[Closed] The work Christmas party thread 2014.....

I'm part paying for my office's whoop-up, but don't have intention of going to it.

Ours is next Friday - "pub for 3!" for someone who only drinks twice a year (on average) this is a bad sign.

I guess it's one of those things when some (well lots) of people want to get as drunk as possible - I was no different in the past I guess, but I grew out of it in my late 20's - I love a few drinks now and again, but hate being drunk and detest being hungover, it's a horrible, horrible waste of a day to me.

I'm not going to mine 😀

[url= http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/roles-assigned-for-office-christmas-party-2-2014111792816 ]Have you had your role assigned?[/url]

I've never been to a works christmas do. Ever. I'm not about to start now. I used to make excuses. Now I just tell them I'd rather remove my own kidneys with a teaspoon. Theres nowt worse than amateur drinkers

Ours is in 2 weeks, I'll be with White Room Chalet in Ste Foy 🙂

Mates xmas do in Leeds on Tuesday was a rather sedate one.
Team xmas do in Manchester next Friday is always planned on being sedate but in the last two years has resulted in mayhem.
Works xmas do the following week which is bound to include madness on various levels.

ours is in january.

19th December for ours. Trying to work out which attractive young lady young enough to be my daughter I will be rejected by this year. 😉

Discovered yesterday that MrsMC had neglected to mention that her do clashes with a double booking of kids activities. I need to figure out how I juggle daughters gymnastics presentation and sons Scout Christmas show 5 miles apart. Not her problem, apparently. 🙄

[quote=binners dijo]Have you had your role assigned?

I've got "dancing obliviously with my cock out". Arse, I was hoping to home by ten but that means I've got to stay till the dancing starts. Was hoping to swap with "receives fake emergency text" but apparently she doesn;t want to get her cock out 😉

Got my first office Christmas party this year. Apparently much wine is provided so I imagine that it could get interesting.

Unsure whether to rock the dinner jacket and run the risk of being "that guy" or play it safe with a suit. Unfortunately I don't think my party dress would be suitable.

I finally realised I actually need to make an effort to progress my career, hence I shall be attending, talking to the "right" people, and having just a couple of drinks before retiring graciously to bed with my reputation as it is.

The Club do the next day promises to be far less restricted... 😈

When I read threads like this I'm reminded how much I like my current job and colleagues. Most are people I would (and do) socialise with anyway.

Our xmas parties are quite nice, relaxed black tie affairs. Really nice way to end the year, I enjoy them. Quite a few of our lot from other countries come over for it too, so it's nice to catch up with them in less formal surroundings.

I was sober at last years since I had a 6 hour drive in the morning, and will be sober this year again since I need to drive at 4am to catch a flight.

It's never a bad thing to be sober around people who employ you 🙂

I find banging the receptionist is so much easier at a Xmas do, it's not really cheating then either. Thankfully the hairy HR lady ain't going this year so the worst there will be another technicians mum, roll on the 13th!

Ours is this weekend. 90 people heading to Malta for 2 nights.

Sorry people of Malta.

[i]organising who's sharing wine with who[/i]

Is that a really bad thing to do?

Our is next week, I won't be going, nothing to do with disliking people but I have something else planned.

[i]Our xmas parties are quite nice, relaxed black tie affairs.[/i]

Crazy times 🙂

Six of us going to London and visiting the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park for Bratwurst and Bavarian Beer. Staying in a rather nice 'boutique' hotel for the night then getting the early train back home to see my family.

I'll enjoy it mildly but I won't expect a single word of thanks from any of our employees as always.

Crazy times

haha! I've been to many that were indeed crazy, but think I prefer the more laid back ones when it's with colleagues!

I had mine last weekend, stayed up at a steady level all night and cycled home at 5:30am. lovely crisp morning, I thoroughly recommend this strategy.

It's never a bad thing to be sober around people who employ you

This.

...banging the receptionist ...

Not this.

