By Grace Ma

While most people enjoy the warm company of family and friends on Christmas Day, it is business as usual for some who turn up for work to make sure all is well.

Mr Raveen Misra
Head mixologist

For the last 13 years, bar chef Raveen Misra has spent Christmas day mixing up a storm.

Mr Misra, 32, who is the head mixologist at cocktail bar, Néktar, has resigned himself to the fact that he will always miss a party, wedding or birthday celebration held on a public holiday.

But he makes up for the time away by taking Sundays off to catch up with loved ones.

Mr Misra, who is single, finds it "quite nice" to work on Christmas Day as he says it is quieter than the eve when most of the merry- making takes place.

It is also "a chance for me to catch my breath and get ready for the New Year celebrations".

While he expects to see some drunken behaviour in his line of work, Mr Misra gets annoyed with people who leave their intoxicated friends behind at the bar.

He says: "I have personally sent a few of these people home although I don't really like doing it because you put yourself out. But someone has to do it."

Mr Misra, who was the first runnerup at the bartending competition, Diageo World Class Finals Singapore, and the champion of the Winner Takes It All cocktail competition in July and September respectively this year, considers himself lucky to be doing a job he loves.

"I have friends who are in jobs that society deems 'normal'. So they get their holidays and all, but many of them hate what they do. I can't see myself doing something I hate," he says.