While on the subject of Christmas celebrations.........

As I said last week due to retirement parties with work colleagues were a thing of the past so feeling rather left out I had managed to get myself invited to Christine’s do with her ex colleagues.






So last Friday was the day and I start to get ready. Quick shower, a look at the picture of Kylie that’s now on the wall and get changed. (Have you noticed how little an excuse I need to put this picture up again).Best jeans, casual shoes and short sleeved shirt and I’m ready. Except not according to Christine.


She tells me they will all be in suits and ties and polished shoes, that’s how they always go out she says. Now this is lunch time in Beverley and I am an expert at dress codes for Christmas dos, I have been to that many in the past and jeans, short sleeved shirt and casual shoes will be fine to the Lairgate Hotel. But Christine is unhappy and it is her do so I start looking in the depths of my wardrobe.


I find my best Italian trousers, the ones I haven’t worn since taking Christine out to a dinner dance also at the Lairgate Hotel on New’s Eve three years ago, my best black leather shoes come out for a polish and a Jaeger shirt I last wore at Shelley’s wedding since which she has had a daughter and got divorced so that probably was a little while ago. Next it’s the jacket and then a tie. A tie! I haven’t worn a tie since I left work but it is Christine’s do and I have to look the part.


We set off with me feeling a bit done up like a dog’s dinner but never-the-less I am told I will fit in. So there we are, first there stood at the bar looking very posh when in walks Rob, jeans, casual shoes and short sleeve shirt. I look at Christine and she tells me he has come in on his day off so that’s why he is casual. I have come in from my retirement but I have a tie on so I don’t quite understand but I am told the rest will be dressed up. With that Brian arrives, jeans, casual shoes and short sleeved shirt. I make no comment but quickly disappear to the cloak room where I get rid of the jacket and tie.


Christine smiles as I walk back into the bar.


But once we get sat down the lunch goes very well, good company, nice food and a quiz. It seems the quiz is a tradition and who ever wins this years has to set the next year’s questions so every one wants to do well without winning.


So imagine the tension we are neck and neck with the next team when the last question is asked “which premiership football club started life as Dial Square”. While we football fanatics are scratching our heads Christine keeps saying Arsenal, a suggestion which is ignored because we all know that Christine’s knowledge of football is nil and so Chelsea is put down as our agreed answer.


When the answers are read out we have lost by one point and Arsenal did in fact turn out to be the correct answer to the last question. “See” said Christine “I told you it was Arsenal, we could have won”. We all look at her and explain that of course we knew the answer was Arsenal, we are after all football supporters, but we just wanted to do well without winning. We quickly change the subject.


All in all it’s a good Christmas do. There are Christmas crackers, daft hats and party poppers and about 50 or so of Christine’s ex colleagues all in various states of dress from the jeans to the suits so what ever I had worn would have been OK. It’s not too much different than the dos I used to have with my colleagues. A very pleasant way to celebrate Christmas and because it’s a lunch time I don’t have too much to drink so no hangovers the next day.


Christmas really seems to be arriving now. It certainly will tomorrow, I am going down to Gatwick Airport to pick up Alex, Dave and Joe and Amber the grandkids who are flying in from the Bahamas for Christmas. Can’t wait.