Gah - I hate team meals!
Dec. 12th, 2007 10:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gothams3rdrobinSo tonight was the E-Services Christmas meal. We went to the Old Orleans on Church St, and were all squeezed around a long set of tables. The food was quite nice - I had turkey, with winter veg and fried potato cubes, with a sundae of chocolate brownies, icecream, chocolate sauce and pineapple chunks as dessert - but most of us agreed that the veg seemed undercooked. I was also in the unusual position of leaving the restaurant still slightly hungry.
We must have annoyed the hell out of the other diners though, with the noise we were making. We're quite a rowdy bunch, as a group, and the conversation can get rather lewd. Plus they started challenging each other to drink the oddest tasting shots they could think of. Poor Justin also lost a challenge related to selling breakdown cover, resulting in him having to eat his meal in a dress and make-up! Tasha's dress - which I always think looks more like an undergarment - will probably never be the same again, 'cause it was so tight on Justin he could barely breathe! We're also slightly concerned about our supervisor Bernard's willingness and ability at applying makeup! ;-)
The thing that always, always frustrates me about going out with my colleagues is the way they try to badger me into drinking - like there's something wrong with me for sticking to coke. I try to shut them up by reminding them that I have a little one to take care of (true, since I very rarely stay out late enough that Mam needs to have him overnight) and trying to explain that I just don't particularly like alcohol. But this seems to be such an alien concept to them that they just don't get it. A couple of times in the past I've had to get really snappy with at least one of them, who just would not stop with the "Aww, go on!", like she was Mrs Doyle or something! And tonight I had to tell Mark to back off trying to get me to drink a shot of 'Flaming Mexican' or he was going to really offend me (I already was slightly offended, but I try not to get into confrontations). I just get so bloody frustrated! *sigh*
I also had to bite my tongue when I opened my Secret Santa, as what I got was a small box of chocolates from Thorntons. Now, Thorntons are a well reknowned and pretty expensive chocolatier in this country, and I should be grateful for such a gift. But the truth is that I just don't like their chocolates. I prefer Cadburys, or Galaxy. But when you consider that other people got presents that were much more personal, and obviously had some thought put into them, all Secret Santa does is remind me just how little I actually fit in at work. *sigh* It's the same on my birthday.
Ah well *exhales*
I should talk about Rowan's birthday too, since that was on Monday. He's six years old, people! When the bloody hell did that happen??
We had his party on Saturday, and that was a big success. At least I think it was, since I spent pretty much all of it in the kitchen area, either getting the last minute preparations done, or cleaning up. Mel and Will were able to attend, which was fab, and my Nan and Uncle called in for half an hour but Nan wasn't feeling very well so they didn't stay. I was also very proud of myself for being able to address each child by name - though I did get Gwyn confused with his little brother Hedd at one point! *laughs* Is it my fault that all I could see at the time was two identical mops of curly blonde hair, and I hadn't yet noted which was the older child?
Rowan's actual birthday got off to a good start, in that he loved the Playstation 2 I got him, and the small selection of games. I got him a couple of sporty games - baseball, ice hockey and basketball - and the High School Musical singing game. That's proven the most popular - possibly because it's one I can play with him. Though I did sit with him while he played the baseball game too, offering support and advice.
Things took a downturn on the way to school though (Yes, not even his birthday's an excuse to miss school) as he fell down and scraped his face, from just above his upper lip, along his nose and between his eyebrows. Poor love looks such a mess! *sympathy* As you can imagine, he was very upset, and cried for quite a while, but ultimately he was pretty brave; he let me take him home and clean it up, and even tolerated me putting Germolene on the scrapes despite the stinging. Didn't put up with it quietly though, let me tell you! *chuckles* He let me know it hurt very loudly.
When I picked him up from school, we went to play in the park for a few minutes despite the cold. They've finally finished the renovations to the playground there, and he's been waiting ages to go on the new slide. Then we spent most of the evening singing along to the High School Musical game - I had to keep the volume down as, even though my neighbours appear to be fairly deaf, I still didn't want to get any complaints about the noise! *laughs*
We have another birthday party to attend on Saturday - this time it's Lewis, the stepson of a guy I went to high school with. I could do without it since I'm low on cash (plus my manager insisted on a fiver off everyone tonight for tips, despite us having already paid our money towards the meal *sighs*) but nevermind. Other than that I'm not sure what we're doing this weekend, as Rowan's not visiting with my in-laws this Sunday. We'll probably have a relaxing day and get the tree put up. It's just a shame we can't put any ceiling decorations up, as nothing seems to stick to my ceiling and I can't put drawing pins into it; we spent a week making paper chains the first Christmas we were here, but they were constantly falling down. So it'll probably just be the tree again this year - and there's no room in here for the regular size tree, so we have to be content with a small one on a table. *sigh*
Well, I'm just a barrel of laughs tonight, aren't I! *smiles sardonically* Better go to bed and hope I'll wake up in a better mood tomorrow! I have video footage of Rowan's school Christmas concert - in which he was awesome, by the way! - but I have yet to download it to the computer. Will post it as soon as I get around to doing that.
