Then again, perhaps I'm just cynical. With good reason. I was invited to a big 'private' (for that, read: upper management and schmoozees) Christmas party the other day by a big company that had publicly 'cancelled' its annual party. For that read: cancelled Christmas for all rank and file employees. The comment made via phone to me by the organiser, when I mentioned the publicised 'cancellation'? "Well, it's worked out pretty well, really. There'll be fewer people, so we can do more with the money. It'll be a FAB night."

I was marvelling at this whilst chatting to my sister last week. She owns a very successful restaurant and catering business, and she confirmed that many of her regular clients are scaling down their parties in terms of numbers, and holding the parties in private venues, but that the budgets aren't changing much. So, better food, better wine, and more of both, but without the company plebs. And it's win-win, because the message conveyed to others within the company is: belt-tightening time! Buckle down, work hard, and don't complain.

Bile rising in throat. Visualise a big huck and spit from the Devil's Avocado.

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