Weekend with Friends - Day 2

On the Friday of our little weekend in Retford we at first got ready for the party. There was still just Sam and Jac and I, and I had planned a party for the afternoon once everyone arrived. I had bought some decorations so we all blew up a zillion balloons and Jacqui arranged them in gorgeous bunches and put them around the house. I had enlisted her as party co-ordinator because she's very good at that, I definitely chose the right person for the job. 

Sam and I popped to Asda because we had forgotten a few things the day before (so much for my list). We got back to the house about 12.45 and by that time Lucinda was arriving at the train station so I went to pick her up. We got back and made sandwiches for the party - we went old school with ham, vegan chicken, cream cheese and cucumber, and egg sandwiches. 

Sarah and R arrived and although Sarah and I were both worried that R would be shy as she hadn't met everyone else before, she was absolutely fine and slotted straight in. We went downstairs to the living room which is where we were when Von arrived about 2.30. We had some gifts for each other which was lovely, and presents for R as it had been her birthday. We headed upstairs and some of us got into glammer clothes for the party. I had taken a spotty dress because polka dots were all the rage in the indie scene in 2005. I had a purple beret and I had taken a bunch of glitter make up and some stick on gems so we all got glittered up and R of course had to have many gems on her face with a lot of glitter. I had also ordered some temporary tattoos with a nautical theme so we all had a few of those. The problem for me is that I actually have so many tattoos on my arms that it's hard to find a gap to put one in - but I managed it. 

I had made two playlists for the party - one was old school school disco so it was cheesy and fun, and the other was all indie stuff from around 2005. Cinders made a gin and elderflower cocktail and we also shared a lovely bottle of Cotes du Rhone (my favourite) and raised a glass to those we've lost over the last twenty years (which is frankly too many). 

R went to bed about 7pm so the rest of us got comfy clothes on and headed downstairs so we were making less noise near her. I had done a quiz featuring indie bands of the noughties and you had to try to name them, it was hilarious because everyone was absolutely terrible but there were a lot of really crappy bands in there. The Twang, anyone? 

Someone - no idea who, probably two someones - went upstairs and made a cocktail featuring a lot of crap - it was vaguely blue black but it tasted fine so who cares. We were having so much fun, it really made my heart sing. I am so honoured to know and love all these women so much and I'm glad we've been friends for so long now! 

Sarah headed to bed about 10.15 and the rest of us followed about an hour later. It was not a late night, we're old now!

Balloons all ready to go 

Some of the balloons had confetti in too which I really liked

Of course there was themed tableware

Here we all are in the living room in the afternoon before we went and got party ready

Sarah had drawn a non AI doll for each of us and mine came now with more kittens! It's too cute, I've put it on my bulletin board

I got a chocolate cake in Asda too

Here's the total spread - fancy teacups borrowed from my mum, sandwiches, crisps, dips, and a bunch of other stuff too. I love being away with friends because they all put the kettle on way more than I do so kept making me cups of coffee

Partying like it's 2005 with my polka dots, pearls, glitter, gems, and temporary tattoos

Here is R making herself look beautiful too

My gorgeous Sarah and I, I am so proud of her

So there's a Libertines lyric about gin in teacups so we did indeed drink the cocktail out of teacups which I had borrowed from my mum

I also had this very classy tattoo on my arm where I do actually still have a gap

Later on, a bit drunker and with all my glitter wearing off

The cocktail that was made of.... whatever. It tasted fine

And finally an army of Blueys lined up in front of the TV