The need for noise

Christmas meal out with some work colleagues for some tasty tapas and plenty of Manzanilla and red wine(mojitos and daiquiris, too, for some).

Good to sit and eat and chat with colleagues we don't share offices with, but the noise-level was phenomenal - more like being in a pub than a restaurant - so conversation was slowed down as many of us (older ones?) had to lean in, looking quizzical, repeat ourselves, lip-read....