Monday 14th November 2016

Is it back to work already? Really?

I hide under the covers after the alarm had gone off, blaring out about the latest from the US on Trump. Bah, Life was better when I was away and listened to no news.

I have to face the day, and anyway, a day featuring a drive over the France and Belgium and will end up with a slap up fest at Mme Miggins Muscle emporium (it is in Belgium), Anyway, lets get it on.

Jools has made coffee, and is making her lunch, the cats fed and they have gone out already to hunt or do the stuff that cats do when they're not sleeping or washing. I have another cvoffee once Jools has left, pack, then book my passage through the tunnel, and can leave at quarter to nine. Not sure where half the morning went, but hey ho.

There are the usual bunch of idiots on the road, no indicators used and driving slowly. Get out of my way, I'm on Wind Business! Through Dover, up the A20 to Folkestone and to the terminal, check in, go to the lounge, collect a packed breakfast and drive onto the train, where we are put onto the carriages usually used for coaches, so there is nothing by empty space above us where the upper deck should be.

Off we go, I read half of of WSC as we pass beneath the sea and we emerge on the other side with France looking pretty much as Kent did half an hour before.

The train stops, doors opened and we drive off, straight onto the motorway and I head north, not stopping for shopping this time so once through Calais, traffic is light and I can put my foot down, driving through Flanders in a light mist making for a pleasant way of spending the morning.

I arrive at the office at half twelve, and have the horrible task of opening Outlook to sort through the avalanche of mails i had received in the previous week.

The afternoon passes, darkness falls and we carry on working until six comes around. I have to leave to check in to the hotel, and arrange to meet my team outside the hotel so we can go for dinner. And for a change I have a room at the front of the hotel, overlooking the beach with a good balcony. A shame then that it is November and so cool. However, I am also on the top floor, which makes the view even better, looking down on the casino next door.

At seven we go door dinner, but find the burger place closed, so we walk to Den Artiest for another round of BBQ. Cheese croquetes followed by tenderloin and frites with mayo. And sweet Belgian beer. It'd be rude not to.

It is a good evening again, the food and company good.

Outside it is raining again, so we get damp walking back along the street of bars, which claims tobe Montmartre, but looks nothing like it, judging by the density of kebab shops.

I listen to some radio, then crash out, telling myself I deserve a lay in in the morning.