After feeling rough mid-week I decided I needed to take it easy and stick to a plain (English) diet. Thursday I was feeling better (In as much as I could function) but by Friday I felt normal again, but decided not to have an easy weekend.

It was Mik Bedson's (Operations Director) last day Friday, before he fly's back to the UK to take up his new role, and as always it called for a party. The band he played with here in India gave a very good performance and Mik, his normal fun loving self, was soon there guitar in hand to join in the fun. Friday night there were drinks and joint dinner party for Mik and Nick De Vansey, who is also leaving shortly, at the DLF Golf and Country club where we all got to say goodbye, or see you in a few months for those of us following in his foot steps.

It was a lovely evening and a lovely venue and I got to catch up with a lot of people I only usually speak to across a meeting room. It was a nice and relaxed evening and I was home and tucked up in bed by 23:30. Click here for pictures.

Friday Chris, Sandra, and myself had made tentative plans to get out and do something on Saturday. So after a nice lay in Saturday morning Karan picked us up and we headed towards Delhi. We first of all headed to a dear park which we spent about an hour and a half walking around before stopping at a restaurant for lunch. After lunch we had about an hours walk around the rose garden before heading to Buddha Jayanti Park. This was an extremely large park that has been created along what is known as Delhi Ridge, which according to the guide book is the last outcrop of the Aravalli Hills extending northwards from Rajasthan.

After about 5 hours walking we were all pretty tired and had trouble keeping our eyes open during the drive back to Gurgaon. Once in Gurgaon we headed to Harriez for something to eat and lots of water as we were all feeling pretty dehydrated after all the walking. Click here for pictures.

Today I woke up about 09:00 and did the normal washing and called upon the services of the Ironing man (really need to find out his name before I leave). Now I am sitting down with a cheese and onion sandwich sorting out my trip to Thailand, oh and another trip I am looking at doing 1st-5th May to Khajuraho and a tiger reserve. More on that later!

Tags: Beer, Food, Friends, Fun, Party, People, Photography, Relaxing, Sickness, Sightseeing, Travel

So Friday night I had my team leader monthly offsite dinner, which was good. We all ended up at a place called the Golden Dragon, a Chinese / Thai restaurant. located at the DLF Mega Mall. Saturday morning I woke up about 10:00 and was quite surprised I didn't have a hangover, given the amount of Kingfisher I had drunk. I got up and had a lazy breakfast of bacon, egg, and baked beans followed by a shower. The weather here has changed again and it's starting to hot up and it felt really good getting into shorts and a t-shirt, and I made the decision there and then to spend the day on the sofa, chilling out.

Lunch time arrived and I got a phone call from the Essel towers convenience store advising me that my sweet order had arrived. 10 minutes later the door bell went and I took delivery. Do you think I have over done it?

Anyway I spent the rest of the day watching films, listening to music and generally relaxing, and I intend on doing exactly the same again today. I have just sent all my ironing off to be done as it's back to work tomorrow, but thankfully only for a week, and then I am off to Mumbia and Goa for some serious R&R.

Tags: Beer, Food, People, Relaxing

Okay so the New Year hangover has worn off and I am once again able to type a semi-coherent sentence (well as coherent as I ever am). So where did I leave off, that's right the Taj Mahal and my update on the 27th December. Well I haven't been sat around doing nothing.

After relaxing for the day after the trip I was ready to party and was in the New Year spirit so on Saturday 29th December I meet up with my Windows support team at a restaurant called "Cafe Morrisions" in New Delhi's Southern Extension. Parking in New Delhi is a nightmare but Karan my driver managed to get me as close as possible and I ventured off on foot to find the place. It took less than 5 minutes, mainly due to the bloody big sign (Not sure how we didn't see it from the road) but the guys were caught up in traffic so I took a look round and ended up buying a new pair of shoes (I've turned into a woman). We eventually tied up and ventured inside. I was surprised as it could have been any american themed dinner anywhere in the world. We knew it was India however from the Disco playing 80's and early 90's music loud enough to deafen if the hardest rock fan. The menu was international, well as international as it gets in India and we ordered a range of dishes, from the Mexican and Indian menu's. We drank, ate, and talked until midnight and then made our way to our respective homes.

