As we near the festive period and because we're midway through a hectic week in our social calendar and today's my birthday (all presents and donations accepted) I feel it's about time to tell you about the social aspect of being a Manchester Master.
On this course never has the old adage of 'work hard, play hard' ever been truer. When the time comes to leave work or the library, the Masters do enjoy a civilised drink – we are students after all. In this line of work you need to be capable of socialising with the best of them. Six months in and we've bonded into quite a cohesive little unit who stay together and play together. I could share many a story about each and every Master. There's been birthday parties, Christmas parties, Mexican parties, parties for the sake of having parties and the occasional impromptu party when four beers turns into five beers on a Friday evening.
For some reason it's our flat that seems to be the setting for most of these parties. Perhaps it's because we're the apartment in the middle, perhaps it's because Chris (the one that looks like Sideshow Bob) and I are the most entertaining, or perhaps – and probably most likely – because no-one else wants to do the clean up operation in the morning.
Aside from the parties we've also had to socialise for the good of Manchester Masters. The lengths we go to! We've been for dinners with our mentors, attended mingling events at the University and even wangled invites to the opening of Piccadilly Place. The common factor in all of these is the free wine. As a result, much like last night, it's often the 10 Masters who are the last to leave the functions. Naturally we all conduct ourselves in a very professional manner at these events and we are generally the focal point of them so we do ensure we're not too well lubricated but it never stops us having a good time. Anyway, i'll leave this instalment for now, the MD's taking us all off to sample a new restaurant on Deansgate now.
It's a tough job but someone's got to do it!
- Iain McFayden
