Nick Carroll, PhD

I just got back from my company’s Christmas party in Melbourne. Yes, that’s right in Melbourne!. I was one of four that won a trip to the ThoughtWorks Melbourne office Christmas party, all expenses paid. The prize included hired car to and from the airport and one night’s accommodation in a serviced apartment. ThoughtWorks were even generous enough to pay for partners to go as well. A similar prize was offered to the Melbourne folks to attend the Sydney Christmas party held in November.

I have to thank Kai, a colleague and new hire for drawing my name from the office raffle. Kai worked with John and myself on a project before rolling off on Friday. Funnily enough Kai thought that he had seen the last of John and myself after 6 weeks of friendly “hazing”, but had unwittingly invited us to his office Christmas party. Anyway it was a good opportunity to get the team together for a photo (below) before we all move on to different projects next year.

The party kicked off at 7pm, but most of us arrived a little earlier at One Fitzroy in St Kilda. The entrance had red carpet laid out, a professional photographer (aka the Paparazzi), and a person interviewing all attendees. Our managing director gave some sound advice for the evening when interviewed, “pace yourself throughout the night and finish off with a bang”. It was very Hollywood, and everyone was dressed to impress. The night kicked off with beers and champagne, followed by an open bar, hors’ dourves, prizes, dancing, and lots more drinking into the early hours of the morning. ThoughtWorks certainly do know how to throw a party!