Earlier on in the day,
tjej and I went bra-shopping in the T.K. Maxx in Leyton and I was delighted to find bras which actually fit me and are all pretty and everything (oh tk.maxx you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind). I feel reborn as a woman, although due to reasons of public decency i won't be posting pictures.
And then we gaily scampered off into Stratford, to feed me and prepare for the Luau party, being hosted by the talented miss
tjej and the impeccably festive
miss_newham.
Apparently, true luau parties are about celebrations of the moon, and folk sit on beaches with yon guitars, although pah! to that I say. Obviously, if they haven't got pineapples decorated with tiny mirrorball baubles, they can't hold a candle to events that do contain such things and much much more besides.
My contribution was to go wild in the kitchen and mull wine in a curious recipe that was a cross between Delia Smith's advice on the matter and the way that the crazy Eastern Europeans do it. Although I warned people to drink at their own risk, they all tucked in merrily and seemed pleased with the result which warmed my own little heart right up, even more than my concotions did.
Since
tjej can play every instrument in the world, and has most of them in her house, and there were lots of songbooks and SingStar enthusiasts present the evening rapidly took off on a musical note. I didn't know the tunes or the words to most things (which has never stopped me singing) but I was able to belt out hearty contributions to "Let me show you the world", "The Beauty and the Beast", "Don't Cry for me Argentina", and "Jacob and Sons" (though all the colours in the multi-coloured coat eventually stumped me).
kesstrel sounds like an angel, and anyone who hasn't had a chance to hear her sing yet should do because it's a glorious experience.
An evening of joy all around really, and you can see
The finder of the almond in the rice cake and the subsequent winner of the marzipan pag
bluedevi being merry, and
verlaine concentrating on drawing holiday themed things
Carlsberg don't make St. Lucias, but if they did, they'd probably be the best St. Lucias in the world
Confused singing along to Danish carols in Danish
verlaine being a mermaid
mulled wine mulling merrily
miss_newham making luau garlands
the centerpiece: the gorgeous festive pineapple
The singalong to Danish Tunes with people who actually knew how to pronounce the words
more merriness and gaiety induced by wine, tinsel and legwarmers