Latest news with #SecretSanta
The Age
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Hats off to Swede machines
'Wow! Looks like I've stirred up some pent-up 'Volvo Rage',' writes Duncan McRobert (C8) of Hawks Nest. 'I therefore claim the right of reply. First, all my 'Swedish Kingswoods' were wagons, so I didn't have a back window shelf for the hat. Second, I never wore a cardigan, I wore a 'car coat' and driving gloves. Also, I'll bet Bob Hall and Peter Farquhar drove Ford Falcons, which for some reason seemed to be the most prolific of the 'flashers'.' Noted master of reality Peter Miniutti of Ashbury notes that 'with the sad passing of Ozzy Osbourne, I wonder if the bats of the world can at last feel safe and come out of their caves'. 'Snap, Susan Howard [C8]. That Christmas, I received two Trump toilet brushes,' says Viv Mackenzie of Port Hacking. 'And the orange makes a colourful statement in my all-white bathroom.' As an accessory, Caz Willis of Bowral received a roll of Trump toilet paper: 'Much mirth developed whenever it was shown. The best result was giving one to a friend dealing with cancer. It made her smile and laugh as she gave him the treatment!' After our attempt in verifying whether there were large, amphibious reptiles descending on Noosa (C8) turned into an attack on the humble 13-holer, Graeme Finn of Campsie has come out in defence of Crocs: 'Crocs may not be fashionable footwear, but they are popular with kitchen staff as spills don't soak into their shoes and socks.' Fancy a game of pass the antimacassar (C8)? Gara Baldwin of Randwick does: 'David Rose's comment got me pondering how many unwanted gifts are offloaded onto Secret Santa each year. The antimacassars may well have been a gift to the donor by an elderly relative, and passed on anonymously. The following year they could be gift-wrapped by David's stepdaughter and passed on again, ad infinitum …' John McIntyre of Port Macquarie finds it 'surprising that Mike Parton is 'still making use of' Macassar oil as 'the hair oil of choice' and didn't follow the trend to Californian poppy hair oil. Or perhaps, sentimentally, he likes using antimacassars. But does he still use Bay Rum Aftershave? Does anyone?' 'I'm surprised the couple involved in Coldplaygate [C8] didn't see trouble coming,' says Jack Dikian of Mosman. 'I'm pretty sure they were playing one of their hits, Trouble, which contains the lyric: 'Oh no, I see'.'
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Hats off to Swede machines
'Wow! Looks like I've stirred up some pent-up 'Volvo Rage',' writes Duncan McRobert (C8) of Hawks Nest. 'I therefore claim the right of reply. First, all my 'Swedish Kingswoods' were wagons, so I didn't have a back window shelf for the hat. Second, I never wore a cardigan, I wore a 'car coat' and driving gloves. Also, I'll bet Bob Hall and Peter Farquhar drove Ford Falcons, which for some reason seemed to be the most prolific of the 'flashers'.' Noted master of reality Peter Miniutti of Ashbury notes that 'with the sad passing of Ozzy Osbourne, I wonder if the bats of the world can at last feel safe and come out of their caves'. 'Snap, Susan Howard [C8]. That Christmas, I received two Trump toilet brushes,' says Viv Mackenzie of Port Hacking. 'And the orange makes a colourful statement in my all-white bathroom.' As an accessory, Caz Willis of Bowral received a roll of Trump toilet paper: 'Much mirth developed whenever it was shown. The best result was giving one to a friend dealing with cancer. It made her smile and laugh as she gave him the treatment!' After our attempt in verifying whether there were large, amphibious reptiles descending on Noosa (C8) turned into an attack on the humble 13-holer, Graeme Finn of Campsie has come out in defence of Crocs: 'Crocs may not be fashionable footwear, but they are popular with kitchen staff as spills don't soak into their shoes and socks.' Fancy a game of pass the antimacassar (C8)? Gara Baldwin of Randwick does: 'David Rose's comment got me pondering how many unwanted gifts are offloaded onto Secret Santa each year. The antimacassars may well have been a gift to the donor by an elderly relative, and passed on anonymously. The following year they could be gift-wrapped by David's stepdaughter and passed on again, ad infinitum …' John McIntyre of Port Macquarie finds it 'surprising that Mike Parton is 'still making use of' Macassar oil as 'the hair oil of choice' and didn't follow the trend to Californian poppy hair oil. Or perhaps, sentimentally, he likes using antimacassars. But does he still use Bay Rum Aftershave? Does anyone?' 'I'm surprised the couple involved in Coldplaygate [C8] didn't see trouble coming,' says Jack Dikian of Mosman. 'I'm pretty sure they were playing one of their hits, Trouble, which contains the lyric: 'Oh no, I see'.'
