Magdalene Christmas Dinner

Completing the three-day event, tonight I was due to get together with some old friends from Magdalene for dinner.  Originally the plan had been to hire a private dining room for the event, but I was so disorganised with trying to get everything together for the recent YM's events, that this just totally slipped.  In the end, I gave up the private dining room and just said we'd have dinner with nine of us at the Round Table in the Coffee Room, so dining out in public, but I think that was the better idea overall.

In the afternoon The Blonde asked me if I would be out at the Lansdowne that evening, and finished the conversation so quickly when I said I wasn't, that I got the impression she'd been hoping I would be going so she could get an invite.  At least when the Tall South African called me later to ask the same question, he seemed genuinely disappointed that I wouldn't see him this evening, and stayed on chatting with me for so long I found myself once again in danger of being late as I tried to head out for the evening.

When I arrived at the club, I found my timing was perfect, as everyone was just gathering in the bar for drinks.  I had a glass of champagne with everyone, and then just after 8 PM, we headed into dinner.

I handed the wine list over to one of the men, and enjoyed the conversation with everyone.  Lots of random chat with my old "college dad" (a guy who had been one year above me who had been assigned to "show me the ropes" at college) and his wife about their home renovations.

In-between the starter and the main course, I found myself in desperate need of a comfort break, and so got up while there was time.  On my way out of the room, I ran into a German-American chap who I know through the club, who normally lives up in Cambridge, but who had mentioned to me that he might be around this evening.  I greeted him warmly and we chatted for a little bit, but I was conscious of the fact that I'd left my table in the middle of dinner and had to get back to it.

When we got to the dessert course, we decided to rotate places around the table so that we'd all get a chance to talk with everyone else at the table, and not just those we'd sat next to at the start.  I found myself seated with Helen, who is always a good riot.  Yet I was surprised when she wanted to order two different things for dessert, but was too shy and embarrassed to do so herself, as she normally seems like such an outrageous and outgoing character.  So she said to me, "Will you order it for me?  Because you're so nice and nobody ever gets mad or says no to you."  I thought it a thoroughly strange request, but did so, and of course the staff were happy to accommodate her.

While we were sitting there, the German-American came over to say that he and his friend were heading into the bar for after-dinner drinks, but he wanted to stop by to say hello.  I chatted to him for a bit, introduced him to Helen and a few others sitting there, and then promised to see him in the bar afterwards, thinking nothing much more of it.

As soon as he left the table however, everyone sitting near me absolutely pounced on me.  "Who was that?"  It was the German-American, I explained, who I knew through the club.  They all then laughed at how obvious it had been that he desired me.  What?

Helen noted that he had kept his attention exclusively focused on me and had not bothered saying one word to her or even glancing at her until I introduced them sometime into the conversation (a lack which I had just taken for my own poor manners).  The other girls at the table noted that he kept finding excuses to touch me, and had seemed truly distressed to finally have to leave me to the rest of my dessert.  Quite frankly, I thought they were all just nuts...

We then retired to the bar for after-dinner drinks, and a few of our group peeled off, with a few of them making cracks at my expense about how it might be a late night for me.  I still thought they were being ridiculous, until the German-American came over to say his good-byes, and that he was leaving.  And suddenly I did notice that he kept his hand on my back for nearly the entire conversation, holding my hands in a lingering embrace, and talking for quite some extended length of time.  I wonder, had I been missing something here this entire time?  I really never would have thought for a moment that there was anything there until these friends pointed it out.  Perhaps this is the reason I'm single, I'm just totally oblivious...

He went home though, and I stayed a bit longer with Sophie and her husband, before retiring to the front desk to settle the bill.  They were having trouble with the card machine on my payment, but they told me not to worry about it, as I was sure to be back soon.  True indeed, and so after saying my good-byes to Sophie and her husband, headed home before midnight for the first time in days!

Magdalene House of Commons Dinner

Dinner in the House of Commons

It was turning into quite the week of Magdalene events, as tonight was the Magdalene dinner in the House of Commons.  I'd gotten my formal, engraved invitation some time ago, and dashed out the door just in time to head to Westminster.

I arrived just on time, as Big Ben was striking 6:30 PM, but quickly realised my error when I saw the line for security to get in.  In the end, it wasn't too bad, as I only had to stand in line for about 15 minutes, and once inside, a kind security guard offered to show me where the tour group was so I could catch up with them.  Not needed however, as Tristan waved to me from across the large hall, so I just went and joined the group at that point, having missed only the first little bit of the tour.

