After sucessfully avoiding the obligatory "Office Christmas Party" for the last four years, I have been bulldozed into this year's social gathering. I have such a loathing for them. Yeah, call me "bah humbug", I dare you! It's not that I don't like Christmas, or getting into the spirit of goodwill - far from it, I love Christmas (apart from the buying presents, stress aspect of it). The reason a hate Office Christmas Parties is because of the whole culture behind them.

People expect five things from the "work's do".

1. Cop of with a colleague
2. Get trollied
3. Watch a workmate make a very public ass of themselves
4. Get stuck at some point in the evening with the office "letch" or "bore"

None of these things are appealing. Maybe I'm a sad, old git, maybe so, but it's my choice to be a sadass. I just don't do "socials", work or otherwise. They are either "gnaw my own leg off to stay awake - boring", or cringeworthily embarrassing.
God help me get through Friday night. Someone pass me the Valium, please.