This year's works outing was an outstanding success, and we were initially surprised to learn that Julie Anne was 'on the wagon', as she announced with fluttering eyelashes, because her girdle was so tight that she could not possibly take a quantity of strong drink. Imagine our surprise when, as the night merrily continued, her voice became louder, and eventually, to our horror, she broke into a few noisy verses of Harry Lauder's favourite, 'I Belong to Glascow'. This is not a song that was designed to to be sung sober - one could not imagine a greater giveaway. It turned out that her ' iced chocolate milk' had been heavily laced with Kahlua, under the instruction of the bar staff. What was going to happen to her when she got home I shudder to think.

The whole episode took me back to the very earliest days at petticoated.com, even before Miss Gribble joined the firm, when we were celebrating after just publishing the inaugural issue of our very first publication, 'Well Trained Hubbies', and one of the staff, who had not been outside London until two months previously, suddenly began singing that roistering song. Hamish MacDiarmind, who was our part time security guard, glanced at me with a raised eyebrow, and said wryly, 'Miss MacDonald, it's amazing how 'Scottish' people become when they're drunk'.

'True, Hamish', said I, 'and that's not to say that the reverse isn't truer still'.

After that particular evening had wound up, I was driving the Hillman down Skene Street (in those early days the plant was still situated in Aberdeen) when I was pulled up by a handsome young policeman.

'Well, well, Miss, what is your reason for exceeding the speed limit?' he craftily asked, but I saw through the ruse.

'I wasn't exceeding the speed limit. I am very careful about things like that', I replied simperingly.

'Well, in that case, Miss, I would like to take down your particulars'.

Blushing furiously, I nearly hopped out of the car and slapped him, and quickly replied, 'You will do nothing of the sort, young man! Just who do you think you're talking to?'

It was, I think, an honest mistake, and I was young and pretty in those days. He only wanted to see my driving license. But it is funny how these things stick in the memory, and it all came flooding back to me as Marcia and Pansy Frills gently helped Julie Anne to the back seat of Marcia's car. Apart from a slightly tingly bottom, Julie Anne was quite ok the next day.

Now I have the hardest task of all...getting the girls' minds back on the job after the Christmas - Hogmanay season!