I had a beer party last night. People who gathered were PC freaks. We met on the network about 10 years ago and have been having a party once or twice a year. When we met for the first time, the internet didn't exist and we were useing a PC online service, Nifty-serve, which was modeled after CompuServe in the U.S. I really think I was lucky to have known the PC online service because I could get many friends in many fields.
I chose the roof garden of the ANA hotel as the place for our party. The reasons are as follows: The dishes must be good and luxurious judging from the status of the ANA hotel. This hotel is the most exclusive in my city and besides the major hotels have facilities for handicapped people. One of us has the after-effects of polio and needs a special washroom. I expected the most luxurious and relaxing time, but...
Most beer gardens or roof gardens have a time limit and a fixed charge system. The time limit was 110min and the charge was 3600 yen per person in the ANA hotel. Within the time limit we can eat and drink as much as we like. It's so far so good. The problem is that the closing time was set there. They change all the customers at that time. The first group is from 17:30 to 19:20 and the last group is from 19:30 to 21:20. The time that the customers get to the seats wasn't the starting time. The starting time was already set and if we were late, we would lose our eating time.
That is to say, so many people gather at one time in front of the table where dishes are arranged and have to stand in line to take their meal. We got to the roof garden a little earlier, so we were OK, but some other groups that got in 10 minutes or so later had to wait about 20 minutes to self serve their meal. The dishes were good, but it is a real killer for thirsty people to wait for beer for a long time.
Our table was the nearest one to the dishes and it was easy to get another helping. It might be due to the consideration that the hotel showed. Anyway we had a really enjoyable time. Time passed so rapidly and we moved to another Japanese-style inn and talked and drank to our content. It was the next day when I reached my home.
(Vocabulary)
model after ～をモデル［原型・模範］とする、～をまねる
so far 今までのところ
It's a real killer. これは本当につらい。
consideration 考慮； 配慮、思いやり、心遣い
Money is the first consideration. 先立つものは金。
The Roof Garden of the ANA hotel
At Japanese-style inn
It's sashimi, raw fish.
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