The Great Hall in Westminster

The tour was interesting, taking us through some history, past the post boxes of all the ministers (I spotted David Cameron's), and then into the House of Commons, which was much smaller in person than it appears on television.  Interestingly, they wouldn't let us sit on the benches, but we could walk right by where the Prime Minister sits all of the time.  We also got to see the lines on the floor, where the Lord Chancellor will tell ministers to "toe the line" if they get too close to each other.  Indeed, apparently the two sides of the Commons are set to be further than a sword's length apart, so that ministers can't engage in a sudden duel and do each other any harm.  Kind of a neat bit of tradition!

At dinner in the Member's Dining Room in Parliament

As well, we walked through where the voting system goes, which instead of an electronic voting system like there is in the US House of Representatives, members have to actually exit the room, line up, and have their votes registered by a clerk.  Which is perhaps an inefficient system, but apparently is important as it allows back-benchers an opportunity to mingle with senior ministers while they queue to have their votes registered.  Kind of an interesting bit of British politics.

Hallways in the Houses of Parliament

Near the end of the tour, the tour guide showed us a statue that was famously damaged when a suffragette had chained herself to it, forcing the stone sword of the statue to be cut and repaired to get her out.  The tour guide then asked us when women had been granted the right to vote in the UK.  This was a question that had been on my citizenship exam!  I quickly answered, "1928", before realising with embarrassment that this was incorrect, that was the year in which women had been granted the right to vote at the same age as men, that the correct answer was "1918", when women were granted the right to vote at 30 if they were married.  Goodness, I truly am becoming British if I'm forgetting all of that useless information, just like a real British person.

Big Ben at night

We then made our way into the drinks reception, where I found myself talking with Tristan a bit.  Turns out that his laptop was stolen the night before, when they'd gone to the bar for drinks after the drinks reception.  Due to the wonders of insurance, it looked like everything was going to be okay (he'd backed up all of his work, and he'd set up a data-wipe to occur the minute the laptop was connected to the internet), although it makes you realise the importance of being prepared for such an eventuality.  And keeping an eye on your laptop in pubs!

Halls outside the member's dining room

At the champagne reception, I mostly found myself talking with Sophie and Cornelia, although a woman from the Development Office came up to chat to me, and looking all nice with her hair done, I totally didn't recognise her at first.  Was quite embarrassed to eventually realise I'd spent nearly an hour talking to her when I'd visited Magdalene last September, and I didn't remember her at all.  Ooops!

We were then called into dinner, where I found myself seated directly across from The Master, the senior Member of Parliament who had hosted this occasion, and all of the most senior major donors to the college. Yikes!  What on earth was I doing seated up here?  Did the college somehow think that I was fit to be among this prestigious company?

Seated right across from The Master!

Tristan was seated a bit further away, but still somewhat close to me and this central group of power.  He said to me later that he thinks we were put there because the organisers know that we have good chat, and would be entertaining company for those who most needed it.  I suppose that was a safe bet, plus I was some pretty thing for the men to look at, although also with half a brain to be witty and engaging as well.

Dinner tables after dinner

To my right was seated a very interesting 72-year old guy who had spent his career working at Proctor and Gamble all over the world.  He had studied languages at Magdalene, and had met his wife when she was one of the only women to attend a language club meeting at Cambridge.  They had three sons, but one of them died when he was 18 while he was at Harvard.  I was so shocked when he told me that, as I really just didn't know what to say.  Obviously it had happened long ago, but it's still such an awful thing, for someone to lose their child at such a young age.

At the table for dinner

He went on to tell me that he was proud to say that he and his wife had endured the tragedy, when so many couples break up after the death of a child.  They had then established a scholarship in their sons name, supporting students who are studying music, and they now often spent their time travelling around the country going to concerts by the beneficiaries of this scholarship.  I guess not a bad way to spend one's retirement.

After dinner

Overall though, he was quite interesting to talk to, and much more entertaining than the wife of a major donor that I had on my left.  I spoke to her as much as was necessary to be polite, but I rather wondered how she did not bore her husband to death.  I got the impression that the 72-year old was much more pleased with his choice of wife, as not only did she look amazing for 72 (I want to look like that when I'm that old!), but I also got the feeling that she had a brain and was much more interesting to talk to.  I think he was a happy man, celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary, because he had chosen who to marry quite well.