[i]I've been to many that were indeed crazy, but think I prefer the more laid back ones when it's with colleagues![/i]

I agree, one of the best Christmas 'works' dos I've been to was when I worked for a very small company in edinburgh, there were only 6 of us, we'd set the company up that year, had a great meal in a nice restaurant in edinburgh with a few drinks before and after. Nothing outrageous but it really meant something to all of us. Sadly it didn't make it all the way through year 2.

2 for me this year.

team night is tonight, meal in a nice pub. I'm driving, so will have 1 pint.

then in two weeks, the big office party, 400 odd people in a tent in the centre of Newcastle, it will be mental.

Mine is in a couple of weeks and I will as always keep a reasonably level approach. I always say that and get mildly tipsy. Last years was 4 of us helicoptering to a restaurant for lunch then a couple of beers in the sun. It was most pleasant.
EDIT: The last 2 companies i owned, 1 was when i was much younger and we had massive parties which never had any major issues, last one was smaller and we just had a cracking meal, nice wines and then a whisky frenzy. I much prefer them !

I agree, one of the best Christmas 'works' dos I've been to was when I worked for a very small company in edinburgh,

I was asked in for interview with a firm in Edinburgh a few years ago. I was quite keen on the move at the time after having just been on the other side to them on a job and liked those I was working with. The day of the interview I was early arriving in from Glasgow and bought a coffee near the offices and had a read at the paper. One of the articles was about that firm's recent Christmas party where the police had to be called after fighting broke out 🙂

Caused them a bit of embarrassment when I asked if the firm had a good social scene, fun Christmas parties etc, with a smile of course!

Ended up not taking the job as something more interesting cropped up in the interim, but could only imagine how awkward some of those guys must have felt coming back into the office after that party 🙂

Do spare a thought for all us sole trader, self employed types as you roger the girl from accounts and call your boss a ****. I would love a decent night out.

Like binners I've never been to one and don't intend to start now

We get pretty much diddly squat off our employers every year .....great to feel appreciated for the unpaid overtime etc.etc. 👿

Do spare a thought for all us sole trader, self employed types as you roger the girl from accounts and call your boss a ****. I would love a decent night out.

Everyone here is so pissed off that there wasn't enough takers to bother booking something.

Shame really, in the old days, coach going round collecting people, staying overnight in the hotel after the do, was great.

Wouldn't want to socialise with the bosses at the moment - the alcohol might make me speak my mind to them.

Many years ago, after one Xmas do, I woke up next to the Head of HR (who was very cute). She was a little rattled and it was never mentioned again.

[i]Theres nowt worse than amateur drinkers[/i]

Professional ones are better?

[i]great to feel appreciated for the unpaid overtime etc.etc[/i]

Appreciated? You get paid every month don't you, oh no hold on you don't 🙂

Ours is going to be awesome(in a retro/rewind stylie) ,buying the tickets today.
Daft dancing and the last bus home.
We have booked some defibrillators and the para-medics are on standby...bring it 🙂

She was a little rattled and it was never mentioned again.

and I'm sure we can find someone you could call a **** if you're feeling left out

The office party is next Friday and I'm not going this year. I usually leave shortly after the meal anyway so am never around when the gossipworthy stuff happens, and just can't be bothered with it this year. We've just had a redundancy round anyway in a different area of the business so I can't imagine the atmosphere will be great.

I am doing the team christmas meal though. I quite enjoy these. The only problem is that I'm out the night before at a boozy client thing, then we go out at lunchtime for the team meal, then I'm out in the evening at my running club's christmas meal.

It may take me a while to sober up from that...

MrNice - Member

and I'm sure we can find someone you could call a **** if you're feeling left out

That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me *weeps*

It's times like these I'm a little sad I now work on my own. Table for one please.

Not going....going to see the smashing Pumkins instead 😉

Might end up going on my mates do....hes a sole trader (bathroom fitter) but has a piss up for his subbies ...plasterer, sparky (me) and....thats about it but it beats attending my actual works do.

We are out tonight for a few (lots) of beers in The Hungerford Arms to warm up for the Lahore Kebab house in Commercial Road (East London).

