After the success of last years’ staff social, the senior management team at my workplace decided they would hold another event this year.

It was planned to be held in the same place, in a local hotel. Tickets were free and unlike last year quickly ran out. A lot more people decided to come, because they heard how great an evening it was!

So on Friday evening, I fed my guide dog Jaynie extra early – which she seemed very happy about – and got changed ready to be picked up by my friend Charlotte. I wore a denim dress, a black short-sleeved top under the dress, with a gold cardigan over the top of the dress and black tights and gold shoes, and gold jewellery. Perhaps in hindsight I shouldn’t have worn black tights, but thankfully Jaynie didn’t get too close, so it wasn’t too much of an issue!

When we arrived, we put our tickets in a big box, to have a chance in a prize draw. Then we got a glass of champagne. Charlotte guided me over to a wall away from the main group of people in the centre of the room, so we could hear each other  give more room to sip our bubbly!

When I was trying to follow Charlotte through the crowded room, two women reached out and stroked Jaynie, and I told them off (very politely of course). I remarked to Charlotte that at a school and college for the visually impaired, you would think they would know better than not to touch Jaynie when in harness! Later though, I discovered who the two women were, I work with them on a very regular basis and they are always cuddling and fussing Jaynie. They were apparently very embarrassed and ashamed, and were worried they had upset me. I was worried I’d had upset them and had maybe come across a bit rude by accident. I think it was partly my fault, because I am aware I haven’t always been as strict with them in past about Jaynie as I could have, and probably should have been. Hopefully we can chat about it next time I see them, or just put it behind us.

It was extremely noisy in the reception room, and later when having the meal, with lots and lots of people talking excitedly. The disco after the meal, meant it got even noisier. Jaynie thankfully didn’t seem at all phased by all the noise, but then again, she is used to rowdy students as when I first got her I was studying at university! I found it very hard to hear what others were saying to me, and again, like last year, felt very aware of the fact that I have an auditory processing disorder. At one point one lady said to me “Jaynie is a good girl” and I said “Yes, she’s around 31kg”, as I thought she said “Jaynie’s a big girl”! Charlotte was laughing in amusement and told me what was actually said.

I was a little anxious about the meal, as I was on the same table as the Chief Executive. So I was a bit apprehensive and thought I definitely needed to be on my best behaviour and try to eat as nicely as possible. When we sat down at our allocated seats, I discovered that the dance-floor was directly opposite me and there were bright flashing lights right directly in my line of vision. I remembered from last time that the lights were on all the time, even during the meal. At first I tried to tolerate them, but then they seemed to get brighter, so I thought I could put my sunglasses on as I had them in my pocket. However, Charlotte helped me to move round the table so we were sat with our backs to the dance-floor and the lights, so that was much, much better.

The disco was good. I did a little bit of dancing, but the dance-floor was tiny and it was very crowded, so most of the time I remained sitting down at a table.

I wasn’t really bothered about trying to socialise too much because it was just so difficult with the noise levels, especially when the music started. However, it was really lovely because some people came to my table and sat down next to me for a good chat. One of these people asked me if there was anyone I wanted to go and talk to. At that point I couldn’t think of anyone, so she took me over to her table and introduced me to someone that worked in the same department as her. It was very interesting to talk to this person, as I hadn’t met them before, and I discovered they had been working at the school and college when I was a pupil. We had a very long chat about various different things.

I was amazed when I won a prize in the raffle – a bottle of bubbly. Apparently they were only allowed to hand out vouchers this year, because last year many people started drinking their prizes before they had even left the hotel and got into trouble. The problem is, in my exhausted state when I got home, I placed the voucher somewhere and now can’t find it anywhere! Better have a hunt around so I can go and collect the prize.

Over-all another fantastic, very enjoyable evening. I would probably say it was a little better than last year even, because I was able to talk to more people.