The crowds at dinner

The senior MP hosting the dinner gave a speech that included all of the usual jokes about Magdalene (including that when it was revealed that nobody at Magdalene received 3rds, the entire college is so smart now, somebody in the audience cried out, "Shame!").  Then the Master spoke, giving a speech that was much a repeat of his speech the night before, for which he apologised to me in a sotto voice once he sat down again.  I laughed and assured him that it was fine, for I can't expect him to come up with new speeches all of the time just for me!

With Sophie at Big Ben

After dinner, when we'd stuffed ourselves with three-courses, dessert, cheese, and petit fours, we finally started to make our way home. We stopped to take photos outside with Big Ben (after all, when else do you get to see it from this perspective?) and just spent lots of time laughing and talking as we slowly made our way out of the place.  I was pretty tired after the night before, but still was somehow talked into joining Tristan, Iain and Sophie for one last drink at a pub near Parliament.  I ordered a Diet Coke because I was so tired, although Iain got me a G&T anyway.

The empty halls of Westminster as we made our way out.  

Finally however, I was just too tired, and the pub was closing anyway.  So we finished our drinks, made our good-byes, and went home at the end of yet another late night!

The pile of security badges at the exit

Epic Magdalene Night Out

Fan #1 and Fan #2

This evening I was due to attend the Farewell Drinks to the Master, which Tristan had organised.  After ten years in the post (longer than usual), the Master was stepping down.  In January the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, will take up the post.  Which I realise is probably good for Magdalene's profile to have a former Archbishop of Canterbury as Master, but I doubt anyone could ever be quite as good as Duncan Robinson...

I got to the drinks reception 15 minutes late, but quickly got into the swing of things, saying hello to familiar faces while trying my best to avoid getting caught up in conversation with any one individual.  Problems of going out with a crowd of super-nerdy types like this one, far too often people don't know how to socialise, and you can get trapped in a corner all evening with someone who doesn't know how to branch out and talk to others.  So I was like a hummingbird, flitting from here to there as I made my way around the room.

This strategy proved to be the right one, when at the reception table, I saw two of my favourite people arrive.  It was Fan #1 and Fan #2!!!  I hadn't seen them in nearly a year (I think?), and so was beyond delighted to see them.  It is our funny way about us, that we only ever see each other at events like these, but always have such fun when we do.

I came up behind Fan #2, clapped a hand on his shoulder and said, "Excuse me sir, I think we're going to have to ask you to leave..." which made him turn around in confusion, and then just exclaim with delight upon seeing me.  And there's really something about friends like that, who you are so happy to see, and who you know feel the same way about you.  Not just, "It's nice to see you", but "It's GREAT to see you!"  My evening was now made.

So we settled into conversation as we always do, occasionally dragged into conversation with other people, but it really being just the three of us.  Tristan gave a great speech, the perfect blend of humour and grace, just being so wonderful at it as he always is.  He made the crowd laugh and chuckle, and reminded everyone of all the things they like so much about the Master.  We then listened to the Master talk about his hopes for the College in the years ahead, his humility at being the Master to come after a Nobel laureate, and before a former Archbishop of Canterbury, but personally I think he well deserves to stand with them.  Finally he implored us all to raise our glasses in a toast to our college, reminding us of what he had told us all when we arrived as Freshers:  "Magdalene is for life."  We are always members of the college, as he is now too (he's been made a Fellow of the College), and we should all come back and remember that more often.

At around 8:30 PM, the champagne was drying up, and so it wasn't even a question that the three of us would go on somewhere, just me and Fan #1 and #2.  I said a few good-byes, did not invite anyone else to join us, and away we went.

Our first stop was the Ritz Club, because quite randomly Fan #1 turned out to be a member there.  It was so bizarre, as he had to show a membership card to the top-hatted gentlemen at the door, which led us down an elegant staircase into this underground lair below.  Once there, we had to show ID, get our photographs taken, and be signed in as guests of this member.  All very strict and bizarre security procedures.

The bar at the Ritz Club

Finally we were cleared to go into the bar, where apparently there was some break in the action going on of a professional poker tournament.  The entire crowd in the place was male, the only women were the dealers and the women behind the bar.  The women behind the bar were rather interesting, as they were all wearing the same long gowns, slit to the thigh, looking both elegant and overtly sexy at the same time.  Obviously this was a place that knew its typical clientele.

Fan #1 explained how he'd become a member, which was apparently when his wife had arranged for them to spend a weekend with the kids at the Ritz.  And one night while they were staying there, at 1 AM his wife encouraged him to go exploring while she stayed with the kids, and so he went down to find this casino.  Apparently you could gain membership for free if you were a guest at the hotel, and so after asking enough people, he was led through a hidden door behind some mirrors, and made his way down into the club.  It was all a very strange and interesting story...