Here's an online review of the pub:

[i]
After passing this place many times over the last ten years I've always declined to go inside. A couple of times I even looked in the window, then decided against it. It is one of the last remaining dodgy pubs left in the area. In other words you may have to deal with something or someone by stepping in.
Last Saturday, after spending four hours at the Rumfest event at the Excel Centre, where we tasted many different types of rum, and even sat in on a tasting master class, we were feeling very tipsy, a lot like pirates, and in need of something other than rum. Getting off the DLR at Shadwell, I suddenly remembered the Hungerford Arms. Since it was only about 6 p.m. I thought it won't hurt to go in and have a quick lager. We walked through Watney Market, past the scene of many pitched battles between the Kray Twins' gang and the Watney "massive."
When we stepped in, it was like one of those moments in a Western movie, where everyone in the saloon stops talking and looks to see what the wind blew in. We strode purposefully and confidently to the bar, ordered our drinks, and planted ourselves firmly on the spot.
That's all it took. We were more or less ignored from then on, which is what we wanted, and we proceeded to have a few pints and enjoy the atmosphere. The atmosphere consisted of pretty loud music, some young drunk lads playing snooker and banging on the wooden floor with their pool cues, some older men threatening amongst themselves to go and quiet them down (but never doing so, and I don't blame them, given the fact that all three were holding wooden sticks almost as weapons.)

Basically, you bring attitude into a place like this at your own risk. All the same, you have to defend your ground
[/i]

Hmmm...

Our works do is a xmas meal next thursday at a french restaurant, there is no turkey, xmas pud, mince pies or pigs in blankets on the menu. The graduate that organised it decided on the venue because we would 'all be fed up having the same thing' - how can you get fed up of xmas dinners that are once a year!!! Can't even take the pain away with too many sherberts as I will have to drive home 🙁

Mines on the 19th, last day in the office before finishing, so no comebacks on the Monday morning.
That said I found out this morning that the only day I can get my new heating system (The full hit) fitted before Christmas is the 20th. The thought of a hangover whilst my house is being ripped a new one is enough to keep me on the Shandys and getting the last but one train home.

I get to go to three this year, one with the Sales Team at work (who have their own awards night with fine wines etc), then the next night we have the company Xmas do (with cheaper wine etc for the engineers who don't know any better), then I get to go as a +1 to the Wife's Xmas do, which is at a proper black tie do at a s****y London hotel and includes accommodation etc.

I work as a truck driver.
my work don't have a Christmas do.
I'm pleased.
Truck drivers are ****s.

Company hires out (most of) a local hotel and we have about 200 people to what's usually a fairly good-natured do.

Last year people from another party in the hotel tried to gatecrash ours, ending up with a big fight and a champagne bottle launched through a window.

Hoping for a calmer evening this time!

We dont have one...i miss being b0ll0ck naked on the dancefloor.......

we had ours on Saturday after stock take.
10 or so fantastic pints of ace pale ale, drunk between 6 very nice pubs/bars in Leeds. and I was in bed fro 10pm, it was ace.

Self Employed slackers cyclist lunch next Friday, 2hr ride then lunch at the Woolpack, Slad. Last year there was all sorts from frame builders to event organisers. The idea was to ride home after but a few were so leathered I had to get my van. Watching them attempt to remove front wheels was hilarious, let alone get them back in.

Ours usually start to end with the (hardly able to walk) boss bringing over a massive tray of Gin shots at 2am!

We persuaded our boss that the last Thursday is the best day because [s]it's quieter than the last Friday before xmas [/s]because we want to spend Friday hung over at work, or not even show up.... 🙂

I'm almost 30 now though, and I do think a few pints and a good curry sounds better than a wild night and a hangover...

Ours in a couple of hours. Few pints and a curry...... will be fun.

Didn't bother with the big company do last week. That's definitely a young man's game. We're having a "team" night out on the 19th. No fuss, just some drinks straight after work and people are free to attend, not attend and leave whenever they want. As the boss, I'm paying so my attendance is mandatory!