Scottish Sun
21-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Scots Morrison's worker sues for sexual harassment over colleague's cheeky gift in Secret Santa
Barry Cochrane quit his new job claiming he was sexually harassed over a cheeky gift he didn't even receive MUGGED OFF Scots Morrison's worker sues for sexual harassment over colleague's cheeky gift in Secret Santa Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BALSY Health and Safety boss sued Morrisons for sexual harassment after being offended over a college being given a rude mug as a secret Santa gift. Barry Cochrane had barely clocked in his new job at Morrison's-owned abattoir Neerock, in Aberdeen, when he quit crying, claiming he was sexually harassed over a cheeky gift he didn't even receive. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Barry Cochrane became 'very upset' as he felt he had been 'singled out' for a 'cheap laugh' after seeing the mug his co-worker received in the secret Santa 2 Barry Cochrane had worked for the company, Neerock which trades as Woodheads, operates abattoirs and meat processing facilities and is a subsidiary of Morrisons Supermarket The mug was gifted to one of his co-workers and appeared to be plain white but when filled with boiling water a picture of a pair of testicals wrapped in a bow-tie appeared with the phrase 'I Love Teabagging'. The bawdy pressie was exchanged during a meeting on December 12, which Mr Cochrane, 54, didn't even attend, due to a delayed start date. The tribunal heard the gift was given David Orton, who, recognising it was a mug and "suspected that there may be something on the mug which might not be appropriate to show in a work meeting'. He opened it later at home, took a picture and popped it in the group chat, adding: 'I think I need to have a word with Santa.' Replies poured in from tickled co-workers, saying 'Haha brilliant', 'I am so jealous Dave' before Head of H&S Sally Smith, said: 'Just checked and thankfully Barry isn't on here yet is he!' To which another replied: 'Not yet!' But days later, Mr Cochrane was added to the company's Gmail group chat, and scrolled up to read messages sent before he had been added and became immediately offended at the light-hearted banter. Mr Cochrane, based in Turriff, Aberdeenshire, where Morrisons owns the Woodheads abattoir site, said the comments and mug left him 'very upset,' felt 'singled out for a cheap laugh.' He became so distressed he packed up his things and walked out, quitting his new post, claiming he'd been 'named in sexual content.' Mr Cochrane then took the matter to a tribunal and sued for unfair dismissal and sexual harassment, claiming: 'Instantly, my mental health took a massive hit.' Moment Scots nurse who is suing NHS amid trans doctor row is piped into tribunal as dozens show support The tribunal heard Mr Cochrane 'cried at work,' phoned Mr Orton, and claimed this was the last straw in a build-up of issues. During an investigation into the exchange Mr Orton said while he regretted sending a picture of the mug, it was 'meant in the spirit of a laugh'. Ms Smith said that she made the comment about Mr Cochrane because she thought 'oh what what will Barry think of us' having not been in the meeting or understanding the context of the message. Employment Judge Murdo Macleod dismissed Mr Cochrane's case, finding that his reaction was entirely 'disproportionate' and accused him of blowing it out of proportion so he could sue the company. He said: 'We consider that [Mr Cochrane's] reaction was disproportionate… 'It is clear to us that [Mr Cochrane] did not find the initial comment, nor the legend on the mug, to be offensive. He thought it was funny. 'His outrage at his name being mentioned on the thread is confected, with this litigation in mind. 'It is quite clear that if anyone was being singled out for ridicule, it was Mr Orton.' The panel dismissed Mr Cochrane's complaints in their entirety.
