Our Christmas night out, and Christmas day in the office…..
As is now firm Caley Water tradition, the Christmas party kicked off in the office at around 10am. Drinks of choice were promptly poured and the Caley Water bar was fully stocked, offering a generous selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options to suit all tastes and tolerance levels.
To ensure everyone was well fuelled for the day ahead, breakfast rolls were deployed early doors, alongside more mince pies than anyone could reasonably justify eating… but we did our best anyway.
With spirits high, the games began. Giant Jenga proved to be a particular favourite, drawing in participants and spectators alike as the tower became increasingly unstable. Meanwhile, the Xbox was fired up and FIFA kept some of the younger (and more competitive) members of the team fully occupied for a good portion of the morning.
Secret Santa gifts were then revealed, with a mixed bag of genuinely thoughtful presents and some truly questionable tat. Adam was the proud recipient of a Columbo cookbook, which he was absolutely delighted with, and even Elsie the office dog got in on the action, receiving her own gift and showing her appreciation in the only way she knows how.
At around 2 o’clock, we wrapped things up at the office and headed off towards Leith – and our dinner venue; The Port of Leith, Distillery. A pleasant tram journey through Edinburgh delivered us down to the Docks, from where we took a short walk to the Leith Distillery. The venue itself is a stunning modern building, with fantastic views out over the Shore – a perfect setting for the next stage of festivities.
Christmas dinner did not disappoint. The food was excellent, portions generous, and conversation lively. With full stomachs and a strong sense of seasonal goodwill, we then wandered back into Leith, making a well-judged stop for some mezcal in a particularly welcoming local bar.
From this point onwards, things became a little hazy for the author of this blog. There was a trip to a Mezcal bar, definitely another pub involved, and almost certainly a few more after that. At some stage, sensible decisions were made (by some), and beds were sought out, while others powered on and continued their festive celebrations well into the evening.
All in all, it was a brilliant day and a great way to round off the year – good food, good company, and plenty of laughs. Roll on next Christmas.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND ALL THE BEST FOR 2026!