We each stayed for a whiskey drink, and then Fan #1 seemed to be a fan of staying to check out the restaurant there, but I have to admit I was a bit turned off by the high prices (£30 for a curry??) and suggested that we might check out the Lansdowne.  So while the men fetched their coats, I called the club, and as it was 9:15 and they would stop seating at 9:20, they promised to hold a table for us.

The men came out of the bathroom smelling quite minty fresh, excited to have discovered that the bathroom had pre-loaded toothbrushes.  Kind of made me sorry I hadn't gone to the bathroom, because who wouldn't be a fan of toothbrushes pre-loaded with toothpaste?

We got to the club where indeed, they were waiting for us.  Had a lovely dinner with a starter and a main (the food in the Lansdowne is always good), and then for dessert decided to have a bottle of port in the Nineteen-Thirties Room.  Yes, a bottle.  What on earth were we thinking?  Yet they decanted it for us and brought it downstairs for us, where we proceeded to drink and be merry, and I took them on a little tour of the club.

Having wine in front of the fire in the library

At this point, it was now 11:30pm, which could have been a good time to call it a night, but instead we went to the O and C.  On our way there, Fan #1 wrapped an arm around me, and I found myself pulled up tight against him, somewhat of a challenge to remain in step with him, but nice to be wrapped up warm as we walked.  Once at the club, Fan #2 acquired another bottle of wine for us, and we went upstairs to the library and sat in front of the roaring fire to sit and chat.


I wish I remembered more of our conversation, but such is the downside of wine, it tends to blur the memories a bit.  Yet I do remember we had a fun time pulling books off the nearby shelves and reading the last line of the second paragraph on page 56 to each other.  Came up with quite a few random lines that way!

I also recapped, in dramatic fashion, the entire plotline of "50 Shades of Grey" in a manner which had them in stitches.  (Oh, I can be such a ham when I want to be!)  Which unfortunately came to the fore when Qatari Boy started sending me messages at 1:30 AM (oh dear, what timing!) and they wanted to write back to him.  At least they didn't get too many off before I implored them to write to the Tall South African instead, as I know at least that I can't get too embarrassed with him.  At least that's one person who I know will read all of the funny messages in the morning and just laugh.

Fan #1 in the library

We then continued to talk by the fire until 2 AM, about the usual things like the challenges of life and career in your late 30's, married life, and my ongoing single state. They joked that they often feel like the chats with me are counselling sessions somewhat, but I have to say I do rather enjoy our chances to talk.  Although I did find it amusing when Fan #1 noted how fortunate it was that I have a guy's name, as his wife definitely thinks I'm another guy he's going out with when he tells the stories of these epic nights!

We must have left the club somewhere around 2:30 AM, heading back to the Ritz Club (which of course was still open at this hour).  As we walked, Fan #1 wrapped his arm tightly around me again, holding me close into him.  It was a strangely intimate gesture, as anybody seeing us walking would definitely think we were a couple, as friends do not wrap their arms around each other like that.  Yet, it was truly nothing worse that Kellogg Boy has done with me in the past, so totally innocent, right?  After all, Kellogg Boy has a girlfriend and I don't think means anything by it when he does it, and here Fan #1 is married!  Still, I know Kellogg Boy does it when he hasn't seen his girlfriend in a while and is feeling..."friendly".  And I'd be lying to myself if I didn't know that there hasn't been an attraction on some level between myself and Fan #1 since the day we met.  It's pretty much the entire reason behind our entire friendship, and why he doesn't tell his wife about me.

I'm probably over-thinking it.  We were drunk, it was the middle of the night, and it really was totally innocent.  After all, whatever attraction exists, it's not like we would ever act on it.  And I have to admit, on such a cold and chilly night, it was lovely to be wrapped up warm in the arms of such a lovely man!

We got back to the Ritz Club, and this time went into the casino to check out the tables.  The men decided to hit the roulette table, although I resisted any temptation to gamble myself.  I sat with Fan #1 who explained his strategy and philosophy, which did work well for a while, as his £50 turned into £100.  Yet, it then quickly went south, until all of the money was gone.

The casino floor of the Ritz Club

At least he did better than Fan #2, who couldn't resist the temptation to get out another £50, and eventually dropped £100 at the table.  At least when Fan #1 was tempted to go for another £50, I refused to let him, assuring him that £50 was quite enough money to lose in one night!

