bookmark_borderParty on

And so, that timely reminder that the end of the year is fast approaching, rolls around. Yes, tonight is our company night out. A night of festive merriment with co-workers. A night of turkey and tinsel, dinner and dancing, food and flirting. Ohh and copious amounts of alcohol.

Well that’s what usually happens. This year, I fear, may be a tad different. Now, I say this every year but this year things are definitely different. For a start none of the high heidjuns are coming (directors), and instead of the usual 50 or so, we are down to 30. Factor in the cost of drinks in the Glasgow Hilton and I’m not entirely sure how this evening will be.

I’m sure we’ll all have a laugh, but I just don’t think it will be as good as the past two years have been. The obvious factor is the change of venue, the Hilton is notoriously overpriced, and the hotel of choice for the last two years, the Radisson, surpassed everyone’s expectations the first year we went then did it again the second year. Of course there are other considerations, the working atmosphere in the office is completely different these days, and then there is the whole “Christmas is on Saturday” thing.

You know what I mean, right?

No? Well, I’m convinced that having Christmas on a weekend is a bad thing. It just doesn’t seem right to have a full working week and then BAM it’s Christmas day. Or is it just me?

And whilst I’m on the topic, I’ve been wondering. Since when did Christmas become this horrible, stressful, draining event. It used to be fun. I distinctly remember having fun at Christmas in the past but in the last four or five years it’s all gone sour. Why so?

Yeah you can blame the added consumerism but I’m pretty sure we are all able to resist that, and yes it can be tedious when the shops start putting up decorations in November but… come on people. We are made of sterner stuff than this surely. I say this year we take back Christmas. ENJOY your day, relax and it might even be fun.

Of course I could say the same about the party tonight…

bookmark_borderScruples Saturday

Saturday Scruples (yeah yeah a day late…)

1. Outside a liquor store, a needy person offers to watch your bike while you’re inside. He needs to be trusted. Do you take a chance?
No. I would lock it up, and thank them for the sentiment, probably chat with them a little about the state of things, and ensure that they knew I appreciated the offer. I would do the same if I saw them again. A sad indication of our time.

2. You’re at a red light at 2 a.m. There’s no traffic in sight. The light is taking forever. Do you drive through it?
If I can see clearly in every direction, YES.
(If I did get spotted and pulled over it would allow me to go into my “haven’t you got anything better to do Officer” tirade. Not had the chance to dust that one off for a while..)

3. You’re in charge of a stakeout for a rapist. At risk of tipping off the rapist, do you warn women in the neighborhood of the danger?
No, if I’m in charge that sucker is going down!! Extreme prejudice will be deployed and if he so much as LOOKS at a women the wrong way – BAM! Seriously, yes it would be a risk, but if there was a controlled stakeout it is probably manageable, so no I wouldn’t tell anyone. Better that he is caught and put away, than tipped off to disappear and commit crime elsewhere.