A buddy of mine calls me up and says, "Dude! -  I just got free tickets to a concert through my phone service provider today, you wanna come with!" Now he has been a friend for years and I have not seen him in a while. I learnt how to surf with the guy, I have had loads of crazy parties with him, tons of laughter, actually in fact he probably is going to be my best man one day. So, I reply and say "Why, the hell not bro!"

So, we arrive at the concert and before even considering a thought we buy two Guinness’s, skull those down and buy another two. While drinking the second round we greet each other and catch up with all the happenings of our lives. In mid-conversation, this pretty girl waltzes over and tells us about a competition to win a free phone. "Just turn on your the blue tooth and you might win", she says. I think great, I need new phone and turn on my blue tooth - nothing, no alerts, oh well. My mate turns his on a second later and as true as the sun comes up in the morning, my mate wins a freaking phone - in that second. He claims his stupid prize, an awesome phone. Sensing my jealousy he offers to buy me a Guinness. Soon I forget and it takes the pain away.

So with that forgotten and in celebratory spirits, the concert starts. We listen to all these new upcoming bands and party away. We go crazy to the music, it was really good. We say hello to the ladies (no more as we are spoken for and of course) we have shit loads more Guinness’s. The concert ends on a high and now the time has come to go home. Still charged from the concert I say to my bud, "Dude, remember those days when we were young" although it was more like "Dudsh, member doesh days (hic) en we were youngsh (hic)!" He says "yeahsh, I do." Anyway, to make a long story short, I remind him of the cool days. The cool days when we didn’t have responsibilities, the cool days when we went out all night and didnt care about how we got home or what time. In that spirit I suggest a last drink to celebrate those days. He wisely reminds me that he lives in the countryside. Also those days we didn’t have scarey wives and girlfriends - and a house, oh and we were under 30 in those days, and the fact that the last train is in 30mins.

So the off to the pub it was with that depressing thought and 2 Guinness’s and 2 Jagermeisters later we are rambling away and talking to the waitresses. Its funny how time flies and I look at the watch and say "Dude, we have 2 mins to the last train!". We run like hell, we run for that last train as if our lives depend on it. I can’t face a woman’s scorn in this state, especially if I am having more fun than she is. We reach the train as the door opens and what feels like the beginning of a hernia topped with some heartburn, as I slump into my seat. With a sigh of relief I think about the comforts of home and about dinner in the fridge, I think about the nice cup of tea I am going to have and then bed for an awesome snooze. Ahh, now to enjoy the long ride from north London to the south.

After a few stops, I see my friend lean forward to look at the tube map on the other side. A while later he stands up and walks over to take a closer look. With one of my eyes half-focussed looking at what he is looking at, I think "I hope we are we going the right way?", he turns around a few seconds later and though my hazy vision and one ear asleep already, I hear him say as the train is slowing down for the next stop "Dude its the wrong way!" Without a thought and hysterically, I shout "Ah shit!" and as if it’s an air raid, I yell at my mate "Get off, get off - get off the train dammit!!" His eyes open wide like saucers and he runs after me. We both jump off and I say "Pheew, we made it." He looks at me confused and replies, "Made what?" I look back confused and say, "You said we are going the wrong way!" He says "No, I said its a LONG way!" The door shuts. We both look at the slow acceleration as the last train blissfully pulls off and disappears into the dark of the tunnel. Oh my god - ah shit, I look around and we are at Moorgate, only about halfway. There is nothing in Moorgate at 1 in the morning. My friend then says "Where is my bag?" Huh? I don’t know. Crap it’s on the train. I burst out laughing, I could’nt help it. He rebukes me and chastises me for my stupidity. Embarrassed at laughing at him for loosing 3GB of music and his ipod of which I only found out after, I apologise. To make the situation better I unhelpfully remind him that he still had his new phone though. I will leave out what was said next from this story.

It took a long silent hour of waiting for the night bus to take us somewhere towards light or some other area where people exist. Finally, I see the salvation of a yellow light from a cab, and as a peace offering, I offer to pay. It still makes me laugh, although I can’t laugh around him about it. Folks, after all those Guinness’s, there are a few lessons I learnt that night. First, the Lord shall giveth and the Lord shall taketh away, but don’t say that to people as they don’t give a shit. Second, the last drink is not worth it when you are over 30s in fact it was never worth it even in your 20s. And finally, don’t act hysterically when you hear something the first time, say "beg your pardon", especially if you are deaf. It was still great fun though.