In fact, I was reminded why I hate gambling.  As although there was a slight thrill when you won money, the experience of losing was absolutely gut-churning for me.  I hated it.  I was so stressed out, just sitting there at the table (it wasn't even my money!), that I was almost grateful when everyone had lost all of their money and it was time to go home.

Looking for books on the top shelves

Although once all the money was gone, the boys had been given free coffees, so we sat there drinking and talking to the croupier, who had nothing else to do at 3 AM on a Wednesday night besides talk to us, so she was fine with that.  It was interesting, as she was an attractive woman, although a bit more due to the fine application of make-up, dress and hairstyling than any innate beauty.  But you realise that this is an entire industry in London we are unaware of on a day-to-day business, that of the relatively attractive woman who has realised she can make a fortune on the casual tips left by successful gamblers.

Finally, it was around 3:30 AM, and it finally seemed to occur to all of us that we had work in the morning.  Fan #1 had the worst of it, as he needed to get back to Essex.  I checked on my phone how much it would be for an Addison Lee cab, which turned out to be nearly £100.  Yet then when I called my usual cab company, they said they were willing to do it for £70, so after getting the correct postcode from the scary men in top hats at the front door, booked the cab, stood around in the freezing cold with both men, until finally we managed to coordinate with the cab and get Fan #1 tucked into it.  Big kiss as he left, and I tucked my head in under his chin, noting, "I always have such fun when I'm out with you."

Next we got Fan #2 into a cab, and having spent enough money this night myself, I took a night bus.  Finally home at 4 AM, but totally thrilled with an absolutely epic night out.  I love nights like that!

Thanksgiving

I normally don't write much about my trips abroad, usually because I'm too busy in the middle of all the fun to pause and write down all of my adventures.  My trip to the US for Thanksgiving was similar.  I had an amazing time playing with my niece every day (I even slept in her bedroom, which meant we had some 5:45 am wake-up calls!) But I thought I'd at least include some photos from my trip abroad, now that I'm back in London...

Getting ready to take off!

Playing with my niece

Doing stamps with Grandma and Grandpa

iPhone close up!

Getting some help combing out my hair after the shower

Trying on her aunt's hat!

Playing with bricks in the garden

Ringing bells out in the garden

Yes, we cooked our Thanksgiving turkey in a flaming garbage can in the back yard.

It came out a bit black, however!

Our char-grilled turkey

The family photo

Gathered around the table for Thanksgiving dinner

Eventually realising that we can skip the pie and just eat the whipped cream directly.

Reading stories with Grandpa

Doing markers with Grandma

Cozy, cozy!

Painting with Grandma

Leftover pies (there were originally 4 pumpkin and 3 apple pies, this was all that was left).

Going out for pizza on Saturday night with my niece

I can't believe we were still eating after all of those delicious Thanksgiving leftovers!

Rotational Games Night

Bananagrams!

After making sure I had a relatively quiet night the night before, I managed to get myself up and out to the gym first thing in the morning.  I then also got quite a few errands done, including finally changing my mobile phone carrier so I can stop wasting so much money on it.

It was therefore nearly 2 PM when I finally got home from my morning's tasks, and so was a bit surprised when the Tall South African called me.  He was coming to London to go to a few parties, but wanted to see me.  Could we meet at the club in just over an hour?  Okay, time to hurry and get changed!

I met him at Green Park tube station where he teased me a bit about being late, and then we went to the club and got ourselves drinks.  At first, he just did his usual relationship moan, where things just aren't working out, as usual.

Pop-up Bingo

Apparently he got into an argument with another friend, who disapproves of The Blonde as she is dating the Tall South African while he still officially has a girlfriend.  Which, therefore implies The Blonde has no morals.  Kind of twisted logic, because as I pointed out to the Tall South African, "By that logic, since you're such a terrible character, ANY girl who dates you must have something wrong with her."  (Perhaps true, but besides the point!)

We also got into a conversation about sex which actually got so personal and detailed that I was almost blushing, which is kind of unusual with us.  And then he let it slip that he was actually cheating on The Blonde with a girl up near where he lives.  Admittedly, not like he's pursuing a relationship with this other girl, it's just a "friends with benefits" sort of thing, but nonetheless, there's a lot of cheating going around here.

