I really don’t know what happened last week, but my social life certainly turned up a notch. It was like everyone was just waking up from an extended period of rest after the Christmas break, and all of a sudden, they all wanted to socialise again. I can tell I’m out of practice though, I still feel tired now, which is why this post is coming to you today, and not on Sunday when I was really feeling the effects.

It all started on Wednesday really. Some of my colleagues were coming up North for us to do some planning for the next few months ahead. Given that we mostly see eachother on video calls, we decided to make a celebration of it, and go for dinner afterwards. I happily volunteered to organise the fun, and so we ended up at Rustique, which is a French restaurant in York. I’d never been before, but I’d heard good things, so it wasn’t too much of a gamble.

It was absolutely beautiful, and I was quite surprised at how busy it was for a midweek evening. We were shown upstairs to our table, and truth be told, I did spend a good deal of time admiring the pictures hanging on the walls and the exquisite fabrics used on the seating and surroundings.

I didn’t really take many photographs. I didn’t want to be ‘that person’ on the work night out, so apart from a photo of my colleague’s snails, you will have to take my word for it that the French Onion Soup, followed by an expertly roasted duck leg, and topped off with a Tarte au Citron, was absolutely divine!

I said my goodbyes quite early in the evening as I had a long drive home, but it was one of those evenings where the conversation, and the food flowed and I really did have a fun time.

The rest of the week was fairly chilled, until Saturday, when me and the Chap were going out with Mr and Mrs B, for a post Christmas curry and catch up. The weather was grim, to say the least, with almost gale force winds and intermittent showers which really didn’t inspire me to dress up in a frock, as I may have otherwise been inclined to do. Instead though, I took the opportunity to wear that amazing jacket that the chap bought for me on boxing day with a pair of jeans and heels. I’m totally in love with this jacket, I think I’m going to wear it until it falls apart!

We started off the night with some drinks, and I indulged in an espresso martini. I do like an Espresso Martini, but sometimes I wish places would just do a normal martini or a Cosmopolitan or something. It doesn’t always have to be so flashy. Mr and Mrs B met us in the bar, and Mrs B came with gifts of chocolate, which is always a winner for me, being the chocoholic that I am.

Soon, we were heading to the Mumbai Lounge which is an Indian restaurant I’ve been to a couple of times with friends, and never been disappointed. We had a couple more drinks with our curry, and I enjoyed an absolutely gorgeous Chicken Baltisani Balti, which was a tad spicier than I would usually have but was nonetheless delicious.

We all had a wonderful time, and by the time we’d all eaten and, with the conversation flowing yet again, we were almost the last ones out of the restaurant. Then, it was just a short jaunt across the road to a pub called The Hop, where there was a live band playing rock music. Now, when I say rock music, it was more like rock renditions of classic Abba, Dolly Parton and Human League songs, so not strictly rock, but it certainly got the crowd going and we absolutely loved the vibe in there.

We stayed until kicking out time, when we said our goodbyes having had a thoroughly enjoyable night. Two excellent nights out in one week, I was truly spoiled! Sunday was spent mostly relaxing, and of course, building that Lego rocket with Little Miss that she’s been working up to building since Christmas. That’s all of her Christmas lego built now, and just when I thought it was safe, I believe that the chap has bought her some more!

With an early night on Sunday, it was a perfectly chilled way to end a marvellously exuberant week!