Christmas Parties - Before the event

Is it me, or are office Christmas parties just not the same as they used to be? I can remember one great do when I worked for Thomson Holidays, where Stan Boardman was the stage act, there were 200 or so of us at the hotel in Manchester, a free bar and many hangovers the next morning. I recall talking to a colleague of mine and watching her gradually slide down the wall in a drunken haze!

Tonight is our Christmas 'austerity' do. Because there are rather less than 200 of us, we'll be one of many small groups eating in a Didsbury restaurant, followed by a bevvy or two in the Metropolitan. I've no doubt we'll have a great time and learn more about each other as the atmosphere and alcohol loosens peoples' lips! We're sharing a car journey there and taxis home, eating two courses not three, and the company will make a fair contribution to the night out. Altogether less frivolous but hopefully just as enjoyable a night out. Watch this space!

Roger