Kittie Talk | Kittie Walker

Build Great Memories Not Bad Ones

I put my hand up – I am guilty of being tipsy more than once at an office party. I’m pretty sure that I did nothing embarrassing, but I can’t really remember – luckily, nobody else was sober either. I tend to forget everything I do when I get tipsy which is both good and bad. Good because I am sure I’m highly embarrassing and so I’m glad I can’t remember. Bad because well just because YOU can’t remember doesn’t mean that others don’t remember – did I mention that I once woke up engaged after a night out in a Tokyo nightclub? Let’s not even go there!

Have fun with a Christmas fancy dress party. Think this is Blonde Ambition Madonna

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We all laugh when we see celebs that have wardrobe malfunctions. Anne Hathaway, Nichole Kidman and even, the eternally glamorous Elle McPherson have all made some big wardrobe faux pas over the years. Wearing inappropriate outfits or clothes that just let them down in more ways than one, if you know what I mean. You want to look glam at your Christmas party and so you should. Rock your outfit, but just make sure that it will stay up, not ride up and covers all the bits that your boss should never see. Note to the wise, if it is fancy dress don’t go as a Christmas Tree or sexy Mrs. Santa! Oh yes, I did… remember stylish and sophisticated always win the day.

Get To Know Each Other Better

Mingling with people that you only usually speak to for work is cool. The Christmas party is the place to get to know each other better. You Should mingle outside of your usual work crowd as well. Mingle does not mean… well you know what it does not mean. We all know what it does not mean, but year after year, we go there all the same. Harmless flirting happens all the time in nearly every office across the world over. That guy from Accounts/Maintenance/Internal Control is cute and being flirtatious is a fun pastime, but it shouldn’t be taken any further at the Christmas party. It gives the wrong impression to everyone including him! Dancing shouldn’t become raunchy either. I remember one incident when I was in my early 20s when I was dancing away only to find myself with added bra padding – I hadn’t done anything to encourage that and it’s seriously not acceptable behaviour.

What causes this lack of reserve at Christmas parties? Alcohol and excitement are the main culprits; they are like little devils trying to make you do things that you wouldn’t normally do. Getting so drunk that you throw up, break a limb or make a total fool of yourself is uncool. Those little devils would have us believe that the ratio of water/juice/soda is one glass to one glass the same size full of shots… it isn’t, but they can be highly persuasive.

Get Ready With A Bunch Of The Girls

It's important to make sure that you pace yourself through the day / evening

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These days I’ve found that when I’m getting ready for an office party the best way to prepare for it is to get ready with a bunch of the girls. We get ready together, and we eat whilst we are getting reading and chatting. We often have a glass of wine and some water as well so that we are already in the routine before getting to the venue. Pacing yourself is key to thoroughly enjoying every moment of the event.

The Christmas party is the work event of the year; it’s one of the only functions that everyone makes an effort to attend. A celebration to mark everything that has been achieved as a team in the past year. Now more often than not companies are immortalising these events by having photo booths capturing the moment. Unfortunately, this means that should you let the little devils have their way your antics may well be captured on film for posterity.

Make sure that you have an awesome time at your Christmas party and that you make memories with your colleagues that you’ll treasure for years to come. Be relaxed, enjoy yourself and remain professional – portray the image that YOU want to be remembered for.

Don’t Know What Chain Letters Are – Let Me Explain

Back in the day, for those under the age of 30, there was a phenomenon called chain letters. You would receive a letter in the post and you would have to pass it on to a set number of friends, by writing them letters. To think that I thought those glory days were over.

There used to be some negative connotations surrounding the receiving and sending of chain letters. There is nothing like a bit of scaremongering and some people took pleasure from the effects of sending out scary versions. I’m not overly superstitious (no need to mention talking to magpies if I see them or avoiding black cats on Friday the 13th) so I never paid much attention to these. Lots of interesting horror stories were spawned from the chain letter phenomenon.

Anyway, last week I got what can only be described as a social media chain letter. It is much more exciting than the original concept. I’ve learned so many interesting things about the people who I connect with on a daily basis that I’m delighted to join in.

Mallie Dein of Go Creative Go! shared “7 Random Facts About Herself” and has challenged me to do the same and then pass the baton to 5 other people.

Now let’s bear in mind that I am English. I don’t tend to talk about myself. It’s just not an English trait. Wherever you connect with me I am pretty much just me so let’s see what you might not know!

Kittie Walker the French Years

I had odd parents – they were great – but odd none the less. After John and Mary adopted me at birth, they put my name down on the waiting list for the Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle – great education – but at school you got detention for speaking English and at home I was the only person that spoke fluent French. Way to confuse your child

The Rebellious Teen

I was a teenager in the 1980s. Whilst everyone was fainting over Wham!, Duran Duran or Spandau Ballet, I was a Rock Chick who often crossed over to Goth, Indie and Punk. I went to my first rock concert with my cousins at the age of eight. Van Halen at The Rainbow Theatre in 1979. My tastes are much more eclectic these days.

Circuitous Routes

My mum was a “Media Type” and a published author. She always encouraged me to find my own path; to follow my dreams, which of course I didn’t do, until I finally understood the wisdom in that piece of advice seven years ago! I haven’t looked back since.

Life’s Rich Tapestry

Both of my parents were functioning alcoholics. Their families were riddled with addiction issues. That is when I am truly glad that I was not blood related to them. They both lived life to the full. They partied hard and died young. I was angry with them for a long time but I would not want to change any of my life. It’s these experiences that mould us into who we become.

Vegetarian But Not a Zealot

I’m a vegetarian have been on and off since I was about twelve years old. The rest of my household are not vegetarians!I love to cook, I’m a total foodie and love to feed people. Travelling through France eating and drinking is one of my favourite pastimes. I am sublimely happy when experimenting in the kitchen. I often write in the kitchen too. It is such a creative atmosphere and space for me.

I Love Japan

I love to travel and immerse myself in different cultures. I lived that whole Lost in Translation life in Tokyo for a while. It is an amazing place and living in that bubble was an extraordinary experience. It is safe to say that Sake goes straight to my head. I got engaged in a nightclub in Tokyo, in its Sushi Bar to be precise, so I was told – it’s all a bit foggy. Yes we did get married and had two beautiful daughters, but we did get divorced some 15 years later. I’d live in Japan again in a heartbeat.

Gaming and Geekdom

I am a gamer and a computer/technology geek. I even save photos of particularly beautiful pieces of hardware. I’ve been an avid consumer of video games since the early 1990s. I don’t get nearly enough time to play these days but when I do my current games of choice are Skyrim, Kingdom of Amalur and the MMO Rift. If i watch TV at all it’s shows like NCIS, CSI, Mythbusters or Game of Thrones.

So that brings me to the end of this social media chain letter challenge. It was fun taking a stroll down memory lane. I hope you enjoy strolling along with me. I am passing the baton on to (please don’t shoot me).

Leanne Hoagland Smith