old boss though I am still with the company somehow gave me the most amazing over the top reference.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pat Vegas

:hehe: I like that.
I am curious to see how this American party I am going to will be.

they are so optimistic. I've been talking to my colleagues over there and me being my sarcastic grumpy Jack Deeesque type character, they are just so positive about everything. Everything is awesome or will be amazing. Though my old boss though I am still with the company somehow gave me the most amazing over the top reference.

---

The constant use of the term 'awesome' to mean 'Fine' in the US is extremely irritating. I lost track of the number of waiters who would interrupt one's meal in order to enquire if everything was 'good'. When one mumbled 'Fine, thanks' through a mouthful of food they would invariably respond 'Awesome!' as though you had paid them the greatest possible compliment.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Burney

:-( I think the last time I vomited due to drink was brandy-related. It was about 7 or 8 years ago - again after a Christmas bash (The Ritz, I think). The brandy and port stage of proceedings had gone on a very long time and I ended up consuming a frankly ridicules quantity of the stuff. I felt grand until, after leaving, I was lurching across Green Park mumbling and cursing and was taken unwell. I sat on a park bench as my legs had become unsteady, whereupon I proceeded copiously to deposit my stomach contents all over my shoes. I eventually squelched my way home with my shoes filled with puke and had to throw the things away. Pair of Barkers as well. :-(

---

'He appeared simply to have no concept of how to behave at all.'

:rubchin:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by World's End Stella

'He appeared simply to have no concept of how to behave at all.'

:rubchin:

---

If a chap needs to relieve himself of a misfortunate load, wes, no man should judge him.

We've all been there. Aye.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by World's End Stella

'He appeared simply to have no concept of how to behave at all.'

:rubchin:

---

Yes, I don't think I was holding this up as an example of ideal behaviour, to be honest, but you carry on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir C

If a chap needs to relieve himself of a misfortunate load, wes, no man should judge him.

We've all been there. Aye.

---

A bad business to be sure. Of all the spirits, brandy is the only one that I ever drink enough of neat to get into trouble. It slips down in oh-so unobtrusively. :-(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Burney

A bad business to be sure. Of all the spirits, brandy is the only one that I ever drink enough of neat to get into trouble. It slips down in oh-so unobtrusively. :-(

---

I can't remember the last time I had a drink-induced spew. Perhaps I have just blanked out the memories :-(

Are you doing the cold sweats?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir C

I can't remember the last time I had a drink-induced spew. Perhaps I have just blanked out the memories :-(

Are you doing the cold sweats?

---

No, I'm on the 'irrational sense of impending loss of physical integrity' stage, which involves me clenching my jaw to try and stop the top of my head falling off. I'm hoping a large foreign sausage at lunchtime may do the trick again. :-(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Burney

Yes, I don't think I was holding this up as an example of ideal behaviour, to be honest, but you carry on.

---

To be honest, Burney, after reading the first few lines of your post I quickly scanned ahead expecting to see the letters 'WES' in the post somewhere.

I felt rather relieved to have been spared that. Cheers. :thumbup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by World's End Stella

To be honest, Burney, after reading the first few lines of your post I quickly scanned ahead expecting to see the letters 'WES' in the post somewhere.

I felt rather relieved to have been spared that. Cheers. :thumbup:

---

That would have been a cheap shot and beneath me. And it's Christmas and I'm nice, see?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Burney

First Christmas party of the season at the Churchill War Rooms (my main conclusion about which is that the place must have properly pen and inked when it was full).
(

---

Are they worth going to? {Boring question, but I would appreciate a proper answer. Me and a couple of girls from my OU days meet up every few months for a museum/gallery/talk etc but haven't been there and I wondered whether it would be worth it. Would it interest and occupy us for 2.5-3hrs or so?}

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult

Are they worth going to? {Boring question, but I would appreciate a proper answer. Me and a couple of girls from my OU days meet up every few months for a museum/gallery/talk etc but haven't been there and I wondered whether it would be worth it. Would it interest and occupy us for 2.5-3hrs or so?}

---

I don't think you'd get that long out of it. It's interesting, but you'd be in and out within an hour.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Burney

I don't think you'd get that long out of it. It's interesting, but you'd be in and out within an hour.

---

Cheers. Will give that a miss unless there's something near-by to do as well.

When we went to the Museum of London, I think we all sort of deliberately slowed the pace because we all thought that after the Romans, it was just Great Fire. After 3 hrs we decided to go to the boozer, but looking in the gift shop, we found that there was a whole section on the Suffragettes at the end that we'd missed.

When we went to the NPG, we only got to the very start of Victoria - but that's got enough left for a 2nd full visit.

Do you have any recommendations?

