My 1950′s Leaving Party

September 3, 2010 | Category: Uncategorized

I live on a strange street, strange in that it’s reminiscent of something from bygone times despite the fact we’re all in our thirties/early forties and modern, well, apart from me that is! We have one of those things you rarely see nowadays ‘a community’. Every year we get together for a street party, our children play together in the street or in each other’s gardens (fortunately it’s a cul-de-sac away from roads), we all know each other and help each other out in times of need and yet we all lead private lives and don’t feel like we’re watched (probably because most of us have our lounges at the back of the house so no opportunity to be curtain twitchers!).

We moved here six years ago and I now know every single one of my neighbours well enough to send Christmas Cards to, support in times of need and babysit for if needs be. Four ladies in particular have become my greatest friends. We have formed quite a little gaggle as we regularly get together for evenings filled with wine and gossip at each other’s houses, various selling parties and the odd movie night.

In addition we walk our children, who are all of similar ages, to school and back each day and catch up regularly over a cuppa. I love these girls and am so blessed to have found them on my doorstep. I don’t know how we could have been so lucky as to all get on so well but it works and I’m sure we will be friends for life.

Anyway, last Tuesday the plan was to meet these ladies for a Thai meal (as regular haunt of ours) and spend the evening reminiscing, probably crying and generally do what we do best – drink lots of wine and giggle.

I got myself dressed wearing my turned up 50′s style jeans, my new Swallow cardigan (Swallows are of special significance to our little group) a neck scarf and my new Rocket Original sandals. I looked in the mirror and was faced with my 50′s style self, which normally would work perfectly but for this evening I decided that for once I would dress down and bit and try and be a bit more regular. I even went out in my glasses as my eyes were sore after the weekend. What a mistake that was!!!

I headed off to my friend Ange’s house as planned to wait for our taxi. As ever I was dead on time at 8pm and ring the doorbell to be let in by Ange’s husband (a usual occurrence), I step in the door and suddenly this electric guitar starts up playing ‘Star Spangled Banner’ and my friends all rush out (with a few other neighbours) waving American flags, dressed as 50′s girls and completely and utterly taking me by surprise.

I have never been so amazed in all of my life. The man on the guitar was my lovely friend’s gorgeous and talented Fiance (new Fiance I might add – we’re celebrating that in a couple of weeks!) and after standing still gobsmacked for a good few minutes I eventually got bustled into my friend’s lounge to find that it had been made into a 1950′s Diner – Ryan’s Diner no less (my surname).

The detail was just incredible. The decorations were amazing. There was a fake jukebox with an iPod hiding behind it playing a list of 1950′s tunes gathered by my very pregnant friend Claire’s husband. Claire then handed me a personalised list of cocktails for me to choose from. The cocktail bar was beautiful with everything one needs for a copious number of cocktails and I started working my way through those very quickly! My beautiful friend Claire, not being able to drink, took up her position as cocktail waitress.

There were burgers and chips in logo’d Ryan’s Diner chip packets, gorgeous cheesecake for dessert and more cocktails! Later on we did a quiz which Jill and Claire had worked on with Jill’s movie mad husband and was quite a giggle. They did a whole section on San Jose where I learnt lots of things, some I didn’t want to know, such as the fact that San Jose has suffered numerous earthquakes (fortunately with few lives lost according to Jill who worked hard to reassure me!).

We also had a quiz section on Audrey Hepburn. Did you know she had size TEN feet?!

I had such an overwhelmingly amazing night. I am so touched that they went to all of this effort just for me and I hope they know that they’re forever in my heart and I love them to bits – they rock!

4 Comments

Whimsical Wife
on September 3rd, 2010
1
Aww it looks like you had a fabulous time!
Claire Read
on September 3rd, 2010
2
OMG what fabulous friends you have! They obviously know you very well!
@luvfashionista
on September 3rd, 2010
3
What lovely fabulous friends you have. You’re a very lucky lady. Loved the attention to detail.
Livi
on September 6th, 2010
4
awww that’s fabulous! Looks like a lovely night! What an amazing send off!