30th of January: my first ever CAD (Crédit Agricole Deveurope) office party. The fun started early when at 2pm the cantine was turned into a makeshift hair salon and makeup artist's studio, with 6 professionals brought in to help 200 ladies look their best. Then after work, we had half an hour to change into our glad rags (and lock away our regular clothes ready for taking back home with us on Monday) before we were herded into several coaches that took us to our mystery destination: a rather trendy club in the town of Hilversum. Of course, when we got there, there were the usual 'ínspirational' speeches by management that no one bothered to listen to, preferring to keep their orders for free beer and champagne coming in. Funny, how the male constituant of every crowd will always go for Heineken, when Moët & Chandon is so much better-tasting...
Then the entertainment kicked off with a performance by Slagerij van Kampen, a group of percussionists world-famous in The Netherlands; and they were followed by a local band I'd never heard of, who were quite good though nothing out of the ordinary; and they in turn were followed by one of the many Björn Again-s (they're a franchise now, I understand. I remember years ago having seen the original tribute band at an hp party, when they were flown in especially: they were fab. This one wasn't). There were also performances by jugglers and fire-eaters and a strongman who kept lifting weights all night (honestly, why would anyone want to see that at a party?), there was a tarot-reader, and a DJ to take care of proceedings between the various musical performances; while the head of the HR department made a drunken spectacle of herself. The catering was fine, the buffet plentiful and tasty, there was a chocolate fountain...and yet I kept glancing at the time willing it to go forward, because the party was to end at midnight when we would all be taken home by taxi. As far as I was concerned, that was the best bit...I'd been up since 5:30am and not being as young and resilient as I used to be, by 11pm I was definitely starting to sag...Unfortunately for some not too steady on their feet, the local police turned finding one's taxi at the end of the evening into something of a game of hide-and-seek, as they kept directing the 28 minivans to move; Hilversum is a small town with a small pedestrianised centre, and whoever had organised the party had forgotten to notify the police that sometime on Friday just after midnight, there'd be an invasion of minivans all heading for and coming to a stop on the market square. They had also failed to take into consideration that there would actually be a market held on Saturday morning, as it has been for centuries, which meant there were also quite a lot of market traders coming in around that time to start setting up their stalls...in short, it was chaos. Having left the club at the stroke of midnight, I had been lucky enough to find my taxi before we were moved off, but we had to drive around for 3/4s of an hour after that to pick up waifs and strays going in the same direction, which meant I didn't get home before half two...but at least I got there, delivered right up to my doorstep safe and sound and free of cost!
All in all, as far as office parties go, I think this was one of the better ones I've ever attended, though I do thank God that with the credit crunch deepening, there's unlikely to be another one quite as big and exhausting any time soon.
Then the entertainment kicked off with a performance by Slagerij van Kampen, a group of percussionists world-famous in The Netherlands; and they were followed by a local band I'd never heard of, who were quite good though nothing out of the ordinary; and they in turn were followed by one of the many Björn Again-s (they're a franchise now, I understand. I remember years ago having seen the original tribute band at an hp party, when they were flown in especially: they were fab. This one wasn't). There were also performances by jugglers and fire-eaters and a strongman who kept lifting weights all night (honestly, why would anyone want to see that at a party?), there was a tarot-reader, and a DJ to take care of proceedings between the various musical performances; while the head of the HR department made a drunken spectacle of herself. The catering was fine, the buffet plentiful and tasty, there was a chocolate fountain...and yet I kept glancing at the time willing it to go forward, because the party was to end at midnight when we would all be taken home by taxi. As far as I was concerned, that was the best bit...I'd been up since 5:30am and not being as young and resilient as I used to be, by 11pm I was definitely starting to sag...Unfortunately for some not too steady on their feet, the local police turned finding one's taxi at the end of the evening into something of a game of hide-and-seek, as they kept directing the 28 minivans to move; Hilversum is a small town with a small pedestrianised centre, and whoever had organised the party had forgotten to notify the police that sometime on Friday just after midnight, there'd be an invasion of minivans all heading for and coming to a stop on the market square. They had also failed to take into consideration that there would actually be a market held on Saturday morning, as it has been for centuries, which meant there were also quite a lot of market traders coming in around that time to start setting up their stalls...in short, it was chaos. Having left the club at the stroke of midnight, I had been lucky enough to find my taxi before we were moved off, but we had to drive around for 3/4s of an hour after that to pick up waifs and strays going in the same direction, which meant I didn't get home before half two...but at least I got there, delivered right up to my doorstep safe and sound and free of cost!
All in all, as far as office parties go, I think this was one of the better ones I've ever attended, though I do thank God that with the credit crunch deepening, there's unlikely to be another one quite as big and exhausting any time soon.
- Current Mood:
exanimate
Comments
Well, you're entitled. I hope the shoes were as glamorous as the event.
Yesterday's festivities were to celebrate the succesful merger of several formerly independent or semi-independent financial services companies into French giant Crédit Agricole to form a new company, Crédit Agricole Deveurope which is what it says I work for on my pay slip now.
Partying on NHS money would be seen as unacceptable.
Sounds like a worthwhile party to go to, nonetheless. And I echo the sentiment above: I'm very glad you have a position in this tough times. They say that as long as you have a job in a recession, you'll be okay.
*clings to hubby's job* (I work for the govt, so I'm safe, but don't earn enough to even pay the mortgage)
How's the familiar?
We've just found our part-timer sat on the doorstep with a pile of snow on his head like a hat. He's now sitting by the fire, steaming gently, and giving me hurt looks. Stupid cat.
It's snowing like it means it here. Good inch on the ground so far and no sign of it letting up. Here's to being snowed in tomorrow *is hopeful*.
It's still bright and sunny here. :(
The Familiar is meant to be a house cat (due to her neurological disorder), so I don't want to tease her. She can look out of the window with me!
Looking out of the window is almost as much fun and she'll no doubt find it just as intriguing. Plus warmer :)
Sounds like keeping her inside is sensible, though. They just don't know when to stop, kitties.
Sounds like a perfect arrangement to me! Sometimes I wish mine were just visiting; being cooped up in the flat all day (I don't allow them to go out) brings out their evil natures -- there's always some potted plant uprooted or a new scratch on the leather sofa when I come home.