Secret Santa / Xmas pudding

I think I killed Secret Santa. I mean, I know it's dead. But I also think I was responsible.

Let me explain. My bigger team in the office (eight of us) did Secret Santa last year. I wasn't very happy about it. We'd not had one before, and the first I'd heard of it I'd been handed a name (Friday) to get a present by the Wednesday for the team Xmas meal. I think I ranted quite a bit (although just to N and S). Last year I angsted a lot and bought smelly candles for my name (there's a £5 limit). We handed the presents around at the meal on the Wednesday. (I do like the annual Xmas team meal. It's a lunch out with wine. You can have turkey if you want.)

This year, G can't make the team Xmas meal (she's on holiday to the Mediterranean). So A was asking her whether she wanted to opt into Secret Santa. My ears pricked up.

"Can I opt out?" I asked.

It seemed, then, that I was the only one. N said he was still in and S, when it was first mentioned, said it seemed like a good idea to continue just to keep people happy.

I thought I'd opted out on my own. I didn't mind and I didn't say anything - because it wasn't about starting a trend, just about not having to get a present for someone I didn't have a clue what to buy for. I was quite happy.

But today I found out it was dead. Apparently no-one but A and J of the eight of us were particularly keen and I'd started the revolution.

So I think I've killed Secret Santa. I'm wondering whether I should be sorry about it.