DIARY: Saatchis dusts off the frilly frocks for yearly charity drive

With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, Diary has

invites to parties of all sorts, even ones where you get to find out

which mild-mannered account handler moonlights as a cross-dressing lap

dancer. Or so we are promised.

However, it is next week's gathering being organised by Saatchi &

Saatchi which caught our attention. Part of the festivities involve the

agency raising as much money as possible for the charity, Mother's

Choice, a children's home - an annual agency event. And to persuade

people to donate money, a very special programme has been developed.

When the $1,500 mark is reached (Diary hopes this is in

greenback), Father Christmas and Mrs Claus - chief Patrick Pitcher and

Hong Kong MD Laurie Kwong - will make a special appearance in their

frilly, charity frocks.

At $2,000, Rudolph the Red Nosed Craig Deer - regional ECD Craig

Davis - will trot in. Above $2,500, a special guest appearance

will be made by a mysterious Wee Elf.

Diary has one question though: why hasn't anybody thought of the

Grinch?

Just imagine all the fun that could be had with a modern-day scrooge

running amuck in a Christmas party. Then the best part - the Grinch

realises the error of his ways and he reveals to all that he actually

has a heart of gold.