Sunday was another quiet day, but I was hungry by midday and couldn't be bothered to cook and the thought of take away just didn't appeal. I made my way up to the mall's and settled on Ruby Tuesday's. I sat and read the paper while enjoying a cold beer and then ate chicken, mash, and vegetables and felt human again. I had a few more beers and then made my way home. I had a drinking head on by the time I got home, but had work the following day and a New Year party in my sights so made myself a coffee and sat down to read a book. I read for about an hour and my eye's started to get heavy so I laid on the bed and woke up about 4 hours later. I was hungry again but this time couldn't be bothered going out (life is complicated) so made myself bean's on toast covered it in cheese and ketchup and took to the sofa for a movie watching session.

Monday I was up at 06:00 and after showering I pottered around and waited for Karan to arrive. We headed off to the office and I spent the day wishing I had booked it off (I am not sure I didn't to be honest). Well the office was quiet and nobody was really in the mood to do anything too heavy so I caught up with my email and organized my diary for the coming week.

Vikram and I agreed to meet up at 20:00 to see in the new year as I left the office at 17:30. I got home and laid on the bed knowing it was going to be a long night and after setting my alarm for 19:30 allowed myself to doze off. The alarm woke me as it was supposed to do, and I grabbed a shower and changed. Karan picked me up at 20:00 and we headed for Vikrams, via the wine shop to stock up on a couple of items we had forgotten to get on the way home from work. Once at Vikram's we grabbed a few drinks before heading off to meet up with some of his friends. Once we had found each other we headed to a nearby society function and commenced the real drinking. As the night went on we drank, talked, drank some more, talked crap, and drank even more. As the countdown was announced I grabbed my phone and called home, slightly the worse for wear.

About 45 minutes later we headed back to Vikram's place as it was getting very cold despite visit's to the bonfire to warm up. We arrived back and met up with some of Vikram's other friends and drank our way through to 04:00. I remember leaving, I remember getting in the car, I even remember going to getting out of the car. After that I remember nothing, other than I woke up New Year's day at 13:30 with a very sore head, but safe and sound in my own bed.

Do I need to say that New Year's Day was very quiet!!!!

Then it was back to work. The remainder of the week has been very subdued, but things are starting to pick up. Next week I am expecting things to get back to full swing as the UK and Europe return to work but last night and tonight are quiet nights, aka recovery time. That said we are planning a Friday night curry and beers tomorrow, so who knows.

Anyway I will provide the normal links to the photo's (Please note no animals were hurt, well except the one's we ate), before wishing you all a very Happy New Year. Team Dinner, New Year 2007.

Tags: Beer, Food, Friends, Party, People

Well this week has been quiet compared to the normal chaos, but that was to be expected really with the wind down in Europe this time of year. Monday night Vikram and I grabbed dinner and Friday night we enjoyed a few to many beers, but other than that I haven't done that much apart from enjoying a few relaxing evenings in front of the TV. Saturday night me and my Windows support team went out for a long overdue meal at a restaurant called S4 in Delhi's Defense Colony. It was a chinese/thai menu and was very good. I forgot to take my camera with me so unfortunately there are no pictures,

Today I have taken it easy in anticipation of the parties ahead, but did manage to venture out and get my hair cut (Rs 50 / £0.062) and get some groceries in. Vikram will be on his own for Christmas so we intend on hitting a few bars and partying hard together, and no there will be no pictures. I am thankfully now off work until the 31st December so intend on getting out and about a bit, maybe even venturing down to Agra. Mum & Dad have now got there visa's and will be out on the 24th Jan so I need to step up my game and check a few places out for them. Otherwise I intend on doing little other than relaxing.

I'll try and post as I do stuff, but otherwise I really don't have anything more. so it just remains to wish everybody a very happy Christmas.

Tags: Beer, Food, Friends, Party, People, Shopping

Okay so tomorrow is one week since I returned from the UK and it has flown by, then again time does seem to move faster here. Wednesday night Mark Leggo and myself headed off to a restaurant called Earth and enjoyed a few beers, dinner, and generally caught up. Thursday was another quiet night, after work I went back to Laurence's and we ordered Thai curries before heading home about 22:30 for some much needed shut eye. Friday was a really busy day and leaving the office at 18:30 we all needed a beer so Chris and I headed to Dine Estey, a local (Indian) Chinese restaurant, not to eat, but just because the bar is one of the cheapest around. Vikram joined us later for a drink and then had to head off to meet up with some other friends just as Laurence arrived. Sandra joined us later and I think by the end of the evening was the only sober one there.

