St.Patricks 2006
Another year another fantastic party the Irish know how to throw a shindig, oh yes.
So at 9am me and Sean ran into Beeston and grabbed a McDonald's breakfast and a couple of bagels...Have to eat before you drink after all!! And then we spent a bit of time looking for a white rubber charity band (He had the green and orange ones but had snapped his white one while working out in Ireland). Went back to his and got all kited out in my spangles.
Eventually we make it into town for 11am, after picking my brother up en-route. Quite funnily the taxi driver thought me and Sean were a couple, but then again I suppose thats a natural assumption when you pick up a mixed couple. We laughed and set him straight when he asked how we had first met.
So into town and straight into the Salutation to down a quick round before running back outside to watch the parade.
(Patriotic me!!)
(Parade on the March)
After a photographer from the evening post snapped a couple of shots of me and Sean (gah will have to check the paper on tues now) we joined in and marched up to the castle, and straight to the beer tent -- round 2 -- after standing about for two minutes we decided it was -FAR- too cold to be standing around outside and began walking back to the nearest pub again. Problem. Police-man everywhere and we had drinks. Solution? Jeeeese its easy to conceal a pint if you hold it up behind your flag as you pass ;)
Soooo onto Chambers where we stayed for the next 2 hours or so. Sean was out there making lots of friends due to a couple of cans or coloured hairspray and a shamrock stencil he had made (See below)
(Heeeee I always feel small stood between the boys!! Doesnt help that they are both lanky gits! Thats Sean on the left and my brother Andy on the right. Oh and the ballons just behind us? They came with us when we left of course)
(Sean's hairdressing thing!!) (The doorman at Chambers)
Back to the Salutation where we met this great couple who had brought out their instruments with them for the day...Of course Sean couldnt resist.....So we sit in there for a couple of hours singing folk songs. I even learnt a couple of new ones!
Then Ali arrived HORAY!!! The time is now 7.30 and we shoot off to Callahans (Thats not how you spell it!) A quick drink there and back to Mollys. Within the hour the third and final cowgirl arrives, we now outnumber the boys. By this time the place is -HEAVING- if you have ever been in an Irish bar on Paddy's day, you will know what I mean. Mollys/Chambers is not a large pub but sheeeese where they packing them in. It was wall to wall and god help you if you wanted to go to the loo, it took 20 minutes to get in there!
(Pissed up Irish Cowgirls)
(Awwww group pic, my brother is KO'ed though)
(Yes he's just finding -everything- amusing, we couldnt stop him giggling for about an hour)
(Tongues anyone?)
At around 9.30 we get a call from another Irish family that we always meet up with, they have got into town and are in the Bell watching a band. By this time we are ready to move on, Molly' sis simply -too- busy. You couldnt move half an inch in there and the music was totally drowned out by people shouting to each other, even though it was playing really loud. On too the Bell in the square then it is.
(Me with the band)
(Ali and Carma! Everyone's favourite Irish Mum :) )
(Ask no question's and I'll tell you no lies.)
(Andy - Still standing - Somehow)
So the band finishes up at just gone 12 and we have a quick disussion on where to go next (home is not yet an option)... Its boogie time, decide me and Ali decide, ROCK CITY. Where else I ask you?
(Sean now among the pissed up numbers.....Note the dancer in the background? I do that! Oh and looking again athe pic, thats Deano on guard next to her though it seems he looking over our way.)
(Drunken convos on the middle of the dancefloor, have to love those)
(Yes, we have no clue who she is either Andy.)
Heeee so dancing away at Rock City, nattering to the staff down there...and getting some really cute txt messages from Dean in France, things just dont get better ;)
(So thats 16 solid hours of partying. Goodnight lovlies, its time to go back to Sean's - for a nightcap)