Life goes on … Christmas Party 2009

I can only say this has been a really stressful and emotional week, and I’m glad it’s all over … the week saw the passing of beautiful dear Erin, I found Mum has been in hospital recently, and amidst all of this I was the key staff member involved with releasing a new product this week, due to our department’s project manager being away on leave – unfortunately the latter project was quite stressful in itself as everything didn’t got 100% as planned, and it meant a few extra hours work this week (read 10-11 hour days).  All this while struggling to comprehend the news of Erin’s passing.  Not to mention also dealing with two other projects, including daily hook-ups with the sites … it didn’t leave much time to ‘breathe’ this week!

Last Sunday I finally decided to pluck up the courage to dress up for our work Christmas party (which was last night).  I bought a wig, and some fabric and tunic pattern, and started assembling it.  I did a bit more on Monday night, then put it to one side for the next night.  Of course then I found out about Erin passing away – when I came home I just didn’t have the heart to keep making my costume, then on Thursday afternoon the whole stress of the week got to me, and I had a mini melt-down … I just didn’t want to have to “persevere” and put on a brave face anymore, after such a stressful time at work – and I certainly didn’t want to have to smile at everyone at the Christmas party, so I made the decision not to go, or to just not dress up and just go for the dinner.

At 8pm Thursday, on the way home from work, I started thinking that perhaps I should get things ready ‘just in case’ I felt a bit brighter in the morning, as I was already starting to feel a little better, so did an emergency dash to Spotlight and Big W to pick up pantyhose and false eyelashes, a handbag and a different wig … and got my costume dress finished along with a necklace and earrings – at almost 1am I finally fell into bed … but I’m so glad I did do that …

Yesterday morning I felt so much brighter, and was actually starting to look forward to the evening’s festivities – we got dressed at work, and hit the streets in our get-up – staff that were still in the office were killing themselves laughing at our outfits.  We travelled in the lift with another colleague on our floor, and it was only at the bottom when we were walking out and she heard my voice, that she said “Oh my God, it’s YOU!!!” – that was a real highlight of the night, and definitely got the laughter happening to start off the night.

The function was at Harold Park Raceway, where we had a private suite overlooking the racetrack (harness racing).  I have to admit I don’t like horse racing, so I pretty much ignored the whole racing thing, but we had a load of fun.  I caught up with one of my dearest colleagues who was made redundant earlier in the  year, which was a highlight of the night for me, as I miss him dearly in the office, and it was great fun seeing everyone dressed up – the dress-up theme was the “decade of your birth” … mine being the 60’s.  Here are the “three stooges” from the night – Lisa (70’s Elvis), Katie (80’s rock chick), and myself (60’s Hairspray lookalike … not planned, that thought just came to my head as were driving to the function in the taxi!).

And a close-up of those lashes!  I think those eyelashes were everyone’s highlight of the costume, I had so many comments LOL.

Unfortunately we didn’t think to take a full-length photo.  We had to vote for the best costume of the night, and I was really shocked to find my costume had been voted the best!!  And everyone was super impressed that I’d made it all myself (um, including myself – I am personally amazed that I could remember how to follow the pattern instructions … maybe it really IS like riding a bike??).  I was given a lovely gift of a couple of bottles of Margaret River wine as my prize.  We also had other prizes drawn out, so that everyone came home with something, and I won another bottle of wine from that … good thing we’re alcoholics in this household haha.

Anyway, all-in-all I’m really really glad I went – I had a really good time, and aside from one moment of feeling a little sad when I was talking about going home for Christmas, which of course made me starting thinking of other home events, the evening was a real success and one that helped to put aside the crappy week … of course now I’m sporting a hangover this morning, but it was definitely worth it 🙂

Now I need to get all those chores done that I haven’t had the mental energy to tackle over the last couple of weeks … after I find the Panadol …