Yep that's right peeps, December is the month of the party and I've been to 2 of particular note recently that I felt were totallly worthy of coming together in to one blog post. I am currently struggling with the strangest cold ever, but it didn't stop me from getting out and about to PARTAY in the last couple of weeks.
My first outing was at the invite of my dear friend Sarah, whose Mum was turning 60 and had a number of festivities planned. The second was the Beauport staff Christmas party at Ye Olde Pumpe House. Here's a picture of it, for those of you who aren't local:
Don't you just love the building itself? The atmosphere was really lovely, everyone was getting along really well even the cynics had a good time and there was a great deal of Christmas spirit tangible!!
The party weekend at Sarah's was just as great, but in a different way. Sarah and her parents are so generous with their hospitality, that going to visit is effortless and a real joy, even so we did have a house full and there were people everywhere!
So two great occasions, in 2 diffferent worlds! We'll start with the furthest back: my trip to Sarah's: Sarah text me to invite me to come to her Mum's party mainly to provide her with some company during the festivities. Due to work, I could only go Friday & Saturday (the main party was Sat night) and so took the opportunity to hang out with Sarah for an extra day. Soon Tom was in on the act and the 3 muskateers were destined for a meet up!! We had envisioned a trip to the flicks to see "our film" but the only place The Three Muskateers was showing was Leicester Square.... In short, the only time we wanted to go the cinema there was cack all on!
Oh well, we had some time to catch up and chill out before more of Sarah's family came bringing with them a very energetic 3 year old and a teething 9 month old, so we had a whale of a time doing our best to keep both occupied as party preparations continued around us. With the house sooo full, there were people sleeping all over the place - in almost every room!
Sarah and I got very up close and personal on the sofa bed in the lounge and were woken nice and early by Charlie for our pains, still I was introduced to Mr Bloom's Nursery, which is quite cool!
Saturday came around and there were 2 kinds of partys - an afternoon session and a bigger, evening bash. Lots of guests filled the house and the evening was a blur of platters of food, booze of various kinds, chit chat with guests and meeting new people. One of Sarah's Mum's friends had also been to Southampton Uni, so we had a nice catch up about that too!
I always think it's amazing how many people you can fit in to one house and the atmosphere that can be created with a few well-placed candles, a selection of red, white & nibbles, lots of celebrating people and some mood music! Archie had gone to Doggy Day (& Overnight) Care, Charlie to his auntie's and Toby to his cot right at the top of the house!
All in all it was a really pleasent weekend with the party and all the people around; the chance to finally see Tom & Sarah - the 3 of us finally being together again - ws the icing on the proverbial cake! :-D
Thus, I was in full party mode for the Beauport Staff Chrimbo do. Not that I was originally planning on going! The company (for very good reasons) have a policy that seasonal staff do not get invited to eat, drink and be merry at the their expense. However, someone else couldn't go and so the PArk Manager, Paul, basically said "why not?" and off I went!
Got a taxi with the boys and got to the Pump House around 7pm. We had some drinkies in the bar and the boys talked about footie whilst we waited to be seated. We were in a nice little section off from the main bar, where there were others eating and enjoying taking the chance to kickoff the festive season in style! So we got some wine for the table and more drinks so that conversation and alcohol flowed nicely!
Three courses, more booze, some party boxes and a lot of laughs later we got the bill. Considering there were 9 of us and we had a fair bit to drink between us, it only came to just over £300!! I have to say that the food was lush: a prawn cocktail to start, full on (and very large) Christmas dinner for the main which was lovely; lots of turkeys, tasty roasties, pigs in blankets, yorkies and lotsa veg! To finish the was a mint choc chip sundae with real pieces of mint aero in side!! Food baby is not the word for that lot I tell you!
Around 11pm most people called it a night, but me Loz, Tim & Ant decided to go in to town. As soon as we stepped outside of the pub, we got cacked on from a great height as it was raining and the wind was well and truly blowing! So we battled all the way from the Old Town in to town and we could see that apart form a few smokers huddled in doorways, there was NoOne about! We tried a few bars but people were rattling around inside - they were so empty!
In the end we went to Yates, where I spent my only money of the whole night: £2 to get in! We actually bumped in to a couple of people who used to work at Beauport which was nice to catch up! We had a good night overall but I think the guys were disappointed that there weren't more people out. The decision to call it a night was made just before 1am when Ant had fallen asleep in the middle of Yates despite all the music and people and had trapped me in a chair. Loz to the rescue and we all struggled through the gales and drizzle to the taxi rank.
Apart from Ant (who was in no fit state to do anything!) we all had work the following day - needless to say Loz and Tim had a wee headache apiece! I say it was totally worth it, as all the different teams and people were coming together and for one night putting all of the moaning and resentment that usually abides in the office aside in favour of a bit of old-fashioned Christmas cheer.
And you can't ask for any better than that. Here's to the festive season!!
