I can't stand the bloody things, really: all this enforced jollity. I was blugeoned into doing it this year, in a dept of 25 people, 20 of whom I don't know. I even had to look up my lucky recipient on the intranet to see what gender they were!
There was cheap rose wine, things on sticks and the HOD in a Santa Hat.
Actually, I got quite a decent bottle of red wine, so I'm not grumbling too much. But I might suggest next year that we all put the dosh into a donation to the childrens charity that our organization supports.
I did put my foot down over the Christmas Lunch thing. FGIFriday's at Lakeside isn't my idea of a good time at all!!!