Autumn Ball.

Up early and into the office by 7.30 today, phewf. I spent the whole day in my secondment office on the edge of my seat, frantically sending emails to the girls in my regular office about nail-painting (a few guilty parties painting their nails under their desks) and hairstyles, and ball-preparation-related injuries (a false nail to the eye, a serious case of solvent abuse after the inhalation of a can of hairspray).

Sloooowly the day crept by, and at 4.00 I launched myself out of the office and home to finish getting ready. Hair curled, moisturised and make-upped, I managed to drop (and smash) a bottle of limited-edition Molton Brown perfume on the floor, which I was quite devastated about - not least because half of it spilled on my dress! Luckily M was on hand with a hairdryer to sort it all out, and there was no need to apply more perfume, because I was smelling lovely from the knee down!

M and I got a lift to my office, where several buses were waiting to pick us up and take us to the AECC. When we arrived we were greeted by bagpipe players and champage - everyone looked amazing in their dresses and kilts (only a few men wore suits). M has met a few of my colleagues, but I think he enjoyed meeting the rest and chatting to them about a range of subjects - he really is very good at engaging with people and talking about a range of subjects. One of the Directors of the company got up and sang us all a song (very impressive) and we had a couple more speeches before a lovely 3-course dinner. Once we'd eaten, the bar remained open all night and we had a brilliant band playing for hours - they must have been shattered.

M and I did lots of dancing and between songs we sat and drank wine, gossiping with the girls from my office and their partners - the tables were all decorated with feathers, pearls and sparkles and my boss kept flicking fake diamonds into my sauvignon blanc!

I am so lucky to work for a company which puts on events like this for their staff and their partners - the Autumn Ball is just a big "thank you" to all employees at the Aberdeen office (about 200 of us) and their plus-ones (who are the ones that have to put up with their partners sometimes having to work late, or go in at weekends to finish projects - such is consultancy). Once this Ball is over, we will begin planning the Christmas Party - more fun and more boozy songs from the Directors, probably.

M and I crept away from the crowd as the buses pulled back into the city centre, declining propositions of the casinos or clubs... We walked home under a clear, starry sky and were fast asleep by 2am - me with my feet propped up on a pillow after a night of Ceilidh-dancing in heels!