(no subject)
This post is a break from my series on intoxication, I am just gonna talk about my weekend instead. The main event was of course the party at our flat, which proved to be fairly successful in the end. But first some background. This is the fourth party we have had having in the flat since moving in May 2003. Originally two couples moved in, me and Rosie and Rox and Chris. We had a flat warming soon after moving in, a Christmas party in Dec 2003 and also an impromptu NYE Party at the end of 2003. Finally we had this weekend's party, originally billed as an Anti-Valentine's party, the date was chosen as we thought ppl would likely be available on that weekend (which was the case in the end).
We would have had a celebration of living in the flat for a year in May 2004 I think, but this happened to be when Chris and Rox had a month's break and we weren't really in the mood. Now that Chris has permanently moved out the dynamic of this party was obviously going to be different. First off as Rox had come up with the idea of having a party in Feb I knew that alot more of her friends would make it this time. Secondly it was just gonna be plain weird without Chris playing a main part, as he had done in the previous ones. He left early in the end this time, he had a good time I think, but was feeling uncomfortable and I don't blame him. Rox and him did talk and hug at the beginning, there seems to genuinely be no hostility, but the two of them obviously hurt when they see each other. Rox hung around with her mates and I think avoided him for the rest of the night, but it's not like Chris tried hard either. But I don't blame either of them. At least I got to hang with him and his brother for a fair old while. Rox obviously makes no objections to me hanging with Chris, but it's not like he can just come over nowadays (although he has been over a couple of times). We usually meet down the pub now for a swift pint and then hook up on the weekends. Chris, Sukh and Rich form my only other circle of mates apart from the HC really. I have other mates, but not ones I see regularly enough to call close friends. Due to where my work is located, the lack of evening social scene and general age gap I don't really have a group of mates at work I go out with. Although I should state I have met some good, good people at work and it is a shame we can't go out more.
The last party we had on NYE 2004 was held by only Rosie and myself as both Rox and Chris were away. Thanks to Rosie getting so pissed early on and going to bed aftter puking on my Chrimbo presents I was more or less in charge of things all night and there was no chance of flat mates conflicts over music etc.
This time tho it was gonna be different, hence the idea of the wheel (where we spin a wheel and whatever it landed on we played for those unaware). Apart from being a good little gimmick, it also meant that basically all of us would get to play stuff we liked (and also that I would be able to take advantage due to Rosie's and Rox's lack of computer skills).The last party when we were all here Rox would randomly change it to some Justin/Britney track in a middle of something on a drunken whim and Rosie would complain becuz I was choosing everything (not that either of them were gonna organise the music ahead of time). So the wheel idea forced Rosie and Rox to at least choose stuff they would like to hear. Rox doesn't really have enough of a music collection (CD or mp3) or imagination to make four clear catergories, so I ended up making stupid names for each of her choices and one became singstar, but still it worked in that we got a fixed amount of tunes from her. Rosie's catergories were good, but unfortunately her cover versions catergory passed most ppl by. Rosie's fourth choice of Heavy Metal (which wasn't really Heavy Metal) was chosen by Chris, and it was a nice way of getting him involved in some way.
All my choices (DnB, House, Reggae/Dub and Hip Hop) were pretty obvious to anyone that knows me. I would say that on the whole Rosie's choices were the most universally appealing. If you don't like soulful house or DnB you tend to really not like them and vice versa, but Rosie's choices couldn't really be found offensive I think. But you know I had to keep it real ;-) It did piss me off when ppl tried to fast forward or avoid Rox's main catergory. The whole point of the wheel was so everyone got a chance. I will forgive them as they seemed to pretty drunk, but obviously not drunk enough to get on and enjoy themselves.
Anyway the party was a success I feel, everyone seemed to have to a good time. Things kicked off with Singstar and ended with Singstar. We started spinning the wheel at about 8.30pm and by 9.15pm the flat was pretty full. Luckily tho the weather wasn't too bad and the balcony was an option. Good thing too and as once my house set was over and I had drunk a fair bit I got the Sheesha going. Chris had brought grape tobacco a mate of his brought back from somewhere in the middle east and it was bloody good stuff (not packed too tight, very smooth and very tasty). We also had some skunk to use, which we did, but not in vast amounts.
The crowd was good and jolly. Everyone seemed nicely drunk and talking happily. The music was on the whole enjoyed and we finally got some dancing going when the DnB was played late on. The last set was hip hop and then the Singstar came out again. I expected this part to fall over, but actually it was great fun and everyone was well into it. Even the fact that one the mics was broken didn't matter, we just all got into it. Highlight had to be mine, J's and Rich's rendition of Every Breath You Take. Touching stuff from three souful brothers, honest. This all finished at about 3am when everyone started leaving, which a good time to finish I guess.
Only it didn't for a small minority. When all had left or gone to bed, 5 of us remained up to really close things off in fine style. Me, Rich, Simone (Rosie's mate who I like most), Steve (Simone's mate, good bloke) and John (Rox's work mate I like most). We put on some more Toots and house music and played Pro Evo for a fair old while, before just chilling. Me, Rich and Simone finished off the M&Ms I had left, which gave us a nice mellow up and finished of the party very nicley. Rich left at around 7am, I had around 4 hours sleep.
Next day a few of us (including Jon) went for lunch at Belgo's in Chalk Farm and a drink in Camden. We returned to flat Rox had cleaned from top to bottom (she insisted, she gets some kind of pleasure from it and who was I to argue). I then spent the rest of the day monged on the sofa. Been really quite tired at work today and having a little bit of a come down, but I don't mind that as long as this is really it and I am ok for my interview on Thursday. Plus it is worth it for what has been an excellent weekend.
p.s. If you read my posts plz leave a comment or two, it gives me the motivation to keep posting. Of course if you don't enjoy my ramblings don't post! Cheers. Best Regards, Kiran the Ego Whore.