Those that make a big song and dance about never attending a Christmas night out with their colleagues. In your head I'm sure you think you're edgy and cool, in reality you're just disenfranchised loners 😉

I work for me so just one in my Christmas party. Sadly I'm in Scotland so there's not even any point in drinking as I have to drive the following day.

As a result, I might give myself a bonus instead of a party a though

Mine is on the 19th, have to admit I got absolutely off my face last year, I'm a pretty good drunk though so that's OK, the worst I do is force people to dance. Got home at 9am, woke up at 2pm, thought "Why am I not hungover? Ah- still drunk", went back to sleep, woke up again at 8pm feeling like death 😆 We'll see if this year brings as many christmas shots

Sadly I'm in Scotland so there's not even any point in drinking as I have to drive the following day.

Have one drink less, or stop drinking an hour earlier than you normally would.

Hardly no point in drinking at all just because the limit has dropped a bit!

Jeez 🙂

Based on a 5% beer, drinking from 8pm and needing to drive at 6am:

I could have 5 pints under the current rules, or 4.5 pints under the new rules.

The new rules are going to catch out:

(a) people who just guess whether they are OK to drive the next day and are often very close to the limit anyway (and in that case I'm not bothered if they get caught out)
(b) people who jump straight in the car after a pint or two (again I'm not hugely bothered)

Our work do's have sucked in the past so I don't go any more.
Same old shitty beefeater, same old work colleagues and our boss chooses to do it 20 miles from work (on top of the 10 miles to work) because it's easier for his sister-in-law to babysit. Starting to run out of excuses tho..
Bah-humbug 😕

Those that make a big song and dance about never attending a Christmas night out with their colleagues. In your head I'm sure you think you're edgy and cool, in reality you're just disenfranchised loners

Quote of the day; you rock!

seems like it's Christmas do's everywhere today. Was copied into an email earlier today with a pretty wide distribution list with this as the first line:

[i]Apologies but I cannot setup a call today to discuss your comments as we have to attend a Christmas Party here in Manila for the project.[/i] 😆 8)

He's right though. While not exactly loving it I do understand that for some people this is a great thing that they love doing and so I participate for the sheer inclusiveness. I would rather be on my bike or sitting in the pub alone reading the paper.

Those that make a big song and dance about never attending a Christmas night out with their colleagues. In your head I'm sure you think you're edgy and cool, in reality you're just disenfranchised loners

or 30 odd miles away

would you go on a night out in Barnsley? I did a gig there once, most frightening time I've ever had

or 30 odd miles away

That's a good enough reason not to go. But plenty of folk bang on about how their work colleagues are cocks. In reality

a) they're probably the cock and everyone else thinks so
b) if you don't want to socialise with the people, why do you work with them? Lifes too short to spend the majority of your waking hours with people you apparently hate so much

I didn't go to my last workplace's christmas parties. It wasn't that I didn't like my colleagues, I just never had very much fun socialising with them. Suppose I was the youngest by about 15 years and the only dude so that put some barriers in. Anyway, their idea of a night out was never mine so I just said so, all fine and it let them get on with the night out they wanted.

why do you work with them?

a) I now work from home 4 days a week
b) they were already there when I joined
c) it's a niche job, you go where the work is, you don't get to be picky about it (sorry for the pun, I'm a PICK programmer)

nah, they're alright really, it's just that the office is in Barnsley & I'm not - so it would involve either (a) soft drinks (b) an expensive taxi or (c) a hotel

This hasn't always been the case. The first 3 or 4 years of my working life I wasn't earning enough to splurge on a big night out, then the next 8 or 9 years I worked locally but really did not get on with most of the people there. Couldn't wait to get away from that job but still took me that long to manage it. Been long(ish) distance commute since 1997 so christmas do's have never really been an option since then.

Mine is on the 19th, have to admit I got absolutely off my face last year, I'm a pretty good drunk though so that's OK,

Sorry that was too easy, couldn't help myself. Have fun.

jambalaya - Member

@northwind - so you're just grumpy and argumentative on here when sober then ?

