To duck out of festive collegial gathering and drink wine by myself?

[YonderRevoltingPeasantWhoIsHe]

So everyone on The Team is going to someone's house tonight to stand around eating bits of Morrisons cheese on crackers hors d'oeuvres and bitching about the people who aren't there bonding as a group.

AIBU to go home, crack open a bottle of chablis and watch a DVD on my own? Does this make me sad and dysfunctional or, as I suspect, representative of all right-thinking people?

YABU - though you may indeed have all the personal qualities you list.

If you don't go, you'll be the one who is bitched about. Not good.

But you don't have to stay long. Or you could make an effort to find out one non-work passion per interlocutor. You might be amazed at what you find out; but even if outcome disappointing, the exploration is usually interesting.

The only thing I find unreasonable is you not mentioning being in you jammies. I am not at my works do in some overpriced, overcrowded drinks establishment, in high heels, making small talk with people I am on my best behaviour with, whilst counting down the minutes to I can leave and get the train home. I have a glass of wine, my jammies on, the remote contol and a takeaway ordered, so ching ching, have a great night

overthehill I am now Though I have redeemed myself by delivering all the neighbours' Christmas cards, getting all the wrapping paper out to commence Christmas Blitz tomorrow, and sticking some cloves into an orange (to relieve my feelings).

My office night out is tonight.

I am here and happy.

Enough said