I'm Going Outside Now...: parties

Showing posts with label parties. Show all posts

Friday, 4 January 2008

Just a goddam number

Another year ended. And a new one just begun.

Lennon should have called his song Happy New Year (War Is Over) shouldn't he? It doesn't really make sense to include those lines in a Xmas song, does it? But maybe I'm splitting hairs.

Anyway, New Year. Sucks. I was watching Jools Holland's Hootenanny - Hootenanny! - for want of anything better to do, but switched over to watch the BBC show from the Embankment. And what the fuck was that all about? Over 1 trillion tonnes of gunpowder every second or some shite, with two blokes dressed as walking light shows chugging down the Thames in a motor boat. Leaving aside the infantile commentary (if it can be graced with such a name) by the BBC twot on the night, the whole thing was a total waste of time and money.

I'm not against celebrating and reflecting on the passing of a year, and I suppose it makes sense that it's a communal experience, but it doesn't have to be on 31st December, does it? There is the pagan link to Xmas, with the solstice and all, but New Year is an entirely numerical and modern construct. Let's say that we have it on 1st August in the Northern Hemisphere and 1st January in the Southern. At least it would be nice and warm, and we would get two! Just like the Queen and her birthdays.

Wednesday, 12 December 2007

Dilemmas

Can I ask one question?

Is it appropriate to attend a work celebration drink for someone if you don't work with them? Here are two examples:

Jack got made redundant from the Big Ears Co. about a year ago. During that year, a one-time colleague, who has remained a very good friend, achieved 10 years' service, which entails a presentation and a party. Jack is invited to the celebration by the line manager who carried out the unpleasant duty of making him redundant. Should he go along?

Paco has been working at the Mini Juice company for 17 years, and his time has come to move on to a sister company. There will be a leaving celebration and Paco has invited his friends Jack and Stuart, who don't work with him, but are good friends, along. Is it right that these guys should accept the invitation?

Vote now, at the top of the page.