O/T Facing the Music (long-ass anecdote)

Facing the Music : Part one of two

Living in Aberdeen at the time, 3 of my colleagues and I were sent on a three day course in Glasgow (back in the day when I earned my daily bread respectably)

These course thingies are just an excuse for a piss-up really as far as I was concerned. Sit there politely for a few hours a day listning exactly how to suck eggs. Then lift some pints with your counterparts from around the country swapping stories and gossip and generally getting up to no good. Getting paid for it too, fantastic.

Before we left we were expressly warned by the uber-strict boss back in Aberdeen that under no circumstances were we to misbehave lest it reflect badly on the companys reputation. I took this semi-seriously. The man had a point but I wasn't going to let much get in the way of my 3-day bender plans. These things can be done in moderation. After all, it's possible to have a good time without resorting to urinating in letterboxes or streaking through hotel coridoors. (if perhaps a little more difficult)

Anyway, On the first night I met up a few like-minded folks from various parts of Scotland and we really hit it off as we trawled the pub and then the club scene in Glasgow. My Aberdonian workmates wimped out the wrong side of 1am and retired back to their provided accomodation. I was in no mood to call it a night anytime soon though, and thankfully nor were a harcore handful of others.

When the club eventually kicked us out (I think they were closing or something) we still fancied carrying on. A young lady from Dundee announced that she had packed a Litre of Vodka for just that eventuality. What a little genious, I had definately found my people.

So four of us retired to her hotel room, stopping briefy to pick up munchies and mixers of course. Nothing too wild, just a wee low-key giggle, we didn't raise too many different kinds of hell as we drank till it was time to get washed up for Day 2.

The second portion of Day 2 involved different groups completing various assignments. It took my groupie (consisting of my party-pals) a wee bitty longer to complete due to our fatigue. When my well rested hometown chums had already finished their various bits and bobs I told them all to head on back and that I would catch up with them later.

Finally finished and up for a couple of hours kip, I made for the hotel. Having arrived at my door, I attempted to use the keycard. CLICKa-CLICKa...red light. hmmm, that didn't seem right, it's supposed to be CLICKa-CLICKa....green light. No wonder the door won't open.

I tried again, CLICKa-CLICKa...red light. Buggah! I'l try knocking on the other guys room. They let me in and I saw all three of them were sitting on the bed looking sorry for themselves.

"What's up guys? My keycard doesn't work."

"None of ours do, the Hotel have blocked them"

"What..aba...When..aba..Why now?"

"Some of the guests complained about an all-night party, they know someone from our rooms was involved so we've all been told to leave. We have one hour to get all our stuff together and get out of here"

I was shocked, we hadn't been making that much of a noise. Or had we? I'd got everyone into a lot of trouble. I offered to get a new hotel sorted. They told me that it wouldn't do any good. The Hotel would report us and we'd all be kicked off the course.

Not sure how much the company pay for these courses but it's a fair whack. I'd just ruined things for everybody, we were all going to be severly disciplined. This would be a big problem for a couple of the guys who already had disciplinary warnings for other things. Some of them had familys to think about.

I can't remember feeling worse, I'd been awake for a day and a half and had just discovered that I may have cost my friends a job because of a nights drinking. There was only one thing for it, I'd have to make a grovelling call back to base and explain that the situation was all my fault and that I alone should face the consequences.

They told me it wouldn't do any good. Well one of them did, the other two were just staring at me aggresively. I convinced them that I had to at least try.

Phoned the boss who definately was not amused. He insisted that we all get on the next train back to the Granite City so he could tear strips out off us in person. I tried to explain that it was all my fault but he wasn't having any of it.