In the Drunk Tank

It’s been a few weeks since the last update, so in true Apoptygma style, I’ll limp lamely to the end of the year and do a final update. As no one else reads this anymore, it’s really just a reminder for me, what have I been up to lately then…lemme see…(it’s all going misty, wobbly picture’s forming…sounds coming through..)
Work: I started the blog with the news that our Commercial director was taking over the reigns of our old company, becoming MD, to initiate some hard & tough decisions to help get us back on track etc, entry since deleted for some reason. Well, it’s been a tough year all right, culminating in our takeover a few weeks back. Since then the old MD has decided new work isn’t for him, and that he won’t be pursuing a career here after all; when his 3-month contract runs out in January 2004, he’s off!! Also, the only other “employee” we used to have, along with myself, has also decided not to stay and has booked himself a round-the-world trip of a lifetime. This leaves three of us left here, 2 old directors whose contracts also run out next month but who will be looking to stay on, and me. A sorry end really…or is it the end….hmmm….well, of course it isn’t, for the two that are leaving it’s the beginning, new opportunities and new experiences await them and a little, if not a lot of me, is dead envious. Who knows what’ll happen here next year, new work has some big plans but do they include me and do my plans include them?


Personal: My last entry was looking forward to some massive xmas drinking but it hasn’t really worked out as I’d planned. Sure I met Dave that night, and yes, I got drunk, but it was in a sorta half arsed way, not a pretty way and I’ve defo had better nights out. This cold I’ve had, along with everyone else, has really put a dampener on my plans, one night out, the Industry’s xmas free piss-up I chickened out of, mid-week nonsense I’d usually throw myself into with abandon, this year I could take or leave, so I left. Last week, last hurrah for the old company, a meal and drink in the City, I decided to drive to avoid the twin nightmares of a late night and hangover next day….dull middle-aged wanker that I am.

One thing though was my trip to Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago, just the weekend, and despite my cold I managed to have a nice time. It pissed down the whole time we were there, so to get out of the rain went to the Deco Sauna. Anyone who doesn’t know of this place needs to get themselves there next time they is in The Dam. It’s completely legit of course, totally a European experience of naked people enjoying the warmth of a sauna, the steam and relaxation. My god, the women there!…at one point, there I was, in the steam room when 3 naked English girls giggled in, sat opposite me, and began talking about back packing, house prices…the usual crap, but it these lovely posh accents and there I was, pretending to be a Dutchman, not listening…until this real Dutchman, some old git asked them to keep quiet!…too right mate, but nooooooo chastised, they get up and leave me and this winkled old wanker alone…bastard, but I left soon after and met up with them later in the sauna…lovely!…the usual strip joints and bars followed, spending too much pursuing our denigration into vice and porn, but there you go….just like everyone else there eh?…

So, what’s next?…well, tomorrow is xmas eve, half day and another drinking sesh cried off, train into the City for afternoon beers sounds nice but for some reason the missus wants me to help she this year putting up the stockings, laying out the pressies, hanging up stuff for Santa etc rather than have me pissed on the sofa nursing a sherry, cursing the crap TV and stuffing my face with mince pies. Xmas day, you know about, so I won’t go into here, hopefully it’ll be a short experience and it’ll be all over in under 5-6 hours…ahahahahhhhaaaa!! 5-6 hours!! Who am I kidding…sigh…and the New year?…hmmm…2004…I wonder