Nativity

We were expecting great things from the farm's Nativity play this year but there were a few problems. It was easy enough to cast the main characters. We had Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary from Data Quality taking on the lead role. We had a puppet play the Baby Jesus and there were plenty of puppets to choose from. Similarly, and unsurprisingly, we had a surfeit of shepherds. We eventually located a carpenter through Estates and Facilities to play Joseph, but I think this was outsourced and the agency took a finder's fee. We really struggled to find three wise men. We drew a blank at the executive and senior management level. They argued that the job could be done by one person and "wisdom" could be "desirable" rather than "essential" on the person specification. In the end, we had one "quite clever" person supported by two senior managers.

The play ran into difficulties almost from the start. Joseph and Mary were refused entry to the inn because they were "Mobile plus" and no "touchdowns" were available due to the number of people attending their child protection mandatory training - an ironic twist to the script. Things picked up a bit in the stable scene, once we had cleared the mislaid confidential papers away from the manger and completed the incident form. The shepherds played their parts well, the cattle were suitably lowly, and the gifts were well-received. However, all hell broke out - if you will excuse the blasphemy - when the Mayor turned up an claimed to be the father.


I would like to wish all my loyal readers and those just passing by a very Happy Christmas. Let's see what 2011 will bring down on the farm!