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Day 3 - Sun 31st Jan Manchester to Frankfurt - Take 2

I awoke at 5am and felt much better. I showered, got ready again and was on my way to the airport with my passport thoroughly strapped to me. At this point it was snowing quite heavily and settling.

I checked in and went through to the gate successfully this time, but saw from the window that the snow was heavy and thick.

After patiently waiting outside my gate I heard over the tannoy "We are sorry for the delays but Manchester Airport is currently closed". My 7.05am flight was delayed to 10.45am. I was told we may fly at 11.30am and to wait at the gate. Thankfully I was settled on the plane at 11.20am until the pilot announced that our flight was 26th in the queue and there was a 1 hour 15 minute delay.

We finally got off the ground at about 1.15pm and 1 hour 35 minutes later we land. The local time was about 3.45pm so I collected my cases and jumped in a cab to the hotel. A nice steady 190km/ph down the autobahn allowed me to arrive in 15/20 minutes. I quickly checked in and booked a cab to Messe Frankfurt. I changed into my Product Line Services shirt and set off out the door. There was snow everywhere. I sent a text to Lisa and Pete who were already at the show to ask which entrance I should meet them at for my entrance pass. I notified the driver who reassured me he knew which entrance I needed. I was dropped off only to find I was at the wrong entrance, and Louise, who was sent to meet me was at the opposite end of the building; a 25 minute walk. I eventually got to the stand around 5pm, and by this time I was already exhausted.

Finally a complete team, we got a taxi back to the hotel bar and a few cheeky beers. We retreated to our rooms for a shower and change of clothes and met back in the bar. By this time my stomach felt a little dodgy, so I decided not to carry on with the drink and leave it to the professionals, Lisa; the beer monster. That girl can drink.

After a lovely meal, and the wine and beer flowing we headed back to the hotel bar until around 2am. After five more Jagermeisters for Ian, I believe we went to bed.

Day 4 - Mon 1 Feb My first full day at Remax 2010

My alarm went off at 7.30am and it felt like I had just got into bed. I showered, popped some match sticks under my eyes and off we went to the Messe.

On the stand and ready for a long day, we got some good leads, some lunch and fun in between and then finished at 6pm. By this time there were some large stands having parties so we decided to have our own little party and poured the wine. I believe we left at about 7pm to find a queue of around 60 people waiting for taxis. We walked over the road and decided to get a taxi from a hotel. Ian, Pete and I queued in the cold whilst Lisa and Louise went to keep warm in the hotel foyer where there was free Champagne. No shock there!

Two separate taxi's later we got back to our local; the hotel bar for a few beers, and as routine started to kick in, showered, changed and down to the restaurant for food and more wine, then into the bar.

It was an early one for me, about 11.30pm as I was shattered. I believe the rest of the team stayed for couple more hours. Feeling organised, I decided to pack so that I was all set and ready a day early. I even put fresh clothes out ready for the following night as I knew we would be heading into Frankfurt.

Day 5 - Tues 2 Feb The final day of Remax 2010

My alarm went off at 8am; I was out of the door for 8.25am and in a taxi for 8.30am for the last day of the show. There was more fun, laughs, giggles and Lisa letting more alcohol out of her pores.

By 4pm it was getting quiet and other stands were packing up. Ian and Pete left the packing up to the 3 musketeers. By 5pm we had finished packing up so decided to relax with the left over wine. We left to get a taxi around 5.30pm to the hotel and, you guessed it, a few more beers before the usual retreat for a shower and change of clothes.

I got back to my room to find that the clothes I had put out neatly in advance had disappeared. I hunted high and low but they were gone. I was not happy. Someone had stolen my jumper and jeans. I showered, found something else to wear and set off down to reception like a man on a mission. I reported my clothes missing only to be told that another man had reported a t-shirt missing also. I had a couple of beers to calm down with the team. After lots more banter and jokes about each other, Ian, Lisa, Louise and I headed into Frankfurt.

We stopped outside an Irish Bar. Fantastic, a Guinness for myself. We left the Irish bar and walked past Ian's new favourite bar; the window display said "Jaigermiesters only 1 euro". Ian's face lit up, he couldn't believe what he was reading. We managed to pull Ian and Lisa away and off we went to a local restaurant. Food, more wine and beer and then off we went to find the Jaigermiester offer. We entered to find it is on draught. Unbelievable. We must have had around 3-4 shots each. The owner was called Elvis and there was a local guy who also bought us a round. We all had the usual photos and off we went for a taxi back to the hotel and into our very own bar. The drinks were being poured as the bar staff already knew what we wanted. After a few hours we were asked to leave the bar as they wanted to close, so we sat in reception with our very own bottle of Chianti. The night went on and I left the party at 3.30am.

Day 6 - Wed 3 Feb The return home

The sickening alarm went off at 9am. I definitely felt like I had not slept at all. I shower like a zombie and headed downstairs to check out at 10am. The taxi to the airport was another steady 190km/ph, and I believe Louise and Lisa left nail prints in the seats from holding on so tight.

We checked in and went through to the departure gate. No delays this time. Once we landed at Manchester airport we collected out bags and headed for the car desk only to be told there were no cars for 1 hour 30minutes even though we had booked a car. I was feeling rough and not happy. I wanted to get home as I knew I had at least a 4 hour drive, dropping Louise and Lisa off on the way. I put my foot down and made a huge fuss which resulted in us getting a car in just 15 minutes. I dropped Louise off at 2.30pm, Lisa at home at 4.15pm and got myself home around 5.45pm. I hit the bed and was out cold for an hour, to be woken up with spaghetti bolognaise.

A fantastic few days with a few downers to say the least. Roll on Remax 2011.

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