Posh

Company Golf Day - I have no idea any more (2016)  how I got enlisted in to this. The mother company Grand Metropoltan plc (nowadays merged with Guinness to form Diageo) invited teams from it's various divisions for a day of golf or better socialising in very posh surroundings.

I had joined Grand Met, as it was called, in 1976 in what was then the well known Grand Metropolitan Hotels but in the course of time included businesses like Express Dairies, Watney Mann Brewery, Intercontinental Hotels (ex PanAm), Mecca Bingo, William Hill Betting, Liggett USA, Burger King, Pillsbury USA, Baileys Irish Cream, Gilbeys Gin, Croft Sherry, Heublein Wines, ...... and more drink brands than a Blip will take in one entry. A multinational.

My division GMR, Grand Metropolitan Retailing was I think the very poorest of all . We were refered to in the annual accounts as "Others". And so it was at the golf course - I think we were there so there could be some losers. The drinks & spirits boys used to massive expense accounts and wining, dining and socialising while we were happy with a pint of bitter and a burger.

From the helicopter sitting next to the first tee through lunch and the evening award dinner, I didn't feel at home. While I had a set of golf clubs I suspect I hadn't played a proper 18 hole course for a decade or more. Somehow got around without feeling a total idiot.

My father was very proud to hear of the event though. Golf was his absolute passion and he had even built a course in Trinidad. One day I will post some photos of the course.