Works Xmas parties - any shenanigans?
Discussion
Fats25 said:
As it happens (not with that number of people) but a smaller group of 8 of us, we had a table booked in Johannesburg earlier this year that was booked by an admin, and out of the 8 of us going, one queried with the admin if they catered for vegetarians. The admin never said "of course, it is a vegan restaurant", her response was "yes it does". So 7 people looking forward to some very nice ZA meat, were disappointed. None of us thought to check. The admin I believe did not do out of malice, it was just a new recommended restaurant. We did not have a hissy-fit though, we ate the bland dinner, and enjoyed the great wine, and as it turns out Soya Ice Cream is tastier than normal ice cream, and I have some in my freezer now. The admin still has a job.
Not as good a story, but is that a bulls
t story too?!
I'll call bullsNot as good a story, but is that a bulls
t story too?!t on that one 
- surely the first rule of vegan club is to never shut up telling everyone about vegan club, so there's no way people wouldn't have known in advance.Merry Christmas
Blown2CV said:
The Ors said:
Fats25 said:
I call bullst. Keys left in buggies?
Well someone left the keys in a train earlier on in the thread; so golf buggies is plausible I feel.t. Keys left in buggies?"I'm not surprised," he replied, "There's someone in the passenger seat."
Like a few others above, I started my career in the City in the late 80's when it was essentially the wild west, so a couple spring to mind.
Coates Cafe, London Wall, circa 1988. A departmental christmas lunch involved indoor fireworks, which was all going swimmingly until someone produced something that resembled a Looney Tunes, comedy "bomb" complete with string fuse sticking out of the top. The bang was deafeningly loud & smoke rendered our table invisible. We were asked to leave, but refused, sending the poor waiter away with a massive champagne order to keep him quiet. Eventually we were forced out when a variation on "pin the tail on the donkey" turned into "One of the sales guys will stand on the table, whilst one of the female account support execs, identifies his "tail" whilst blindfolded". Much hilarity, floods of tears & no HR involvement.
A massive food fight at some restaurant off Regent Street (down Mexico Way? Can't remember). We had a basement room all to ourselves & it was completely wrecked - crockery, blinds, tables, chairs, pictures, the lot. The fight degenerated into two opposing barricades of upturned tables, through which the poor waiting staff had to run the gauntlet. The following morning the UK sales manager took a call from the manager - we owed them £3,000 for the damage. His response was "f@ck off. It's your own fault for letting us back after we did the same last time".
These two, were both the same company.
Apparently, before I joined them, a company I worked for did have a staff member die at a christmas do. Allegedly stumbled out of some bar around Finsbury Square, fell & smacked his head on the kerb. I never got the full story & don't know whether it was really true, but the rumour was the MD was sued for failing to exercise a duty of care.
CF
Coates Cafe, London Wall, circa 1988. A departmental christmas lunch involved indoor fireworks, which was all going swimmingly until someone produced something that resembled a Looney Tunes, comedy "bomb" complete with string fuse sticking out of the top. The bang was deafeningly loud & smoke rendered our table invisible. We were asked to leave, but refused, sending the poor waiter away with a massive champagne order to keep him quiet. Eventually we were forced out when a variation on "pin the tail on the donkey" turned into "One of the sales guys will stand on the table, whilst one of the female account support execs, identifies his "tail" whilst blindfolded". Much hilarity, floods of tears & no HR involvement.
A massive food fight at some restaurant off Regent Street (down Mexico Way? Can't remember). We had a basement room all to ourselves & it was completely wrecked - crockery, blinds, tables, chairs, pictures, the lot. The fight degenerated into two opposing barricades of upturned tables, through which the poor waiting staff had to run the gauntlet. The following morning the UK sales manager took a call from the manager - we owed them £3,000 for the damage. His response was "f@ck off. It's your own fault for letting us back after we did the same last time".
These two, were both the same company.
Apparently, before I joined them, a company I worked for did have a staff member die at a christmas do. Allegedly stumbled out of some bar around Finsbury Square, fell & smacked his head on the kerb. I never got the full story & don't know whether it was really true, but the rumour was the MD was sued for failing to exercise a duty of care.
CF
We don't have Christmas do's anymore, I run a small(ish) company, and we generally have a lunchtime drink at the local pub with a decent little buffet spread. Does the job, and might sometimes become an all afternoon/nighter.
