The IOC Christmas Party

The Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) Primary Ore department Christmas party was held last night.  The Christmas party is for staff employees only and it costs $20 per head to attend.  Historically the party is not well attended so Steve's acting GM was determined to make it a party to remember before the new GM takes over the reins next week.  His idea was to have a pre-Christmas party at each of the managers houses with complimentary food and drink.  Steve is one of the three managers and he has the biggest team of staff employees so we invited 45 employees and their partners to our house for the pre-party.

Saturday was already a busy day for us, I had a hair appointment, Cooper had skiing and we had to clean the house before the party.  The food was delivered at 4.30pm and people arrived at 5pm on the dot.  Everyone takes off their shoes and coats in the entry and a few people brought us cards and gifts.  All the guests were very well dressed with most men wore shirts, ties and jackets.  Many of the women had their hair curled and styled. By 5.30 our house was so full that we had to open the windows and the front door to let some cool air in.  It was a really good party and some of the people from the other parties came to our party as well!  At 7pm the bus turned up to take us all to the Christmas party at the Lab City Curling Club.  Luckily one of the guys helped us usher everyone out and the bus waited for Steve and I before taking us to the Curling Club.

At the Christmas party we had a steak supper, this is very popular here, a massive T bone steak that covers your plate, mushrooms, onions, a baked potato and coleslaw.  There was a DJ after supper, everyone danced and the Newfie songs pulled a big crown on the dancefloor. Heave Away is a very popular Newfie song that I have heard played at every party I have been to so far.  The party was still going strong at 1.30am when I caught the bus home.  It was a great night.

Lyrics for Heave Away - Newfoundland, attributed to Pius Power Sr.

Come get your duds in order
  For we're going to leave tomorrow
Heave away, me jollies, heave away
Come get your duds in order
  For we're going to cross the water
Heave away me jolly boys, we're all bound away

Sometimes we're bound for Liverpool
  Sometimes we're bound for Spain
But now we're bound for St. John's town
  To watch the girls a-dancing

Now it's farewell Maggie darling
  For it's now I'm going to leave you
You promised me you'd marry me
  But how you did deceive me

I wrote me love a letter
  And I signed it with a ring
I wrote me love a letter
  I was on the Jenny Lind

Sometimes we're bound for Liverpool
  Sometimes we're bound for Spain
But now we're bound for St. John's town
  To watch the girls a-dancing