The Speakers Corner Christmas Wish List!

The Marketing team at Speakers Corner has always been the communal hub of the office, but in 2014 we took our pastoral roles even further by becoming little elves, and playing middle man between our colleagues and their loved ones.

To ensure that everyone was happy with Santa’s offerings this year, we published their wish lists in a public forum – as well as their predictions for 2015 and highlights of the year gone by. And when they received exactly what they wanted from granny/girlfriend/dad…..they had no one to thank but us!

In no particular order...

Louise What was top of your Christmas present wish list this year?
A new pair of Ugg Slippers – best things I’ve ever put on my feet!

What was your highlight of 2014?
Getting engaged and booking my wedding for July 2015 – 2 kids and 11 years later, it’s going to be worth waiting for!

What are your predictions for 2015?
Southampton to qualify for the Champions League, a Lab-Lib coalition government and a girl for William and Kate.

What were you most looking forward to about this Christmas?
We hosted Christmas this year so I was really looking forward to having my family round and eating all day, watching the Christmas TV and giving my mum a break for once. My eldest son is 4 now and so was really excited about Christmas this year. I couldn't wait to see his face when he realised that he had been a good boy and Santa had been!

Debbie What was top of your Christmas present wish list this year?
What isn’t?! I always have a list which annoys my family because nothing is a surprise – but I would rather have presents I don’t have to re-gift, haha! I asked everyone for US dol

lars for my holiday to Nicaragua in February. Failing that, you can’t go wrong with a spa day!

What was your highlight of 2014?
All of my holidays….to Santorini, Italy and Croatia – oh and Yorkshire ;)

What are your predictions for 2015?
I have no predictions – whatever will be, will be!

What were you most looking forward to about this Christmas?
Spending quality time with family and friends – and getting out of London for a few days.

Adam What was top of your Christmas present wish list this year?
Some sort of Louis Vuitton overnight/wash bag although I am told these are quite pricey. Failing that I wanted the mighty Aston Villa to score a few more goals and climb the table.

What was your highlight of 2014?
Making the life-changing move down to the Big Smoke. My little brother getting engaged, one of my best friends getting married and another best friend about to

be a Dad!

What are your predictions for 2015?
I hope a God-father call up to the new addition to the Gibbs’ family. Smashing up Fiji for my brother’s wedding. Another brilliant Notting Hill Carnival… Generally good times – I just hope that I am not watching Championship football come August!

What were you most looking forward to about this Christmas?
I love everything about Christmas…. Including the following: Watching ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ and singing along, watching ‘Elf’, ‘Miracle on 34th Street’, drinks in the Dog and Gun, a traditional football and beer session with the boys, The family Christmas Quiz, my older brother’s legendary stuffing, mint sauce with my Christmas dinner, tacky Christmas jumpers, Winter Wonderland, Winterville, Ice-Skating, plenty of Gin and a left-over Turkey curry on Boxing Day…. God bless us, every one!

Sophie What was top of your Christmas present wish list this year?
I’m off skiing over new year, and again in January, so anything snug! Thick socks, sweaters, bobble hats… you name it!

What was your highlight of 2014?
It’s been a great year – my boyfriend Jack proposed while we were in Provence this summer and we spent two blissful weeks with our family and close friends celebrating. The wedding’s booked for August 2015, and I can’t wait to become Mrs. Breeden!

What are your predictions for 2015?
England to win the Rugby World Cup (hmm, might be a bit of a stretch!) … Serial 2 to blow our minds… and my kitten Champ to bring us lots of dead ‘presents’. Yuck!

What were you most looking forward to about this Christmas?
This year I spent Xmas with my fiancé’s family for the first time (in almost 8 years!)… their festivities are completely different from my family’s traditions, so I was excited to see how another family do it. My parents are moving to Malaysia in February for three years, so I was also looking forward to making sure I spent as much time as possible with them before they go!

Natalie What was top of your Christmas present wish list this year?
Lakeland heated clothes horse – very sad – but highly recommended by Speakers Corner girls!

What was your highlight of 2014?
1D concert at Wembley with my 8 year old daughter – makes all the hard work worthwhile when you achieve your goal of passing musical tastes on to the next generation.

What are your predictions for 2015?
Google glass and self-driving cars taking the world by storm!

What were you most looking forward to about this Christmas?
Working my way through the Ottolenghi Jerusalem book – have tried most of the recipes but some too time-consuming and have been saved for the holidays!

Lucy What was top of your Christmas present wish list this year?
A four wheeled suitcase as I have reached that boring part of my life where I enjoy receiving practical gifts.

What was your highlight of 2014?
Joining Speakers Corner of course…

What are your predictions for 2015?
That I pass my driving test.

What were you most looking forward to about this Christmas?
Having my first Christmas on Dartmoor.

Jason What was top of your Christmas present wish list this year?
A million pounds would be nice, more if that’s an option, oh and world peace and stuff.

What was your highlight of 2014?
My last visit to the Crowne Carvery at Burnt Stump, Nottinghamshire. At £4.39 for a full-on Sunday like roast (although prices double for a Sunday!) offers value for money I find difficult to find words for. It moves me.  

What are your predictions for 2015?
Things that might happen but I won’t be happy about: an Oasis reunion and flares making a comeback.

Positive predictions:
Great things from JJ Abrams and a Led Zeppelin tour!

What were you most looking forward to about this Christmas?
The food; the endless supply of chocolate, walks on St Brelades Bay (in Jersey); and roaring fires just this side of health & safety.

Tim What was top of your Christmas present wish list this year?
Adopting a donkey in Catalonia – I have been suitably brainwashed.

What was your highlight of 2014?

Trip to Brazil to see the World Cup

What are your predictions for 2015?
Kentish Town to rocket to the most hip location in London

What were you most looking forward to about this Christmas?
Oodles of pressies

Helena What was top of your Christmas present wish list this year?
A Michael Kors handbag!  
Of course an end to all the mindless bloodshed and terrorism throughout the world in 2015 would be perfect but as it it’s unlikely to happen, I’ll settle for the bag!

What was your highlight of 2014?
Managing, against all the odds, to bag a table at La Gavroche to celebrate Philip’s 60th birthday. And weirdly, experiencing an earthquake this summer in San Francisco!

What are your predictions for 2015?
I have no idea what is going to happen next year but hope it will be a healthy and successful year with lots of positive world news for a change.

What were you most looking forward to about this Christmas?
6pm on Christmas Day – when all the family left …, the dishwasher was on and I sat down with a large glass of red wine ready for the Strictly Christmas Special!

And Nick ... What was top of your Christmas present wish list this year?
For Christmas to come early next week

What was your highlight of 2014?

Christmas

What are your predictions for 2015?
Christmas will come at the usual time

What were you most looking forward to about this Christmas?
Christmas

Can't wait for next Christmas? Check out our 2015 wish list.