Back when I worked for a larger company we used to have big Christmas parties. The kind where you'd book a table or two at a local hotel, and you'd be in a room with perhaps 6-10 other companies who also had tables.
My only issue is when I've had more than enough beer, it starts to act like a truth serum, and I really can't stop myself. Cue the Md's wife asking me where Dawn from admin was (she hadn't been seen for a while and was rather fragile), and a very honest me declaring that she was shagging XXXXXXXX in the car park.
Back when I worked for a larger company we used to have big Christmas parties. The kind where you'd book a table or two at a local hotel, and you'd be in a room with perhaps 6-10 other companies who also had tables.
My only issue is when I've had more than enough beer, it starts to act like a truth serum, and I really can't stop myself. Cue the Md's wife asking me where Dawn from admin was (she hadn't been seen for a while and was rather fragile), and a very honest me declaring that she was shagging XXXXXXXX in the car park.
Dr Interceptor said:
We don't have Christmas do's anymore, I run a small(ish) company, and we generally have a lunchtime drink at the local pub with a decent little buffet spread. Does the job, and might sometimes become an all afternoon/nighter.
Back when I worked for a larger company we used to have big Christmas parties. The kind where you'd book a table or two at a local hotel, and you'd be in a room with perhaps 6-10 other companies who also had tables.
My only issue is when I've had more than enough beer, it starts to act like a truth serum, and I really can't stop myself. Cue the Md's wife asking me where Dawn from admin was (she hadn't been seen for a while and was rather fragile), and a very honest me declaring that she was shagging XXXXXXXX in the car park.
It's interesting that you're happy to name and shame Dawn (even though none of us know her), but allow the man to retain his anonymity...Back when I worked for a larger company we used to have big Christmas parties. The kind where you'd book a table or two at a local hotel, and you'd be in a room with perhaps 6-10 other companies who also had tables.
My only issue is when I've had more than enough beer, it starts to act like a truth serum, and I really can't stop myself. Cue the Md's wife asking me where Dawn from admin was (she hadn't been seen for a while and was rather fragile), and a very honest me declaring that she was shagging XXXXXXXX in the car park.
I actually saw a London tube train hi-jacked once.
It was at Leytonstone station. As some may know, after this station the line divides, one branch going straight up to Epping, the other round the Hainault loop. I was among a considerable number of people waiting to go to Epping. It was winter, cold, wet and dark on the platform. (Leytonstone is above ground.) it had been about 30 minutes since an Epping train had come along, only those for Hainault coming through.
At last an Epping train was signalled and we all piled on. After a while there was an announcement that the destination had been changed and the train was going to Hainault instead. Several people stood in the doorways, holding the doors open so the train couldn't move.The platform staff came along and a row broke out, but the passengers were adamant that the train was going to go to Epping or nowhere.
A stand off occurred, of several minutes duration, before another announcement was made that 'by popular demand' the train was going to Epping after all.
It was at Leytonstone station. As some may know, after this station the line divides, one branch going straight up to Epping, the other round the Hainault loop. I was among a considerable number of people waiting to go to Epping. It was winter, cold, wet and dark on the platform. (Leytonstone is above ground.) it had been about 30 minutes since an Epping train had come along, only those for Hainault coming through.
At last an Epping train was signalled and we all piled on. After a while there was an announcement that the destination had been changed and the train was going to Hainault instead. Several people stood in the doorways, holding the doors open so the train couldn't move.The platform staff came along and a row broke out, but the passengers were adamant that the train was going to go to Epping or nowhere.
A stand off occurred, of several minutes duration, before another announcement was made that 'by popular demand' the train was going to Epping after all.
Roofless Toothless said:
I actually saw a London tube train hi-jacked once.
It was at Leytonstone station. As some may know, after this station the line divides, one branch going straight up to Epping, the other round the Hainault loop. I was among a considerable number of people waiting to go to Epping. It was winter, cold, wet and dark on the platform. (Leytonstone is above ground.) it had been about 30 minutes since an Epping train had come along, only those for Hainault coming through.
At last an Epping train was signalled and we all piled on. After a while there was an announcement that the destination had been changed and the train was going to Hainault instead. Several people stood in the doorways, holding the doors open so the train couldn't move.The platform staff came along and a row broke out, but the passengers were adamant that the train was going to go to Epping or nowhere.
