Post Party Blues

I am forever starting this blog with my apologies for absence. Sometimes it reminds me of all those Parish Council meetings I used to go to with my dad. There is good justification however for my absence as I have mainly been drunk and inundated with guests, both completely self inflicted and both thoroughly appreciated.

On the 9th of November, the roundhouse was host to it's first official function and opening party. Although I was slightly nervous at the thought of hosting 60 people in an untested venue, there is no question at all of the great success that it proved to be. After Jane cut through the ribbon to "Erics Bar & Grill" so friends and family flowed through the doors into the cosy, homely atmosphere. During the day the troops at Chateau Larcombe had produced an abundance of snacks and nibbles to titillate the palettes of the masses and the final bit of brilliance was the "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" to coin a line from that famous song. The numerous children were kept entertained by the addition of a couple of packets of glow sticks, stolen from the kids stocking pile, leaving the adults free to drink and converse well into the night. At the request of Jane, I whipped out the accordion and tinkled the ivories to add a little French nostalgia to the ambience. Once again I am left with an event that will be hard to outdo, sounds like a challenge to me!!!

Next on the events schedule was Janes birthday party on 10th November. This time we had lined up a sit down meal for 30 great friends and family. Normally I have every detail of a party planned to the minutest of details weeks in advance but, on this occasion, it was Saturday morning when I finally committed to the menu. We knocked out a carvery style menu with roast pork, lamb and beef alongside a salmon for the vegetarians and more cultured diners. Thanks to all who helped out in the kitchen that night facilitating a timely deliverance of hot food for all and clearing up the aftermath of washing up that always seems to shadow these events. Our friend Jill made Jane a roundhouse birthday cake which I hope someone has some photos of as I have had an epic fail at taking any pictures in recent weeks.

In amongst all this excitement at the Chateau, or crazy box of frogs as it was recently described as, we managed to go off roading with the dumper truck before carrying out a salvage operation with the range rover. We also got my 80+ year old grandma driving the dumper with great success unlike Lady Lucy who attempted to drive over the log pile. This was possibly caused because she was laughing so much she couldn't keep her eyes open. We also squeezed in some rifle shooting, archery and guitar hero.

Did I mention the foam machine??

We are now winding right down with very little happening until New Years eve. Mother-in-Law is the only remaining guest and is doing an outstanding job of clearing up the devastation and washing and drying a dozen sets of bedding. Jane has returned to work begrudgingly, possibly because she's old now and started feeling it in her joints.

For me, it's time to look at my list of jobs and decide which ones I don't have to do today. Having concluded that everything will wait until tomorrow, I believe a day off is called for.