I'm not [i]just[/i] grumpy and argumentative, often I'm sarcastic too 😉

Looking forward to the xmas lunch @ Weatherspoons in Kendal followed by a Blackeye Friday around the town will end up in Bootleggers totally off my face Nice 🙂

My wifes going to 4 work related parties ranging from a ball to a girly cocktail night.

i got invited very much as an after thought to a work one, im a zero hours contract use and abuse bod, and havent been in the office in months and probably wont again, so i decided it was best to accept the invitation as whats the worst that could happen?

I'm self employed....the only thing that I can think of that would be less appealing than working for someone/with others, would be going to a Christmas party with said people!

+1 what Tom B said, I work for myself and I really like the isolation of not having anybody around.

Some other people in the same line of work are meeting up ( I think ) but I'd rather be in my own.

I'm planning a night out starting in the pub for a 2 course Xmas dinner, onto the Casino for a bit then onto the Strip Club 😀

On my own, leave when I want, do what I want. Excellent.

ours is cool, went for tapas last year, only problem was the boss trying to keep up with the drinking. bad mistake. 😆

Our works 'party' is always a pissup in the local town, the Wednesday before Xmas. It's where you get to mix with people from work that,
A, you don't normally work with.
B, you can't be arsed with.
C, You have nothing in common with.

& you get to talk about,
A, work.
B, people from work.
C Who's shaggin who at work.

I'm not going because,
A, I'm an early start next day.
B, I'd have to get a taxi home (15 miles)
C, I can't be arsed.
D, The police have been involved in these 'parties' for the last 3 years. (in a working capacity)

It's that time of year again where seemingly quiet, civilised folk turn into alcohol fuelled monsters in the name of Christmas.

Ace!

I'm working ours so going to another one instead plus another and maybe one more. HAVE IT!

I'm going to the other half's one on Saturday as everyone gets invited. It has a free bar. 😀

Then next Saturday is my works one which she is most definitely not invited to. If it follows the pattern of the last 4-5 years it will consist of going for a Chinese then moseying along to the closest gentlemen's club for a couple of hours then leaving and trudging round every bar/club in Newcastle while getting completely shitfaced.

If you manage every bar in Newcastle or just Grey St that would be some achievement.

I'm glad to be running restaurants instead of bars this Christmas.

Already had to unblock a sink that a lovely lady vomited in though.

Already had to unblock a sink that a lovely lady vomited in though.

On tomorrow's Specials Board.

Chef's Secret Broth.

Our Christmas do is a big posh one, so I'm anticipating my annual panic over whether I have shoes that match my dress, and how I can get away without having a handbag again!
Some friends were trying to get me to wear a tuxedo instead of a dress - interesting idea!

Went to the first one last night - London office held in a pop up venue. Was out till 2pm. Missed dinner, but remained sober enough. Bed at 3am, back at work for 9am.

Northern offices party tomorrow night. No drinking as I'll be driving.

Team lunch/night out in London next Weds. Might try to crash my old team's do as well.

I'm fortunate that I get on well with a lot of people in all three offices, so it's nice to socialise together. And it's always good to be seen to turn up.

A few of us from work have got free tickets to some posh horse racing awards we're doing all the nomination videos etc for. Its on the 22nd so we're treating it as our work piss up. Free champagne reception, dinner and free wine at the table. Should be a good one, I'm looking forward to it!

Chef's Secret Broth.

Do you eat it with a fork, or a straw?

Having been brought up in West Cumbria , I love a good christmas do. 😀 😉
Some of my most fun/debauched/wild evenings have been on a christmas do rampage.
Luckily , I've always got on with folk at work .I wouldn't neccesarily socialise with them every week but once in a while with the colleagues I like ,is always ace.
Mine is tonight - Totally expect someone to let himself down with the only female in our 'shop & I will inevitably have my sexuality questioned by someone for drinking a cocktail or two. Then there's the team leader with the boy crush on our new Manager & the individual who will question the price of every starter,main and drink.
I'm working tomorrow ,so I'll slink off early before they get too messy.Ha.