{The one time in my life all my study of mil-hist came in useful was when we went to the IWM. They decided to go from the top and work our way down. There was the Ashford VC collection there, and I said can we have a quick pop in. Just so I can see if Chevasse's is in there. Yet because I could fill in lots of background about who many of these soldiers were or the wars and campaigns esp in India etc, and how the medals system and the army worked etc, we spent about an hour in there and they both said afterwards that I'd made it thoroughly enjoyable for them much to their surprise.

Also, one of the girls is German, so when we got to the Nazi bit, she could translate.

Have you any idea how many different signs they put up saying that Jews bring you bad luck in various different ways?}

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult

Cheers. Will give that a miss unless there's something near-by to do as well.

When we went to the Museum of London, I think we all sort of deliberately slowed the pace because we all thought that after the Romans, it was just Great Fire. After 3 hrs we decided to go to the boozer, but looking in the gift shop, we found that there was a whole section on the Suffragettes at the end that we'd missed.

When we went to the NPG, we only got to the very start of Victoria - but that's got enough left for a 2nd full visit.

Do you have any recommendations?

{The one time in my life all my study of mil-hist came in useful was when we went to the IWM. They decided to go from the top and work our way down. There was the Ashford VC collection there, and I said can we have a quick pop in. Just so I can see if Chevasse's is in there. Yet because I could fill in lots of background about who many of these soldiers were or the wars and campaigns esp in India etc, and how the medals system and the army worked etc, we spent about an hour in there and they both said afterwards that I'd made it thoroughly enjoyable for them much to their surprise.

Also, one of the girls is German, so when we got to the Nazi bit, she could translate.

Have you any idea how many different signs they put up saying that Jews bring you bad luck in various different ways?}

---

Berni and I once spent a wonderful morning strolling around the National Army Museum, before partaking of a lunch of shawarma and several bottles of very quaffable Chateau Musar. Not wishing to waste the afternoon we repaired to a public house and drank steadily until falling out time.

I commend this course of action to you unreservedly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir C

Berni and I once spent a wonderful morning strolling around the National Army Museum, before partaking of a lunch of shawarma and several bottles of very quaffable Chateau Musar. Not wishing to waste the afternoon we repaired to a public house and drank steadily until falling out time.

I commend this course of action to you unreservedly.

---

We do like our 3 hrs of culture and/or learning before hitting the boozer. Would this Army place satisfy us for that length of time? (And where is it, btw?)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult

We do like our 3 hrs of culture and/or learning before hitting the boozer. Would this Army place satisfy us for that length of time? (And where is it, btw?)

---

It's in Chelsea. I can't imagine spending 3hours in a museum, to be honest. 2 hours and I need some air, but there is plenty of stuff to see...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir C

It's in Chelsea. I can't imagine spending 3hours in a museum, to be honest. 2 hours and I need some air, but there is plenty of stuff to see...

---

Cheers for that. We always say afterwards that we should have had a pub break after 2 hrs and then done another 1 or 2 after a few beers.

But if there's enough there, I'll suggest it to the OU girls. Thanks for that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult

Cheers. Will give that a miss unless there's something near-by to do as well.

---

Something nearby to do? It's ****ing London, of course there's something nearby to do. A stroll in St James' Park, National Gallery round the corner, Westminster Abbey...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir C

Berni and I once spent a wonderful morning strolling around the National Army Museum, before partaking of a lunch of shawarma and several bottles of very quaffable Chateau Musar. Not wishing to waste the afternoon we repaired to a public house and drank steadily until falling out time.

I commend this course of action to you unreservedly.

---

Now my memory may be doing me a disservice, but I think we lunched on the King's Road first, then strode to the museum, only then repairing to a pub wherein we sat next to a chap dealing manfully with his rather tiresome pop star girlfriend.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ash

Something nearby to do? It's ****ing London, of course there's something nearby to do. A stroll in St James' Park, National Gallery round the corner, Westminster Abbey...

---

Ah - is it just round the corner from Trafalgar Sq? That would be perfect as then we could go to the NPG and continue from where we left last time at the start of Victoria's reign.

Cheers, mate. That would be sorted.

You guys are lucky...had my office X Mas party at the Holiday Inn in Wembley o:

Company had to cut costs so the usually Radisson festivities were cancelled...remember them even doing one at Twickenham which was awesome.

Jesus fkin Christ....

Manage to procure the last bottle of champagne in the place and it was only 7pm and it was only a half bottle of Piper Hiedsick rose : (

:banghead:

Afterthat it was a cheap prosecco....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tony C

You guys are lucky...had my office X Mas party at the Holiday Inn in Wembley o:

---

Mine's in January. o: