Paul Temps’ ‘not a stag do’

This weekend myself and the other activity boys made our way up North to meet up with Paul before he heads out to Japan to get married.  His ‘not a stag do’ was in Chester, somewhere I’ve not been to for a night out for maybe 9 or 10 years.  But I remembered having been in the first pub we visited, the “Old Harkers Arms”.

This was my first experience of a big night out without drinking alcohol since, possibly, my university days.  I’m currently enjoying a life of sobriety which extends back to February.  Not for any particular reason other than being sober feels so good that I don’t want to spoil it.  I’ve also grown tired of hangovers, and am lucky enough to enjoy the taste of some non-alcoholic lagers.

However, it was interesting to observe how the nature of the conversation changed as the evening progressed.  All of Paul’s mates appear to be good natured drunks, and so there was a great atmosphere amongst the group.  Inevitably, as the night progressed the group split into those wanting to drink more, those wanting to dance, and those wanting to drink more, and possibly dance, but were clearly incapable of either.  As these groups made their own separate ways, I headed back to the 7 bed hotel room, with a relatively sober T, for a sleep punctured by returnees from the club/curry house/other establishments(?).

In the morning we had breakfast, then myself, Dave, John and Manoj took a quick look round Chester before heading home.  Nice one John for making it out for the first time with us (well me anyway), since the arrival of baby Pearl.