We must have annoyed the hell out of the other diners though, with the noise we were making. We're quite a rowdy bunch, as a group, and the conversation can get rather lewd. Plus they started challenging each other to drink the oddest tasting shots they could think of. Poor Justin also lost a challenge related to selling breakdown cover, resulting in him having to eat his meal in a dress and make-up! Tasha's dress - which I always think looks more like an undergarment - will probably never be the same again, 'cause it was so tight on Justin he could barely breathe! We're also slightly concerned about our supervisor Bernard's willingness and ability at applying makeup! ;-)
The thing that always, always frustrates me about going out with my colleagues is the way they try to badger me into drinking - like there's something wrong with me for sticking to coke. I try to shut them up by reminding them that I have a little one to take care of (true, since I very rarely stay out late enough that Mam needs to have him overnight) and trying to explain that I just don't particularly like alcohol. But this seems to be such an alien concept to them that they just don't get it. A couple of times in the past I've had to get really snappy with at least one of them, who just would not stop with the "Aww, go on!", like she was Mrs Doyle or something! And tonight I had to tell Mark to back off trying to get me to drink a shot of 'Flaming Mexican' or he was going to really offend me (I already was slightly offended, but I try not to get into confrontations). I just get so bloody frustrated! *sigh*
I also had to bite my tongue when I opened my Secret Santa, as what I got was a small box of chocolates from Thorntons. Now, Thorntons are a well reknowned and pretty expensive chocolatier in this country, and I should be grateful for such a gift. But the truth is that I just don't like their chocolates. I prefer Cadburys, or Galaxy. But when you consider that other people got presents that were much more personal, and obviously had some thought put into them, all Secret Santa does is remind me just how little I actually fit in at work. *sigh* It's the same on my birthday.
Ah well *exhales*
I should talk about Rowan's birthday too, since that was on Monday. He's six years old, people! When the bloody hell did that happen??
We had his party on Saturday, and that was a big success. At least I think it was, since I spent pretty much all of it in the kitchen area, either getting the last minute preparations done, or cleaning up. Mel and Will were able to attend, which was fab, and my Nan and Uncle called in for half an hour but Nan wasn't feeling very well so they didn't stay. I was also very proud of myself for being able to address each child by name - though I did get Gwyn confused with his little brother Hedd at one point! *laughs* Is it my fault that all I could see at the time was two identical mops of curly blonde hair, and I hadn't yet noted which was the older child?
Rowan's actual birthday got off to a good start, in that he loved the Playstation 2 I got him, and the small selection of games. I got him a couple of sporty games - baseball, ice hockey and basketball - and the High School Musical singing game. That's proven the most popular - possibly because it's one I can play with him. Though I did sit with him while he played the baseball game too, offering support and advice.
Things took a downturn on the way to school though (Yes, not even his birthday's an excuse to miss school) as he fell down and scraped his face, from just above his upper lip, along his nose and between his eyebrows. Poor love looks such a mess! *sympathy* As you can imagine, he was very upset, and cried for quite a while, but ultimately he was pretty brave; he let me take him home and clean it up, and even tolerated me putting Germolene on the scrapes despite the stinging. Didn't put up with it quietly though, let me tell you! *chuckles* He let me know it hurt very loudly.
When I picked him up from school, we went to play in the park for a few minutes despite the cold. They've finally finished the renovations to the playground there, and he's been waiting ages to go on the new slide. Then we spent most of the evening singing along to the High School Musical game - I had to keep the volume down as, even though my neighbours appear to be fairly deaf, I still didn't want to get any complaints about the noise! *laughs*
We have another birthday party to attend on Saturday - this time it's Lewis, the stepson of a guy I went to high school with. I could do without it since I'm low on cash (plus my manager insisted on a fiver off everyone tonight for tips, despite us having already paid our money towards the meal *sighs*) but nevermind. Other than that I'm not sure what we're doing this weekend, as Rowan's not visiting with my in-laws this Sunday. We'll probably have a relaxing day and get the tree put up. It's just a shame we can't put any ceiling decorations up, as nothing seems to stick to my ceiling and I can't put drawing pins into it; we spent a week making paper chains the first Christmas we were here, but they were constantly falling down. So it'll probably just be the tree again this year - and there's no room in here for the regular size tree, so we have to be content with a small one on a table. *sigh*
Well, I'm just a barrel of laughs tonight, aren't I! *smiles sardonically* Better go to bed and hope I'll wake up in a better mood tomorrow! I have video footage of Rowan's school Christmas concert - in which he was awesome, by the way! - but I have yet to download it to the computer. Will post it as soon as I get around to doing that.
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no subject
Date: 2007-12-13 12:15 am (UTC)... was that a bit harsh ...?
One thing about working in the book world is that it is, at least, mostly filled with the sort of people you don't mind having to spend time with. But the pay is rotten, so it all pans out.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-13 08:53 pm (UTC)The pay's rotten here too, even back when I was working full time. Where's my equaliser! *sulks* ;-)
no subject
Date: 2007-12-13 01:59 am (UTC)Happy Birthday to Rowan.
My kids favorite Playstation 2 game, by far, is SSX. One prefers SSX Tricky and the other SSX 3, but they are really great games, and my kids hate sports (they are snowboarding games). I know lots of people addicted to them (especially Tricky) so I thought I would pass it on.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-13 09:02 pm (UTC)The only other mother in attendance (with five daughters between the ages of eleven and four months) wasn't expecting to drink on a weeknight and brought the car, and they were pressing her to drink too. But she had at least had some wine with her meal.
Funnily enough, I think that game's featured on The Sims 2! *grins* I haven't seen it in the stores myself, but then I'm only now looking at what's available.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-13 09:13 pm (UTC)I think you might be right. I think I remember the girls having fun making their Sims play it. They are huge Sims fans as well.
Hubby had gotten SSX Tricky when he spoke at EA (the company that makes the game) we didn't think the girls would like any of the games he brought back because they were all sports, but they loved this one, and then wanted the sequel. It is lots of fun.