The Celebratory Meal!

So, there we were, all 5 of a group of 11 or so of us trooping somewhat apprehensively into this  Pub for what we anticipated would be a lovely meal to celebrate one of our colleague's Birthday. No sooner had we arrived and greeted the members of the group who were already there, than all of us were doing an about turn and heading back the way we came. Somewhat surprised at this unexpected end to a meal I, we, had not even had as yet, I inquired as to the reason for us leaving prematurely, and was told that a decision had been made that we should go to the restaurant opposite the Pub, as the atmosphere in the latter was too noisy and busy.

Well, what could I say, having already prepared myself for a lovely and exotic Indian cuisine, and now having to leave suddenly; still hungry, but also with my money in pocket to soften this unexpected blow to my stomach.

And so we now trooped to the restaurant across the road, a certain Anna's Restaurant, in Croydon. Anna's, as they say, looked good and welcoming, and as we proceeded through her doors, we were greeted and shown to a long table fronting Croydon High Street. This table was impeccably laid out, and we proceeded to take our seats around it. With the usual formalities of ordering some bottles of wine - it being a celebratory meal and all - and about 20 or so minutes spent deciding what meals each of us would have, we chatted happily. Following which we placed our orders with the unobtrusive but attentive and professional female member of staff who attended to us, and then gave our undivided attention to probably the most or second most important purpose of the get together; chatting and enjoying ourselves.

Fueled by our bottles of wine and cool and refreshing water, we merrily indulged in the usual debates which take place at celebratory events such as ours. As we await our meals with the patience of a group of people who were in no hurry to eat, as we were fully occupied with having as much fun and laughs as we could, in that quest for a shared experience of oneness on this occasion. Yes, we talked about work, about life, about the past and about the future.

In the course of time our delicious meals were served and eaten/enjoyed with due decorum,  thereby freeing us to give all our efforts to creating and immersing ourselves in our bubble of enjoyment. And what were the main topics giving rise to all this fun? Well, probably the most productive one was the one about how men drivers seems to be perennially ignoring women who try to give them directions when they are driving and 'appear to be lost.'  From the stories which the women in this celebratory group were recalling, it would appear that they were having such unseemly and tears induced fun in recalling 'the times when..', that it might even be a subconscious attempt to get revenge on their men, for the pain they had unwittingly inflicted on them, by daring to 'appear not to have been listening to them.' 

I wonder how many men drivers and women 'navigators' and 'enablers' can identify with this?

So, suitably embarrassed by the antics of some of the women in the group, and with or without acknowledging how much veracity is in their recollections, the targeted men mostly kept their peace and endured their embarrassment silently.

And so it was that, having left the Pub because it was considered to be too busy and noisy, our celebratory group went to Anna's Restaurant and, probably, if not certainly, was the noisiest group of diners there on that Saturday night.

So, to the other staff and diners, if anybody was offended or felt we were a bit or too noisy, do reflect on why you felt that way; considering that we were only having fun, with no harm being done to anybody during the process.

Happy Birthday, G!

Have a lovely Sunday!

Chillin with nature is good!

OWOHROD