the party...

after months of planning and a saturday evening set up in the rain, sunday saw the community summer party executed in the glorious yorkshire sunshine.

after the last minute emails were exchanged earlier last week i was actually getting quite exciting about the weekend. but nervous. so nervous because actually was putting the new street- food court in a separate are of the park really good idea? will party goers find it? do people really just want burger and chips? but it gets to a certain point and you cant change your decisions you just have to run with them and hope for the best...

so first decision of sunday was what does one wear underneath a high- vis vest for a day? i opted for practical double denim with a splash of colour.

first job of the day. coffee. our local park has the cutest little cafe with a library  and serves the most delicious coffee and breakfast products. so after coffee i made my first realisation of the day. decorations.

i live for decorating stuff. i thrive on decorating projects of the home or any form of event. and id forgotten to make any decorations for my food area. the so- named food court was behind a hedge, away from the lake and the hustle and bustle of the main party area. so making it ideal for families to sit and relax but not so noticeable behind the flipping high hedge. so first note made for next year; make some form of pretty bunting/ banner for the high hedge...

i threw up the little bunting we had left round a tree and continued set up...

the party started at 1 but the crowds were building far sooner than that. the main area was buzzing with community stalls, charity stalls and all sorts of weird and wonderful activities to try. there was a climbing wall and blow up rugby game and the usual bouncy castle and spinning tea cups to keep the children entertained. a particular favourite of Seb's was the miniture railway.

i held off going back into the food area for a little while, nervous that it would be quiet as there were so many people everywhere else. but when i walked in it was fantastic. there were people milling around and queuing to try out the culinary delights. families has set up camp in the gardens on picnic rugs and were happily sampling what was on offer. 

the whole afternoon flew by in a whirl of talking and directing and eating. feedback on the day was majority positive for the party overall and i was delighted that from my street- food traders it was purely positive. we left buzzing about ideas for next year. for a first insight into event management it was great. i was fortunate to be able to concentrate on one area of the party so as not to get overwhelmed with admin and headaches. last week i was umming and ahring as to whether i wanted to commit to another 6 months of planning next year but i think these things are kind of addictive. if it goes well then you want to build on that success no matter what kind of work is involved.

a hen party in your 30s is a little bit more classy...a little bit...

last weekend myself and 14 other ladies took ourselves off to Newcastle for one of my best friends Sam's hen party. now 15 girls + newcastle + hen party does not normally equal a classy affair. think Geordie Shore but with Yorkshire women. but we're all in our 30s now and a lot of the party had children and the general consensus was that we were there for a good time, but we had to keep it fairly tame.

the weekend was well put together by the bride's sister, Laura, with help from Chilli Sauce events  who arranged our obligatory daytime activity and our evening meal (Zizzis, you cant go wrong when feeding the masses.) once we'd arrived in Newcastle we went straight to a hotel to all take part in a life drawing class, aimed at hen parties, so alcohol welcome and the model was a good sport with all the giggling and high spirits. most importantly it was a really good ice breaker for creating conversation with girls in the group we hadn't met before. which is the whole point of hen party activities.

once back at our hotel (with a pit stop at the local garage to get some form of lunch to soak up the prosecco) we were changed and ready to hit the toon (by 4.15!!!)its been a long time since ive been out in Newcastle, the last time was about 4 years ago for a hen do too and i must admit i was afraid it would be as full of black hair extensions and fake tan as back then, but it wasn't. we went in several bars that were expensive, busy and playing music that everyone in the group, bar me, loved. no surprise there, i haven't liked the same music as my peers ever. id imagine my music taste is more like Jeremy Clarkson's. so they were good bars; the atmosphere was good, the cliente was young and fashionable and thats what we wanted. most importantly, the bride loved it.

but, as often happens now, you hit a wall. whether its because sleep is so precious and the thought of going to sleep undisturbed in a double bed unshared is so appealing. or whether its because we havent got a back log of sleep stored i just cant get past midnight if the music isnt my thing. a few of us made it to 11.30 (pathetic i know) and we got a taxi back to the hotel. where we go into the beds in one of the rooms and the nice receptionist ordered us kebabs (classy) and we ate them in bed with flat prosecco (v.classy.) but we were happy, and our shoes were happily kicked to the floor.

and it got me to thinking. when did this happen? when did we find it acceptable to throw the towel in and go home at such a time? it creeps up on you, regardless of real age or situation, and before you know it you're a bit boring. i really thought i was going to have a proper burn out and stay out til 4 but no. give me some footloose and you might have got me til 2am.

the bride to be, Sam, enjoying a glass of pink fizz...

 drinks in The Botanist...

the obligatory group photo with hen party photo booth props i bought for the hen party goodie bags...