Time Business News
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
20 Hilarious Gift Ideas That Make the Best Funny Office Gifts
If you're on the hunt for the funniest office gifts that will have your coworkers talking long after the party ends, you're in the right place. Whether you need a last-minute item for a workplace celebration, a holiday exchange, or a Secret Santa surprise, this list of funny office gifts, funny coworker gifts, and funny white elephant gifts has you covered. Why Go for Funny Office Gifts? Humor is one of the best ways to break the ice, bond with coworkers, and make your workplace a bit more enjoyable. A well-timed joke gift can lighten the mood, improve team morale, and even become the highlight of the office party. With that in mind, let's dive into some hilarious ideas your coworkers will love. 1. Desktop Punching Bag Perfect for those stressful workdays. Just stick it on a desk and let the rage out — quietly and professionally, of course. 2. 'Meeting That Could Have Been an Email' Mug Because we've all sat through one. This mug is passive-aggressive humor at its finest. 3. Mini Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy Straight out of a car dealership ad, but in miniature. It dances, it waves, and it cracks everyone up. 4. Toilet Golf Set Why not multitask during bathroom breaks? A weirdly popular gift and a true conversation starter. 5. Fake Mold Sandwich Bags Great for protecting your lunch — nobody's stealing that old-looking sandwich. Funny Coworker Gifts That Will Win You 'Most Fun Colleague' Award If you're shopping specifically for a teammate or buddy at work, these funny coworker gifts are ideal for birthdays, farewells, or just-because moments. 6. Decision-Making Dice Let your coworker roll their fate—options include 'Ask Again,' 'Take a Break,' or 'Panic.' 7. Memo Pads with Sarcastic Phrases Because 'ASAP' and 'I need this yesterday' don't always cut it. 8. Tiny Hands Set Hand over reports with these and see how long it takes for HR to notice. 9. 'I Survived Another Meeting' Award Ribbon Perfect for your overachieving office buddy who bravely attends all those endless Zoom calls. 10. Custom Bobblehead Send in a picture and get your coworker immortalized — with an oversized wobbling head. Best Funny White Elephant Gifts to Steal the Show For chaotic and fun gift swaps, nothing beats a good funny white elephant gift. These are supposed to be weird, unexpected, and hilarious. 11. Taco Cat Jigsaw Puzzle It's random, it's colorful, and it's confusing — everything a white elephant gift should be. 12. Bathroom Guest Book Let your guests (or coworkers) reflect deeply during their bathroom breaks. 13. Emergency Underpants Tin Yes, it's real. Yes, someone will definitely steal this gift during the swap. 14. Fart Machine A classic gag. Hide it under a desk or chair and let the laughter begin. 15. Miniature Desktop Dumpster Fire The most relatable 2020+ themed gift ever created. Ideal for anyone who says, 'It's fine, I'm fine.' Bonus: 5 More Funny Office Gifts That Everyone Secretly Wants 16. USB-Powered Coffee Warmer (because lukewarm coffee = sad worker) 17. Sarcastic Ball (like a Magic 8-Ball with attitude) 18. Canned Air from Another City (like NYC air, now in a can!) 19. Cubicle Guestbook (for all your 'visitors') 20. 'Out of Office' Desk Bell (ring it and walk away dramatically) Final Thoughts Whether you're shopping for a hilarious Secret Santa exchange, a coworker's birthday, or just to spice up the office vibe, these funny office gifts, funny coworker gifts, and funny white elephant gifts will make sure you're remembered for all the right (and ridiculous) reasons. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
The Guardian
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Something to believe in, even if it's deeply silly': why 15,000 people signed up to a letter-writing project
When you think of your mailbox, what comes to mind? Fliers that head straight to the trash, tax forms and bank statements, the dreaded jury duty notice. Maybe a magazine or two, if you're lucky. Most likely, it's been a long time since you've been excited to get snail mail. But after nearly five years of being a habitual letter writer, Rachel Syme has found that there's so much to savor that can only come through a mailbox. The joy of receiving a written recipe, or sending delicately pressed flowers to a friend; of luxuriating in the scandalous office drama of a pen pal from across the country, or writing a poetic screed about a nemesis. Syme learned that letters aren't just a medium of communication, but also a form of art. After sharing letter-writing tips in newsletters and online for years, Syme packed all of her advice into a book, Syme's Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence, released in January. The book is loosely inspired by a Victorian-era how-to guide written by Sarah Annie Frost-Shields, a housewife who published several volumes on etiquette. Syme came across Frost's manual in 2020, as she was researching the history of letter writing. While Syme's version leaves out such dubious tips as 'cold water refreshes and invigorates but does not cleanse', she does offer readers advice on what to collect to put in letters (think pre-wrapped tea bags and Polaroids; but sending 'glitter bombs' is close to sin) and how to sharpen their language when writing about the weather (instead of describing summer as 'hot' or 'humid', how about 'sultry' or 'torrid'?). Much of her advice encourages a certain kind of noticing that only happens offline. It's the satisfaction of picking out the perfect stationery, spritzing a letter with a touch of perfume and finding the perfect way to describe a cloudy day. (Syme favors handwritten notes, though typewriters work in a pinch.) Letters give correspondents 'the opportunity to tour through your curiosity and tastes every time you sit at your desk', Syme writes. 