I’ve had my nose to the grindstone for two weeks. A lot of project deadlines have been met. I’m pleased.

I did take time out from work to go attend the College Christmas formal dinner. The dining hall was decorated with trees and lights. Besides the usual candles, the tables were strewn with exciting things: shiny hats, masks, party poppers, party blowers and, most exciting of all, Christmas crackers.

Being Australian, I intuitively called them bon-bons. I had never pulled one before. Apparently, each cracker has a paper crown, a small toy and a joke. Di was most excited about the crown. I loved the jokes.

Di and I pulled my cracker and it made a satisfying pop. I unwrapped the orange crown and put it on my head. I spun the red plastic top across the table. Then, I read the joke out aloud.

“How do you make gold soup?” I said.

Di and Erin furrowed their eyebrows, then shrugged.

“By putting nine carrots in it.”

They groaned and laughed.

I was confused. “But that would make it orange…?”

They thought that was even funnier.