A stand off occurred, of several minutes duration, before another announcement was made that 'by popular demand' the train was going to Epping after all.
hijack or mutiny?It was at Leytonstone station. As some may know, after this station the line divides, one branch going straight up to Epping, the other round the Hainault loop. I was among a considerable number of people waiting to go to Epping. It was winter, cold, wet and dark on the platform. (Leytonstone is above ground.) it had been about 30 minutes since an Epping train had come along, only those for Hainault coming through.
At last an Epping train was signalled and we all piled on. After a while there was an announcement that the destination had been changed and the train was going to Hainault instead. Several people stood in the doorways, holding the doors open so the train couldn't move.The platform staff came along and a row broke out, but the passengers were adamant that the train was going to go to Epping or nowhere.
A stand off occurred, of several minutes duration, before another announcement was made that 'by popular demand' the train was going to Epping after all.
Blown2CV said:
Another night i went through the wrong door to the loo and ended up being faced with all the resort's golf buggies in front of me like some kind of sign from god. Of course all the keys were in, of course they could just be driven... did a relatively quick lap of the entire golf course pathways in the chucking down rain, and only noticed afterwards that i had actually continued on the path as it crossed a main road. Then proceeded to get other people into doing a grand prix, which we did... 5 of us, stuffing the things into each other, bushes, getting covered in mud and ste, tearing up the grass etc. Then, crashing them all into each other and the wall on return, and then off back to the hotel bar to continue getting pissed. Had the classic "you've all shown yourselves and the company up" email from a director the next day, but they never did determine who it was, despite threatening CCTV and the culprits being muddy and wet. Fortunately the no grass culture worked well in the sales team in the ensuing days!!
Assuming you were talking about Hotel Alicante Golf and being in Alicante today very close to it I popped in and had a chat with the manager who I have spoken with a few times having stayed there.te, tearing up the grass etc. Then, crashing them all into each other and the wall on return, and then off back to the hotel bar to continue getting pissed. Had the classic "you've all shown yourselves and the company up" email from a director the next day, but they never did determine who it was, despite threatening CCTV and the culprits being muddy and wet. Fortunately the no grass culture worked well in the sales team in the ensuing days!!He could not verify your particular story but they do now take the keys out of the golf buggies at night after numerous (usually British) people took the buggies for a ride.
He also said that group bookings from British sales teams had loads of issues and that the behavior you described is fairly common.
I can't say if your story is true but there is nothing that is unlikely in what you said according to the manager ( day manager, probably not the overall manager)
The jiffle king said:
Blown2CV said:
Another night i went through the wrong door to the loo and ended up being faced with all the resort's golf buggies in front of me like some kind of sign from god. Of course all the keys were in, of course they could just be driven... did a relatively quick lap of the entire golf course pathways in the chucking down rain, and only noticed afterwards that i had actually continued on the path as it crossed a main road. Then proceeded to get other people into doing a grand prix, which we did... 5 of us, stuffing the things into each other, bushes, getting covered in mud and ste, tearing up the grass etc. Then, crashing them all into each other and the wall on return, and then off back to the hotel bar to continue getting pissed. Had the classic "you've all shown yourselves and the company up" email from a director the next day, but they never did determine who it was, despite threatening CCTV and the culprits being muddy and wet. Fortunately the no grass culture worked well in the sales team in the ensuing days!!
Assuming you were talking about Hotel Alicante Golf and being in Alicante today very close to it I popped in and had a chat with the manager who I have spoken with a few times having stayed there.te, tearing up the grass etc. Then, crashing them all into each other and the wall on return, and then off back to the hotel bar to continue getting pissed. Had the classic "you've all shown yourselves and the company up" email from a director the next day, but they never did determine who it was, despite threatening CCTV and the culprits being muddy and wet. Fortunately the no grass culture worked well in the sales team in the ensuing days!!He could not verify your particular story but they do now take the keys out of the golf buggies at night after numerous (usually British) people took the buggies for a ride.
He also said that group bookings from British sales teams had loads of issues and that the behavior you described is fairly common.
