Got a work Christmas party this week coming. It's the first work Christmas party for quite some time I haven't felt every possible urge to wriggle out of, because I actually like and am quite comfortable with the people I work with, so it should be a pleasant evening. It also doesn't particularly sound like it's going to be an evening of "enforced fun" or anything, either, just a nice meal and a stay in a hotel, so it should be pleasant enough.
I am reminded of the worst work residential I ever went on, and the reason why, since then, I have tended to avoid anything that involves giving up my free time to the places that I work. It was back when I worked at energy company SSE, which is by all accounts a hellish place to work anyway, but we had a residential "conference" to attend on one day, which was absolute tedium to the max — aside from the part where we had to go off in "breakout groups" and… colour in posters. Yes, really.
SSE was amazing at belittling its employees and treating them like primary school students and I knew this full well by the time this conference rolled around, but it didn't make it any less excruciating to sit through. Thus when the opportunity presented itself to retire to my room in the evening, I took said opportunity as soon as possible and just sat in the dark pondering the life choices and seemingly unavoidable events that had conspired to put me in that ridiculous situation.
Anyway, I'm hoping for no such nonsense this week — the food sounds good, the company should be good and since the meal is at the same place we're staying overnight, I'm sure there should be no problem in slinking off to hide the moment I start feeling overwhelmed. (I estimate about 10-11pm or so.) I will take various gaming implements with me.
So that's what's going on this week, aside from the usual grind. Hopefully shouldn't get in the way of anything too much, and I'll be back in my own bed by Friday evening. I hope any of the rest of you about to have Christmas parties inflicted on you have at the very least a tolerable experience and/or a convenient opportunity to escape.
Discover more from I'm Not Doctor Who
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
