Toby Atkin-Wright

New computer for Christmas. Very exciting — took me right back to my technology-filled childhood Christmases. A mighty little machine, much faster than the 2007-vintage Mac Mini it replaces.

Beth half built her Lego vampire castle today, had fun with an electronics set, and is in bed cuddling a microbe soft toy.

Final wrapping of presents, house tidied, pizzas made for tea, trifle made for tomorrow, crossword completed. Now in bed wondering if Beth is ever going to fall asleep. She is quite excited.

Tomorrow will be our first Christmas with just the three of us; in the past we’ve always been away at family, or had visitors. Looking forward to just being with Kate and Beth tomorrow. I foresee good food, and lots of playing with new toys.

Over the last couple of days I’ve done most of my Christmas shopping. As has become a habit in recent years, it has been fuelled by Amazon.

Just as I don’t like Christmas decorations or Christmas music to creep through the year, I don’t approve of Christmas present purchasing being anything other than a December activity. I despair at those who have all their present organised before the end of September.

Back in the days of physical shopping, I used to take delight in buying many of my Christmas presents on Christmas Eve; now I like to start looking at Amazon a week before Christmas. The proximity concentrates the mind, and makes decision making more satisfying.

It was our work Christmas party in Dundee last Friday. I missed it, as I was down in London. I suppose I could have gone to the London office Christmas party if I’d wanted to as it was on the same day, but I dined with my parents instead. The work Christmas parties aren’t my cup of tea — noisy, loud music, lots of drink, and heading off to a club at the end of the evening.

Instead I appreciate our team Christmas meal, which we organise ourselves. This evening our team dined at the Pizza Express in St Andrews; our team’s first meal south of the Tay. We started the tradition two years ago with a team Christmas lunch at Braes on Perth Road, and thought it was such a good idea that we’ve had a team lunch or tea every month since. So this was our twenty-fifth monthly team meal; I think I’ve been to twenty-three of them.

We’re also organising a work children’s Christmas party, which will be held on site in Dundee on the Saturday before Christmas. This is our first year of it; I hope it goes well. Seeing colleagues with their children will be fun. Beth is looking forward to it.

We had a project team Christmas lunch today, at Braes on the Perth Road. Good food and good company. I’m still wearing the paper hat that came out of my cracker at lunchtime.

Tomorrow evening we have the work Christmas night out; we’ve got a cocktail-making workshop as the entertainment, followed by a buffet, and an overnight stay at the Landmark Hotel. Wondering whether a combination of a kilt with my work polo shirt would make suitable cocktail-mixing apparel.

We had a project team Christmas lunch today, at Braes on the Perth Road. Good food and good company. I’m still wearing the paper hat that came out of my cracker at lunchtime.

Tomorrow evening we have the work Christmas night out; we’ve got a cocktail-making workshop as the entertainment, followed by a buffet, and an overnight stay at the Landmark Hotel. Wondering whether a combination of a kilt with my work polo shirt would make suitable cocktail-mixing apparel.

Join Kate, Beth, Andrew, and me for our annual Christmas carvery party lunch, to say “thank you” to our friends for another great year. We’ll be serving a traditional Christmas roast — the perfect way to get in the mood for Christmas.

Sunday 19 December, noon to 4pm. RSVP

Join Kate, Beth, Andrew, and me for our annual Christmas carvery party lunch, to say “thank you” to our friends for another great year. We’ll be serving a traditional Christmas roast — the perfect way to get in the mood for Christmas.

Sunday 19 December, noon to 4pm. RSVP