Tomorrow is our work's Christmas party and next Friday is Christmas Eve - where Christmas Eve at work is defined as the last day of work before we get a week off. And it doesn't feel like mid-December at all and it was only today that I realised why - I haven't had Chanukah yet.

The last few years it's been quite early on in December, so what usually happens is that I get all excited (okay, so that's a bit of an exageration), then after Chanukah I can't quite understand why everyone else is excited because I've been there and done that.

But this year is special: Chanukah is so late it starts after Christmas and doesn't finish until January. I only remember it being out of December once before, and that was a few years ago when it started in November (it finished in December though).

I just remembered this evening that tomorrow means we'll get our gift vouchers, which is usually £15 for Smiths. Not that I ever buy anything in there any more, but I'm sure I'll find something. The party is 70s themed. Admittedly I am missing it by a few months but I am at least doing something different and going as John Steed from The Avengers. No-one'll pay any attention to the date.

I knew it would be a good idea to keep the bowler hat I got at someone from work's hen night. It is festively trimmed with tinsel - the first tinsel I have ever bought. It breaks off when I try to tie it in a knot, though, which isn't terribly helpful. The other, longer, bit of tinsel is going to be my tie. I have even done some business cards. Although having tried on the hat, I think I might look more like a gangster, but still.

Much more excitingly, the evening is our Rotaract Christmas party. Following on from another event we heard about, we're having a back to front party. Which means starting with dessert. As we seem to be a club full of chocaholics the only bad thing with that plan is that we might not make it past dessert.

And on, but not really, the subject of The Avengers I continue to love it every week. It's great. Even the bits that are quite obviously cheap. I am going to have to have an Avengers category in the anticipation of using it again.