We all know the eternal struggle of how to balance out arguably the best two weeks of the year on the Island, and your work responsibilities.
Your heart tells you to camp out down Bushy’s tent for the entire TT festival and drink to a point where your body becomes 70% alcohol, but alas your brain suddenly kicks in to gear, reminding you that you have to go back to work in the morning.
Here are some of Gef’s top tips, to help you find a good balance between the two during TT.
Be subtle
If you are going to nip out for a lunch time pint or have a few drinks after work, there is every chance you may have a few more than you originally planned.
We’ve all had occasions when your head feels that little bit groggier in the morning or you’re slightly giddy coming back to work in the afternoon, but you’ve got to try to keep this covert.
Your work may not be too impressed if you start turning up looking like a throwback to Ab Fab. Have a coffee, get some food and have a quick spray of deodorant or perfume to help cancel out the stench of that cheeky lunch-time bevvy leaving your pores.
Don’t throw a sicky
Tempting as it is to call in work and announce you are now bed ridden with a mystery virus after a heavy night out, there are two things you must bare in mind.
Firstly, if this sudden illness is due to a hangover, just consider that a co-worker may have seen you out the night before. You may have mastered the sick voice, but you cannot erase the image of you downing sambucas with German biker’s in Jaks. Plus, your work mates will dob you in as they will find this hilarious and there are some super grasses amongst us all!
Secondly, if the best antidote to this unexpected illness is to mosh round Bushy’s with two pints in your hand later that day, again remember that your work mates or (even worse) your manager may have popped out for a social drink this evening too.
A fake moustache and new accent may help you hide for a little while but it will no doubt spoil your night and tee you up for an awkward return to work meeting.
Save it for the weekend
Everyone has that one friend who will try and drink through the entire TT festival regardless of the small loan they will be required to take out during it.
By all means stick with this person and enjoy your TT, but maybe save the wildest nights for the weekend. A Tuesday night session can be fantastic, but your body will hate you for this and an 8-hour working day is difficult enough without the beer fear and cigarette breath.
Book the time off work
Sounds like a simple plan, but the crush to get this time of work can be vicious. Fall outs and sulking will follow and don’t even get us started on the people who book this time to go off Island or that they aren’t even bothered about going out during TT anyway!
These people will drive you mad, but try to get in before them by bombarding your manager with the request as soon as the holidays become available to arrange. It can be an effort, but anyone who has had these two weeks off will testify it is well worth getting this time free.
Remember the heroes…
Finally, spare a thought for our fellow Manxy’s who won’t get this time off work, the health workers, fire service, police, bar staff, hospitality and hotel workers to name a few, all helping to keep our little Island afloat during TT fortnight.
Try to make it that little bit easier for them by drinking responsibly and showing these guys some well-deserved respect.
