So okay, I know at this exact precise moment it’s still Thursday but I’ll be FAR too busy tomorrow to post anything so you’ll have to indulge me. What’s that you say? Why will I be busy? Well, dear reader, I’m having a PARTAY!!
You see, people, in Ireland you definitely have to go with the flow a bit. A party can often start for the most inane reason. For example, last Friday we popped over to D Next Door’s sister A’s house to pick up #2 who was round there playing with little K, and ended up staggering home some time after 2am, sans child (he stayed over having lost the hope of ever dragging us home somewhere around 11) and last night turned into a bit of a sesh round D’s (Hubby popped in for a chat, cracked a beer with D, then other people popped in and suddenly there was a houseful and, well, it’d be rude to leave), so we ended up staying until 11pm (headaches all round again this morning). And this, apparently, is only the beginning of the summer barbecue season. Now you know why the kids here have such bloody long school holidays, it’s because the parents are planning on being so hungover they can’t possibly do the school run for three whole months.
Anyhoo, so we thought we’d get in there quick and invite all the lovely people we’ve met here for a little gathering: D and the kids, obviously, C and his lovely wife C (the ones with the boat) and D’s sister A and her Hubby J and their kids, and T & L who live next door to A & J, T who fixes the cars and his wife G, and probably a few other stragglers from GAA (that’s Gaelic Football to you foreigners, heh).
We got the usual burgers and sausages, etc, and I thought I’d marinate some chicken in different stuff like honey, mustard and soy, and Thai green curry paste, etc and do kebabs with various dips, plus those minced lamb kebab things and then just round it all off with an enormous plate of pistachio brownies and ice lollies for the kids. Drinks-wise, I thought as well as wine and beer, we could whizz up a big blender-full of Frozen Strawberry Daquiris just to get things going, plus various non-alcoholic fruity smoothies for the children (no, don’t worry, I won’t mix them up and get the kids drunk).
So Hubby and I went up north again today (the £ being terrifically bad against the Euro, it’s cheaper for us to do our shopping there) and came back with a car load of food, beer, wine, champers and….er…jelly. Yes, jelly. Well I’ve always wanted to make jelly shots and… oh dear, this could be another late one.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
May 29th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
May 29th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
May 29th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
May 30th, 2008 at 12:58 am
I believe, and I might be wrong, but Americans as so scared of being sued, they produce week beer … no way could they expect individuals to take responsibilty of being too lashed to scratch themselves, they would simply sue Anneuser Busch !
May 30th, 2008 at 1:22 am
May 30th, 2008 at 2:39 am
May 30th, 2008 at 4:12 am
I went to Mrs Moons Christmas party 2007, I said I would drive, as it was her party .. we arrived at 7, got fed, very nice, Mrs M tucked into a glass of wine or two, the ‘entertainment’ came on, good stand up comic, he finished about 8.30, so I prepared myself for a sober night of boredom, and everyone started to say goodnight ……..
I mentioned this at a later date, how starnge this was, as all the chrimbo parties I have attended in the UK normally ends up as time to go home when you have tried to bed your boss, or vomited on them … or indeed both !!!! It was suggested that parties now end before people can get drunk due to the liability issue companies face … caled Vacarious Law (i did learn something for my exams)… Bugs will also endorse this, as her friends regulary get refused service by the barmaid if she suspects they might drive home ……
Please, let indivduals have responsibility rather than a blame culture …
After all EM, your boys will sue you for mis management of parenting ….. I think they might win too !!!!!
May 30th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Ma: Of course you’re invited. Get swimming!! x
Moon: I can’t afford THAT much booze lol. Oh yes, the birthday card…well, you know what An Post are like… (ahem) x
June: It’s funny though because it’s only the Irish people here that like Bud, Hubby likes Miller or Stella but buys Bud for the others! I like the idea of the orange. We were going to do a vodka watermelon but didn’t have time x
Moon: What HAVE you got yourself into over there?!
Sandra: Do you really all rush around suing each other? Heh x
June: Don’t encourage him. Do they still have Grolch in those nice bottles with the pop off tops? I used to like those. I can’t drink beer. I don’t like the taste. I’m getting into Morgan’s Spiced Rum though…
Moon: I can’t believe that - early doors in case you get lashed? But that’s the point!! Yeh, the only trouble with partaying avec les enfants is that someone has to stay sober (for emergencies and also to keep them off the jelly shots). That’ll be Hubby tonight as he crawled in at some ungodly hour last night from the pub. Embracing the culture, see? x
May 30th, 2008 at 8:25 am
I’d better go unload the car….
May 30th, 2008 at 8:47 am
May 30th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Moon: Ah, I loves ya. I only threaten death on the people I REALLY like! ;P
Gang: My brother has a van and my cousin has a cash and carry card. What say we raid the ‘offie’ and crash the partay?
May 30th, 2008 at 10:00 am
May 30th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
May 30th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
May 30th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
May 30th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
May 30th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Fit as butchers dog me !….
and I am not sure EM ‘found’ me … kinda think we were thrown together at a very young age !, we did share a house together for a couple of months, then kinda drifted apart….. I played Fotie with Hubby for many years… he was a slow old donkey back then …. !
A hoot … yeah.. I like that, Mrs Moon if def my Monica to my Chandler !
May 31st, 2008 at 1:53 am
May 31st, 2008 at 10:12 am
5h4m: Me casa es su casa - you’re always welcome!!
Jay: As above - greyhounds especially welcome too x
Jen: Ah what a night THAT could have been. Maybe we should organise an EnglishMum.com partay?!
Nats: Ooh yes! My crashing headache this morning would confirm that they are seriously toxic!
Sandra: Moon and Bugs are my cousins. We all grew up together and as Moon says, we shared a house in our twenties (messy but enjoyable). And no, the nickname isn’t from the size of his buttocks (he’s completely normal shaped, honest!) it’s because he couldn’t pronounce his name when he was little and it kind of stuck! Oh yes, and Me Mam’s back - she had a wicked holiday. Must tell you all about that too.
Mary: See above - we’ll organise an EM reunion! Can you imagine us all in the same room?! x
Jay: Ooh yes, I forgot about the pic. Here it is:
Ma: Stop your shameless sucking up, it’s embarrassing. Ooh me too - can’t wait to buy a hat! xx
Moon: Monica to your Chandler. LOL!! x
Bugs: Don’t be shy… feel free to elaborate x
May 31st, 2008 at 2:42 pm
and of Auntie is more than welcome to Newport Beach … anytime x
make sure all of you are there in Sept ….. smalls must be smartly dressed mind ! x