I wasn't at all being awkward and now realise that I misinterpreted your earlier comment.
I thought Manchester and back wouldn't come cheap, wrongly thought "Travelodge" was from you and meant an overnight stay and from "for the money spent, I could feed me and Great Unwashed for at least a month" believed that far far more had been spent on food, and drink, than employees would be prepared to spend themselves, my experience of works Christmas dos being only a meal and few pints, and so wrongly, as I now know, assumed that it had been funded by the employer.
I apologise for my mistake and any distress it caused you.