Yesterday was "lay-in/sleep it off" day and I didn't wake up until about 11:00. Mark Leggo and I headed into Delhi about 13:00 and visited the Indian National Railway museum. After spending a couple of hours looking around we had seen everything there was to see so jumped in the car and headed for Delhi. Karen took our to the Parliament building and then to India Gate (Photo's available in the gallery). About 16:00 we headed back to Gurgaon so I could do some much needed shopping. I had pretty much run everything down before returning to the UK so needed everything. Mark made a very good basket carrier!

Once we had stocked up on the necessary items (we also bought food), we headed back to my apartment for a snack and a beer. We met up about 19:00 with Laurence and headed for a nice Italian restaurant creatively named "Italino" for dinner.

Today we are off to the Red Fort in Delhi and then depending on the time into Delhi itself to do some sightseeing (I'll post some more pictures later). Tonight Laurence is hosting a Cheese and Wine party. Life in the fast lane!

Tags: Friends, Beer, Food, Party, People, Shopping, Sightseeing

Okay so my mind has kind of moved away from food now I have satisfied the few cravings I had. The last few days have been spent catching up with friends and family, paperwork, and shopping. Yesterday afternoon I visited Katrina and William, picking William up from nursery. His face was a picture and while he gave my a big cuddle he kept touching my face to make sure I was really there. Today I have spent waiting in for a parcel to be delivered, which surprisingly hasn't arrived but it did give me a chance to catch up with all the paperwork that was outstanding, and to play with a few of the new Wii games that I have brought to take back with me. At the moment I am addicted to Star Wars with all the characters made from Lego.

Tonight I am off out for dinner and to the cinema, not sure what we are seeing yet but I am sure there will be something on. Tomorrow I start my Christmas shopping.

Tags: Shopping, People, Relaxing

Okay so this week has been a week of visitors. George, the UK Director of BP&S was out, together with a couple of people from the Project Management Office. It was a busy week and we only had a few days to cover a range of subjects but it was very productive. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were late nights as we took the opportunity to enjoy a few beers and enjoy some traditional Indian food. Thursday our visitors returned to the UK and it was officially declared "an early night" night.

Friday night I was ready to leave the office at 17:30 (Although I didn't leave until 18:20 after saying good night to everybody) and I kicked back with a few beers and a movie. Today [Saturday] was a good day for a lay in, so I didn't get up until 09:30 and then went for a walk. I came back and had my lunch and then sat down to read my email. It was then I noticed that my DSL line wasn't working (Yes I am writing this offline). I called AirTel and was told an engineer would be with me in 4 hours. So I sat down with a book and woke up 3 hours later.

Still no DSL and no sign of an Engineer (See its just like home), so I ordered a pizza and sat back down with my book. Tomorrow is the Delhi half marathon and Chris and Sandra are running. We have agreed to meet up tomorrow night for a few beers and dinner and to laugh at there pain. So I plan to do some shopping in the morning, and then maybe some sight seeing before working off some of this weeks excesses at the gym (Ouch thinking about it).

I'll update again tomorrow, and upload when I have an Internet connection again!

Okay so today [Sunday] I woke up, grabbed a shower and enjoyed a late breakfast. Karen picked my up at 13:00 and we headed to the mall for lunch and a little shopping. After lunch we went for a long drive out into the hills and enjoyed some of the scenes overlooking Gurgaon. Stupid me forgot to take the camera however so I am going to have to go back again. Tonight we are meeting at Vikrams at 19:00 for beer and snacks and to hear all about the Delhi Half Marathon from Chris and Sandra. This will also mean that I can use Vikrams Internet connection and upload this update.

Tags: Beer, Food, People, Architecture

Okay so yesterday was another very busy day and by the end of it I was in desperate need of a beer. So about 19:00 Chris and I headed for the Park Plaza hotel and a couple of cold Kingfishers. We did have some work to discuss but neither of us could even start to think straight until after the second.

Once we had work out of the way we grabbed another beer or two before ordering some food. Sandra then joined us and the conversation turned to holiday's. Something I am in need of right now. I got back to the apartment about 22:00 and then had to catch up with some email and close down some outstanding issues. I got to bed about 02:00 this morning.

Today was a little more relaxed and tonight I have settled on a quite night in. I have fixed myself a nice salad and am going to watch a movie. Life in the fast lane!

Tags: People, Beer