I can't say if your story is true but there is nothing that is unlikely in what you said according to the manager ( day manager, probably not the overall manager)
Blown2CV said:
The jiffle king said:
Blown2CV said:
Another night i went through the wrong door to the loo and ended up being faced with all the resort's golf buggies in front of me like some kind of sign from god. Of course all the keys were in, of course they could just be driven... did a relatively quick lap of the entire golf course pathways in the chucking down rain, and only noticed afterwards that i had actually continued on the path as it crossed a main road. Then proceeded to get other people into doing a grand prix, which we did... 5 of us, stuffing the things into each other, bushes, getting covered in mud and ste, tearing up the grass etc. Then, crashing them all into each other and the wall on return, and then off back to the hotel bar to continue getting pissed. Had the classic "you've all shown yourselves and the company up" email from a director the next day, but they never did determine who it was, despite threatening CCTV and the culprits being muddy and wet. Fortunately the no grass culture worked well in the sales team in the ensuing days!!
Assuming you were talking about Hotel Alicante Golf and being in Alicante today very close to it I popped in and had a chat with the manager who I have spoken with a few times having stayed there.te, tearing up the grass etc. Then, crashing them all into each other and the wall on return, and then off back to the hotel bar to continue getting pissed. Had the classic "you've all shown yourselves and the company up" email from a director the next day, but they never did determine who it was, despite threatening CCTV and the culprits being muddy and wet. Fortunately the no grass culture worked well in the sales team in the ensuing days!!He could not verify your particular story but they do now take the keys out of the golf buggies at night after numerous (usually British) people took the buggies for a ride.
He also said that group bookings from British sales teams had loads of issues and that the behavior you described is fairly common.
I can't say if your story is true but there is nothing that is unlikely in what you said according to the manager ( day manager, probably not the overall manager)
This looks like a good xmas party:-
Strippers, stealing a horse!
https://apple.news/Aps6dZ09ORZS9ZbjnPOh2bQ
Strippers, stealing a horse!
https://apple.news/Aps6dZ09ORZS9ZbjnPOh2bQ
Fats25 said:
This looks like a good xmas party:-
Strippers, stealing a horse!
https://apple.news/Aps6dZ09ORZS9ZbjnPOh2bQ
Good night out that!Strippers, stealing a horse!
https://apple.news/Aps6dZ09ORZS9ZbjnPOh2bQ
rustyuk said:
Good night out that!
Nice basic start with the Strippers, but top marks for the horse. A good twist.As an extra to the death reported earlier we were invited to the Christmas do of one of our suppliers.
One of our number made a wrong turn and ended up in their boardroom rather than the gents and somehow shat his pants. He managed to get his underwear off and get in some semblance of order and decided to chuck his undies out of the window.
He didn't realise there was secondary double glazing so it was splattered all over the second pain of glass.
Roofless Toothless said:
I actually saw a London tube train hi-jacked once.
It was at Leytonstone station. As some may know, after this station the line divides, one branch going straight up to Epping, the other round the Hainault loop. I was among a considerable number of people waiting to go to Epping. It was winter, cold, wet and dark on the platform. (Leytonstone is above ground.) it had been about 30 minutes since an Epping train had come along, only those for Hainault coming through.
At last an Epping train was signalled and we all piled on. After a while there was an announcement that the destination had been changed and the train was going to Hainault instead. Several people stood in the doorways, holding the doors open so the train couldn't move.The platform staff came along and a row broke out, but the passengers were adamant that the train was going to go to Epping or nowhere.
A stand off occurred, of several minutes duration, before another announcement was made that 'by popular demand' the train was going to Epping after all.
Been involved in similar myself on the northern line: think it's Finchley central where it splits, loads of trains going to Mill Hill, none to Barnet. Finally a Barnet bound train arrives, loads pile on, then message it's going to Mill Hill. Cue approx 10-15 minute stand off with some of us blocking doors until it's announced it is afterall going to Barnet It was at Leytonstone station. As some may know, after this station the line divides, one branch going straight up to Epping, the other round the Hainault loop. I was among a considerable number of people waiting to go to Epping. It was winter, cold, wet and dark on the platform. (Leytonstone is above ground.) it had been about 30 minutes since an Epping train had come along, only those for Hainault coming through.
At last an Epping train was signalled and we all piled on. After a while there was an announcement that the destination had been changed and the train was going to Hainault instead. Several people stood in the doorways, holding the doors open so the train couldn't move.The platform staff came along and a row broke out, but the passengers were adamant that the train was going to go to Epping or nowhere.
A stand off occurred, of several minutes duration, before another announcement was made that 'by popular demand' the train was going to Epping after all.
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