So when did we last have a party!

[Yak]

Come on chaps, let's have a glorious Blyton style picnic, irrespective of the fact that the weather is awful . Who's gonna help me set up a pavillion?

Everyone come as one of the characters. I am gonna come as Fatty so I can, erm, unashamedly gorge.

[Boodi]

What do I have to do? (I'm a bit dense...please explain!!).

[Yak]

Just turn up pretending to be an EB character and eat lots of virtual food

Macaroon for you?

[Boodi]

Why thank you Frederick! I've never tasted macaroons before! Yummy! I'm Susan Longfield from Mistletoe Farm. My pony Boodi is outside!!

[Yak]

Would she like a macaroon too? *remembers impeccable manners*

[Aurélien]

Ideal picnicking weather here in New Zealand - our Summer of course.

[Boodi]

It is freezing here (minus 3 degrees) and more snow is expected tonight! No thank you Frederick, macaroons are not good for horses or ponies...but I'll have another one!

[Yak]

Ah, we should have set the picnic/party in NZ ... beautiful scenery there and yes, mid summer!

As we're not there, I shall just tempt myself to a hot rum toddy I think.

What do you MEAN, the FFD did not have rum toddies?!

[Aurélien]

Ah, we should have set the picnic/party in NZ ... beautiful scenery there and yes, mid summer!

As we're not there, I shall just tempt myself to a hot rum toddy I think.

What do you MEAN, the FFD did not have rum toddies?!

New Year Cheer, anyone? *Offers jorums of mulled claret to frozen northern hemisphere forumites* Often wondered what Quentin Kirrin's favourite tipple was, when he could afford it.....

[Boodi]

Thank you dear Aurelien, I could do with some mulled claret as it is snowing heavily here at present. I have no idea what Quentin Kirrin's favourite tipple was....seeing as he spread mustard on his breakfast toast he probably never noticed what he was drinking!

[Moonraker]

[arrives in a 40s style twin set and high-heeled shoes, c/w fur stole]

I thought I'd come as Aunt Fanny. It's a while since I've cross-dressed, and I have always been an admirer of Fanny. Joan has packed heaps of sandwiches and lashings of ginger beer, so let's get stuck in.

[my poor plates of meat...]

PS Welcome back, Moose!

[Yak]

I REALLY need a stiff drink to get that mental image out of my head.

No, too late, it's here to stay!


*offers Aunt Fanny some mulled wine*

[Boodi]

Aunt Fanny, what is wrong with your poor plates of meat? Have they gone off or something?
Do have another drink!! I'll just have a ginger beer as I don't want to fall off my pony on the way home, seeing as I have only just recovered from my last fall and the resulting broken ribs and punctured lung!

[Yak]

Why Susan, you REALLY should lay off the vodka and redbulls you know! We don't want you being arrested for being drunk in charge of a ... erm .. pony.

Greengage for you?

[Aurélien]

We don't want you being arrested for being drunk in charge of a ... erm .. pony.

Aurélien reminisces: Actually, in the days when NZ country folk rode horses from home to, say, their local 'watering hole' (pub), it was well understood by the local law that the 4-hooved-one was in charge of the return journey. Worked quite well too, 'cos those lads could usually sleep atop their trusty steed without falling off, but there were two things to be wary of:

• 1) an impatient or extra-hungry horse that preferred to jump any gates on the way home, rather than wait for its rider to awaken sufficiently to deal with the gates; and/or
  2) choosing a horse that you'd only recently bought, from a farmer in the opposite direction way off in the next County.