Christmas Party 2005

I skipped last year's Christmas Party at Aqua Luna Bar, Circular Quay. People tell me it's a wise decision because it's all cocktails and no food. Everybody sort of just milled around and made small talk throughout the night and that's it.

This year, we had it at Stage 11 Fox Studios. There was a line-up of show to liven things up. We had a fashion show and awards ceremony for all the guys who signed up for Movember to raise funds and awareness for prostrate cancer research. We had 10 or so Mo Bros, who raised approximately A$6,000. HR got this neat idea to sponsor one of our colleagues who has had a permanent beard since the 70's. In a matter of minutes, after auctioning off a few bottles of wine, and with our manager doing the rounds with a donation box, another A$2,000 was raised for the Prostrate Cancer Foundation of Australia. The guy was called on stage and was given a shave right then and there by a barber.

Next up, another colleague performed a sizzling Seda dance. After some intense gyrations, the piece of cloth covering her ample chest can't take it anymore, and started slipping off. So she had to dance with one hand holding on to it. Next, her black skirt had a 'wardrobe malfunction', so she had to hold on to that, too. The dance wasn't that much fun anymore from that point on, and she made a hasty retreat after the song ended.

Last act is a rock band made up of engineers. These are the guys I work with day in and day out. Quite amazing to see them on stage singing and playing like rock stars with a bad attitude. The lead singer is a Finn, keyboard is from Czech Republic, drums from Finland, and guitars/bass from India, Thailand, and Italy. You can't get more international than that! They played a succession of nine rock classics - they kind where you bodyslam, headbang, and jump up and down to. Smashing!

I left the place relatively early around 10:30pm. Was already at the carpark when I remembered a colleague of mine who came via taxi. Good thing I called because she was planning to take the bus to Town Hall, then to Pyrmont. And the first bus is only coming at 11:30pm. Chalk up 10 karma points for me for giving my colleague a lift home.