The Captain’s Bar has a deserted feel during this season. The place isn’t its usual self, as people from Hong Kong’s sizeable banking fraternity migrate en masse away from the oppressive heat.
A friend of mine was more than excited about his vacation, and was telling anyone who would listen about his planned trip to the south of France, where he was to spend his days sunning on the beach with his wife and his evenings sipping the finest wines.
So when I caught up with him at the pub after his break, I was surprised to see him looking a bit worse for wear. It appeared things had not gone as anticipated. “I am actually relieved to be back at work,” he told me — probably the saddest thing I had heard all year.
Call it coincidence or design but somehow, his overbearing in-laws had landed at the very same town he had booked his holiday.
While his wife was pleased, my friend less so. Instead of spending time at the beach, the poor chap was tasked with chaperoning the family around while lugging their shopping.
I am all too familiar with this misfortune, having entertained Tai Tai’s parents through the years. But even they haven’t gatecrashed my vacations… yet.
I asked him if he had any chance of catching a real break, but unluckily, he was saving up his last few days of annual leave for Christmas. Well, if that didn’t call for a conciliatory round, I don’t know what does. Drinks were on me, as usual.