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I鈥檝e always suspected there鈥檚 a reason why Thanksgiving is one aspect of American culture that has never inveigled its way into British life. It would take a brave man to look me in the eye and tell me there鈥檚 a place for pumpkin in a roast dinner.

But this year, Thanksgiving has come to Newt. John Jr, whose family has remained in the States while he has been guiding Newt through its tadpole phase, has become increasingly withdrawn as the 鈥渉olidays鈥� have approached, staring mournfully out of his office window for hours at a time while listening to the theme tune from Cheers on loop. In an attempt to lift himself out of this fug, this week he decided to invite the whole office to a festive lunch at his rented penthouse flat.

John has prepared a speech setting out all we have to be grateful for this year. Should be interesting

So it was, that last Thursday I found myself standing in the lift of Bishop鈥檚 Stortford鈥檚 only four-storey building with my colleague Alan Quimby, who had come dressed as a pilgrim father, 鈥渢o show willing鈥�.

鈥淚 think you鈥檙e forgetting that we鈥檙e the ones who鈥檝e been taken over,鈥� I pointed out, as he fussed over the angle of his hat in the lift鈥檚 mirrored walls. 鈥淎 Red Indian would have been more appropriate. And you wouldn鈥檛 have had to put your belt around your hat like that. I鈥檓 not sure the Burtons logo on the buckle is entirely historically accurate.鈥�

At that moment the lift doors opened, and we found ourselves stepping out straight into John Jr鈥檚 designer kitchen. A curious smell of raw meat and candyfloss engulfed us. 鈥淗ey guys, come on in!鈥� he said, waving a turkey baster in a gesture of greeting. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l find everyone in the back room - I鈥檝e hooked up the internet to show the big Thanksgiving game - Milwaukee State Cougar Wranglers vs West Arizona Rattlesnake Stranglers. Have a Bud, make yourselves at home - I鈥檝e just got to finish stuffing the turkey with marshmallows.鈥�

In the back room, the whole Newt family was staring perplexed at a vast screen. 鈥淚t seems to be a cross between rugby and Robot Wars,鈥� Matt Keen was saying. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very curious. But we should enjoy it while it lasts. I鈥檝e heard that, as part of this 鈥檛hanksgiving鈥� business, John has prepared a pre-dinner speech setting out all that we have to be grateful for this year. Should be interesting.鈥�

This sounded dangerous, particularly the 鈥減re-dinner鈥� part. At Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln only had a warring nation to address. That鈥檚 a far more forgiving crowd than a bunch of QSs with the scent of gravy in their nostrils.

But this did not deter John Jr. As the turkey was finally borne to the table - the game having apparently reached some sort of conclusion - he cleared his throat histrionically and began his oration. 鈥淢y friends, we meet here today at a crossroads in Newt鈥檚 history. But if we can stand together in the face of this benighted storm, then soon we will move on to broad, sunlit uplands.

鈥淎nd truly, there is much for which we have to be thankful. There鈥檚 the long-awaited upturn in the private sector, as clearly indicated by our contract to project-manage the new pound shop in Harlow.

鈥淎nd we must be thankful that, even as I speak, fresh international markets are opening up before us. Montenegro, Siberia, the Isle of Man - these are the new Dubais! 鈥淎nd we must be thankful that 鈥� erm 鈥� well, there鈥檚 the autumn weather we鈥檝e been having. That鈥檚 been awesome 鈥︹�� He paused, thought for a moment, and eventually decided that his case had been made. 鈥淎nd so, in summary, this year we鈥檝e all got a lot to be thankful for. Marshmallow, anyone?鈥�

Quentin Shears, 48, is a partner in quantity surveyor Newt UK, the Hertfordshire outpost of US multinational, Gator Corp.

As told to Nick Jones