For many people, Children In Need is a great excuse to get dressed up. And, for me, it’s a great excuse to stay dressed up.

It was certainly party time for everyone at Peter Vardy. As the photos taken on the day prove pretty convincingly, no costume was considered too daft, ill-fitting or unflattering to be worn with pride.

There were loads and loads of fund-raising activities right across the Peter Vardy network. These included a Tour de Vardy cycle ride round the dealerships, bake sales, penalty shoot-outs, sponge-flinging at managers, body-waxing for men (apologies to anyone with dogs traumatised by the high-pitched screaming) and Peter Vardy’s in-house version of eBay: vBay.

Me? I was lucky enough to go along with a team from BMW Edinburgh to a local special-needs school, where they certainly know how to have a good time. It was fantastic. But I was so exhausted by the time I left, I had to have a lie-down in a darkened garage.

And the grand total raised for Children In Need was…

*Drum roll… cymbals crash*

*Dramatic pause*

...£25,537!

A very good day at the office. One that will change lives for the better. Am I getting emotional? No… no… these aren’t tears, just raindrops on my headlights. *Sniffs*