Conferences

Workshops, Conferences, seminars.. the bane of ones life.

One starts off looking forward to it since they normally happen at locales which are pretty and offer exciting options of food, entertainment and scenic pleasure..

But then you land after pushing guilt, of not being able to finish critical work out of your mind and you are given the AGENDA...

Post reviewing it you realise well the fact is that there will be time to explore and do all the wonderful things the place has to offer if you have night vision goggles and local businesses are offering night time safaris. Otherwise the best option is to forgo the very critical post alcohol (till 3 p.m.) early morning sleep and much needed nourishment of breakfast and squeeze in as much as you can.

You might want to skip lunch as well, but I think in most cases lunch could well be a working session too.

The good part, only if it's not a workshop, is that quite possibly you would not have to work through the night. Thus you can party and drink every night till the wee hours and hope that you have perfected the art of sleeping with your eyes open. You definetely save on money which you would have spent if you were back at office (office compensates you only for food while working late)

Post all this, when you are landing at home base you realise that very cunningly the conference dates included a weekend also, so you did not miss too many working days and were back at work on Monday

All around you everyone winks and says "WOW, great trip? You must be all totally relaxed and ready to get back to the grind after this really long break?"

"Yeah right! As ready as I will be for the Tour De France"