Festive cocktail

The office night out. A variety of circumstances including the continuing sick list meant that of the original 19 who said they could go and the 12 who conformed there were only 10 of us at Rib Aye tonight but very pleasant of was too, especially as Rib Aye/the Kilted Lobster work in partnership with us to support our members.

Before that, with a whole day in the office and no meetings, I got much ticked off the 'to do' list.

News was the theme of the day.  We started with some really good news from M, who was doing the weekly session at the Care Shelter last night, about a couple of members as it looks like the support the team have been giving them for the last few months will result in them getting both jobs and tenancies. A third member phoned later in the day.  He gets his keys on Monday. Another result. And we made the front page of 'The Evening News' with an article about the Hibs star who is volunteering with us on Christmas Day.

And of course there was much discussion about the fundraising event that took place in Charlotte Square last night.  But this is not the place to comment on that.

I do know how many people we support throughout the year, that's in the public domain, and I do know that next weekend, without a huge amount of publicity,  about 400 volunteers will be choosing to spend Christmas and Boxing Day with people, who currently are homeless. But there is still a deal of work to be done and the team are training all day tomorrow and out early morning and late at night next week. And then there are the turkeys ......

I am privileged. I work 52 weeks of the year with a great team who make a difference to a great number of people.