19 December 2006

An early date for the departmental Christmas do, to accommodate the ex-pats migrating home for the festivities. The boss suggested that we all go for lunch, though I suspect that this was more of an effort to keep it alcohol free and have us all back at our desks by 2pm. I have other plans and Red Bones is duly booked for 14 people for half past six. This gives the girls enough time to change and the boys can get a swift one in on the way. Of course the boss and the big boss play a little game of I work harder than you and don’t actually make it until half 8 and half 9 respectively.

We were pleased to note that Redbones had marked the occasion by putting Turkey and Ham on the menu. Unfortunately it was a case of either Turkey or Ham and protracted discussion failed to enlighten the waiting staff in anyway, so a number of resourceful individuals paired up and divvied up the turkey and ham between them.

The “highlight” of the evening was the handing out of the final pixie presents. Pixie is a Jamaican tradition in the work place and is like any other Secret Santa scheme. The difference is that it runs through the whole of December and you are expected to buy a little token of appreciation for your pixie every few days. Jamaicans seem to take this very seriously and minimum limits were set for the final present, wish lists were drawn up. There is an unspoken rule that ex-pats will spend well above the minimum limit. I doubt it was a coincidence that when the draw was made, every ex-pat was paired with a local staff member. At the receiving of the final gift, you guess who was buying for you and tell the assembled crowd how wonderful you gifts have been. I was thrilled to receive my collection of cheap plastic tat!