To have walked out of my work Christmas party in favour of dining alone

[Namechangey23]

New employer..I don't know many people as yet. Works Christmas party on Oxford st. No real entertainment, no food (yet!) and dull dull small talk, which, to be honest, was never my strong suit. God it bored the absolute tits off me. So I've walked out at 7.30pm in favour of dinner alone in a nice Turkish restaurant. Sod wasting a child free night on that rubbish! Life's too bloody short! Should I have stayed to show willing, AIBU for leaving...or would you do the same? Yes I've seen the mistake in the title and no I can't change it.

Me neither. It 's not leaving at 7.30 that's odd.

I would have done the same thing.

You can make your own choice I would have done the same. I've no time for small talk of lack of entertain,ent or lack of food. Who does that at a Christmas function! I would have walked too!

But how do you expect to get to know your colleagues a bit better by leaving? I would have stayed a little while then made my excuses.

She did - she stayed for an hour and a half!

No wonder no one spoke to you at the party! 🙄

Honestly this is bizarre OP.

People might be wondering where you vanished to and if you’re ok?

I’m curious whether you rub people up the wrong way in real life…

Anyway, yeah, I think just leaving was kinda strange and rude and not a great move particularly when you’re new.

I’d be interested in updates from when you’re back at work 😁😁

You shouldn't have gone tbh especially being a new job

Totally agree.

On a hysterical site, this thread is hilariously batshit.

Have never read such utter rubbish.
Some really nasty posts too attacking the OP.

OP, you sound lovely, I really hope you haven't paid any attention to the saddos on this thread trying to give you a kicking.🙄

So many posters absolutely hate any woman ever being in command of herself.🙄

Well I will join you OP in the bah humbug club. In my younger people-pleasing days I wouldn’t have done it, but as I’ve hit middle age, my whole outlook has changed. If your boss couldn’t be bothered to attend the office Xmas party, I doubt your Employer will think less of you. It sounded as dull as dishwater. I’m a big introvert and I’m not good at those sort of things either. The peaceful meal at the Turkish restaurant sounded a much better option! In reality, once drinks were flowing, I doubt people would’ve noticed you’d left.

What exactly were/are you hoping to achieve by your post. Just carry on being as big headed as you are coming over in this post you will go far

Are u taking the piss? The world's not THAT small.

Haha love this... yes good on you 👏

Maybe the OP speaks to them - you know, at work?

Those going on about people wondering where the OP was are obviously quite egotistical. I wouldn't expect anyone to notice an early exit by me unless it was a very small group!

I never go. Never been commented on.

Agreed. Goodness the angst over work parties! Why do some people want to force others to socialise with them? It makes no sense at all.

I don't go either. Not "never" but very infrequently. Nobody has commented on it.

As I said above, I am not egotistical enough to think that anyone cares, or misses my presence! There are plenty of colleagues who do go and have a good time!

I used to have to organise the bloody things, so always had to go. If it flopped it was on me. If someone no-showed after confirming (and meal being included in the numbers), it was on me. If the food was shit or wrong (and what mass catered food is good?) or the wine wasn’t on the tables or chilled enough, it was on me. If the directors didn’t like their hotel rooms, it was on me.

No doubt OP walking out would have been on me too, somehow.

Utterly stressful, I hated it. Never ever take a job where you’ll be the organiser! Least of all because you can’t decline.

Good for you.
I’d have done the same.
Life’s just too short, isn’t it.
What have you got on your plate? 🤤
I fancy a delicious Turkish meal myself and I’m not even at an excruciating works do.

That’s what I thought. Can you text someone and say you hope they all enjoy the evening, but you had to dash?

So many posters absolutely hate any woman ever being in command of herself

Oh come off it. The OP went to a work party, stayed an hour and a half and left. Big deal. All over the country 1,000's of men and women will, for countless reasons do the same. None of them need to make a self congratulatory thread about it.

i slip off early and unannounced every year. never regretted it once.

no one is going to worry about a grown woman, unless you were incapably drunk.

Wait, was it just a night in the pub with no food? I have to say an hour and a half seems like plenty of time before quietly disappearing.

Brilliant 🤩🙌

Definitely NOT A MISTAKE! I would definitely have done that! Honestly, as you get older, you realise you really don’t need to put yourself through situations that you really don’t have to or want to.

You do you, forget the patriarchal structure they think works - stick to your guns !