Finishing off the fieldwork in the pub

The students had been talking about going to the pub at the end of the fieldwork for a few days. And on the Friday, that was still going on. And they asked us to join them. I think it is a nice thing to do; do something big, and then relax together over a drink at the end of it. Last academic year, the dissertation students had done something similar. Uptake from the academic staff was not big; only three of us appeared, out of almost 30. But I thought it had been worthwhile.

I was thinking a bit about the food I had at home, and the risk of it going off before I could eat it if I would not go to the pub with the students instead of home. After all, I had already done without dinner on Tuesday! But I decided that this was more important. So I pressed them to make a decision on what to pub to go to. We can't show up if we don't know where! And they settled on the Blue Sky Café, where I have been several times before, and which I quite like. That works for me!

Pic from their website 

When I dropped off the students in Bangor they could go straight there, but I had to first drop the vehicle off, and then come back in my own car. And the next day I was going to have a cheese tasting session with the Gerlan crew, so I wanted to quickly pop by the supermarket in Menai Bridge to buy supplies for that. I already had the cheese! But cheese requires accoutrements, and I didn't think the corner shop in Bethesda would do the cheese justice. So I drove back, dropped off the vehicle, put the keys were they needed to go, hastily went to the supermarket in the last 20 minutes of it being open, and then made my way downtown. There was a fairly small group of people! About half the students, and only Katrien and me. They were busy with a game of Cards against Humanity. I joined in.

I had never played this; I don't think it brings out the best in people. But I don't think anybody minded. I had one beer, and quite enjoyed myself. It is nice to sometimes just socialise with the students! 

After a while the students decided to go to a different venue that would serve food. I wasn't going to last another pub. I would peel off! But it was already approaching 11 pm, so already past my bedtime. I figured I had shown my good intentions.

The week after, the students had to hand in their field notebooks, so then we will be brought back to reality. But now it was nice to have had a bit of lighthearted relaxation in a pub!