'It also gives you the chance to believe in something, even if it feels deeply silly.' For Syme, life as a habitual letter writer started in the early days of the pandemic in 2020, when she put out a pen pal request on her social media accounts. Hundreds responded, an impossible number of correspondents to manage. So Syme became a pen pal fairy godmother of sorts, matching pen pals around the world with each other using Elfster, a website designed to coordinate Secret Santa exchanges. More than 15,000 people would ultimately sign up for the project, eventually called Penpalooza. At the peak of her letter writing, Syme said she was getting 10 to 15 letters a day. Over the years, she's filled at least 20 shoe boxes with them. While it's natural for many pen pal relationships to fade away over time, Syme said she'd heard many stories of pen pals she set up maintaining their correspondence for years. She herself has two ride-or-die pen pals. 'There's an unwritten rule of a letter, which is that whatever happens in this letter stays in the letter,' Syme said. 'Letters give you that kind of permission. There's an intimacy to it.' It's also one of the few things in the age of the internet that feels like it exists outside of time. You can take your time with a letter. The rush to read or reply is removed. The letter is there, waiting for you when you're ready. 'You're just getting to know one another, you're just writing about what you're thinking and what you're feeling. It's so low stakes that in so many ways, I find it to be the most freeing way of talking to anybody else,' Syme said. 'You're writing with a goal of a deeper connection with another person. I don't know that many mediums that have that goal any more.' To understand the depth achieved in letters, Syme explored the relationship between several writers and their closest correspondents. Julia Child was pen pals with the book editor Avis DeVoto for most of her adult life, where they shared their dreams and fears, gossip, delicious musings on cooking – and even their thoughts on sex. After reading Peyton Place, a novel about women experiencing their sexual awakenings during the second world war, Childs wrote to Devoto: 'Before marriage I was wildly interested in sex, but since joining up with my old goat, it has taken its proper position in my life. 'Those women, stroked in the right places until they quiver like old Stradivarii!' she said about the book. 'Quite enjoyed it, though feeling an underlying abyss of trash.' The writer James Joyce wrote excited love letters to his wife, Nora Barnacle, who he once called 'my dirty little fuckbird' in a letter. Jane Austen often sent sharp-tongued letters to her elder sister Cassandra while she was in a period of frustration over her writing. 'I am forced to be abusive out of want for a subject, having nothing really to say,' she wrote at the time. Even though Syme, a staff writer at the New Yorker, is busier now than during the pandemic's lockdown, she prioritizes her letters. She brings them to read on the subway, and will start writing a letter if she's waiting for a friend at a bar. And she has made a ritual out of responding to her correspondences, making a kettle of tea, putting on some music and lighting candles. 'I've never gotten a letter and have been like, 'Ugh, another one.' Never once,' Syme said. 'I just get excited to hear from people. I'm an extrovert, I love to connect with people. It's all I ever wanted when I was a little kid growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, staring out of my window at tumbleweeds going by. That's not an exaggeration. I just dreamed of having so many people that I could communicate with and write to.' For those who want to try letter writing, you can start with friends and family. Many organizations also connect people with strangers to start correspondences with. Letters to Strangers matches up pen pals with the aim of promoting mental wellbeing. The World Needs More Love Letters allows people to nominate someone in their life that could use kind letters. Some organizations match people with a pen pal from a specific population, like incarcerated individuals or elderly people, who are at risk of isolation or loneliness. Prisoner Correspondence Project and the Black and Pink are geared toward supporting the queer incarcerated community. Syme warns in her book that at first, letter writing can seem 'a little bit silly, a little bit anachronistic, and a little bit melodramatic. 'But also know that your letter, no matter its legibility or coherence, will be met with absolute excitement,' Syme writes. 'Whatever you put in the mail, even if it does not rise to the great epistolary heights that you someday hope to emulate, it is still a surprise on its way to enliven someone's dreary mailbox.'