And on the one hand, he refuses to feel badly about it, because as he puts it, he doesn't trust The Blonde and points out that she slept with The Chap in the short space of time between when he rejected her and got together with her.  (He brings it up so frequently it reminds me of the famous debate from the television show "Friends" about whether Ross and Rachael were "on a break").  Which I do admit does not reflect well on The Blonde.  In fact, when I pressed him on it, he revealed that she was also sleeping with the doctor guy she'd been seeing at the same time.  So seeing three guys at the same time might be okay, but sleeping with all of them?  Less so.

Jenga!

Admittedly, the irony of all of this is that the Tall South African has done the same and worst in the past, so it's really a case of him having met his match, or his equal.  Yet I realise now that while I originally thought that meant they were very well-suited, this also means that they will inflict their worst on each other.  She will of course always be confident in the knowledge that she can sleep with any other guy she wants, but he can too.  And so they both cheat on each other to prove some sort of weird point.

Her failing however is one that he's already discovered, that she's a bit naive about the way men are and the way the world works.  And the mistake she makes (not knowing him as well as I do), is to underestimate how much he can manipulate to get what he wants.  Even I was a bit surprised when he told me she'd told him that she loves him.  It seemed like a bit of a sudden declaration, until a bit more prompting revealed that he'd asked her if she loved him.  Now, if a guy asks you outright, you would take that as an invitation to tell him, now wouldn't you?  As it would seem he was suggesting he might feel the same?

No, in this instance it was because he wanted to see if he could get her to say it.  Which to me almost means it doesn't "count", but a bit scary almost that he would play that game, just seeing what he could get her to do.  He reminds me constantly, "You wouldn't have liked me if you'd met me a few years ago", and sometimes flashes of that horribly manipulative, arsehole guy come out.

So I tried using what little influence I have with him to try to convince him that this sort of behaviour wasn't really okay.  Things became a bit clearer when I learned that the girlfriend (who is in Italy), texted him while he was waiting for the train, the first he'd heard from her in weeks.  He was realising he needs to break up with her, but it's kind of hard to break up with someone when you never talk to them.

Snakes and Ladders table

At least all of that was more interesting than listening to him berate me for how much I've checked out lately at my job.  Which is true, but there's only so many times I can say, "You're right, I know", before it just becomes dull.

So when I tried to change the topic of conversation to Qatari Boy, he told me he had some insider information about him, but didn't share.  I suppose I could have pressed him harder on it, but all he would say was that he is glad that I don't take Qatari Boy seriously.  It does make me wonder, what is the big secret that explains why I can't date Qatari Boy?

Which then led to a discussion about how all of my male friends seem so insistent that no guy is good enough for me, but how bored I get waiting around for that elusive "right guy" to show up.  After all, according to the Tall South African's rules, I can't sleep with any of these guys (otherwise I'll end up like The Blonde and dinged for sleeping around too much, as it's not acceptable for girls to sleep around as much as guys), and yet, nearly every guy I come across is somehow not good enough for me, that I have to hold out because I can do better.  Which, quite frankly, just leaves me very bored and perhaps craving male attention more than I should.

Finally, it was time for me to go upstairs and set up this Rotational Games Night thing, and the Tall South African was already late for another party he was supposed to go to.  As he said to me, "I don't think you understand quite how much time I make for you that I don't for anybody else in my life."  And that's why he's always late to things when he's out with me.  Yet, I make time for him too.  Even as some of his more idiotic male tendencies irk me at times, he's still one of the guys I like most in life.

I went upstairs and set up all of the games in a mad panic (I had to laugh at my original plan, to arrive an hour early and help set up, now here it was right at the start of the event and I had over half a bottle of wine in me), but with the help of a few others, it all got laid out, and seemed to work.  No time for my original plan of tying ribbons to all the chairs, but otherwise it all came together.

Hard at play

We had a champagne reception (oh great, more alcohol, just what I need!), and with no gong or sound system, I just spoke loudly to explain the rules, and got everyone rotating around the games.  Luckily everyone seemed to figure things out, even on the tables where the numbers were slightly off, and just had a good time playing.

We broke play at 9 PM to have a buffet reception that was set out (that was really nice, actually), and then went back to playing for another hour, before at 10 PM I declared the evening over.  Everyone retired to the bar, I found myself chatting to a nice chap who spent his time telling me how pleasantly surprised he'd been at how much fun he had and how nice everyone was.  To be honest, I was a bit surprised at how well it all went myself, so I took his comments in the spirit meant.  Everyone kept asking when we were going to do another one, although I think it might take a bit before I'm up for that one!

Finally at midnight I headed home, even though the bar was still hopping with lots of people.  I have no idea when they were all planning to leave, but I for one wanted to catch the last Tube home...