Hubby and I got invited to a 50th birthday party this weekend (our first 50th - I guess we should be reading the sign on the wall from now on.... ).
Actually, the bash was for the dad of the girlfriend of a friend from Hubby's office.
I have to admit, when we got G-Man (friend from work) and Mobz' (girlfriend) invite, I wasn't exactly thrilled. The invite said the party would be out in the countryside (first bad sign, this city gal does not exactly mesh well with mother nature), on a farm (eek!), we'd be camping out (double eek!!), they'd be inflatable outdoor games (wha-aat!?), and the party had an "Olympics" theme.
A party with a theme. Never a good sign.
The icing on the cake? the big shebang was happening in a town called Diss.
Seriously.
Diss.
Well, gotta say, the joke's on me.
Let me start out by saying that Mobz' parents live in the most awesome farm I have ever seen! The place is set on acres and acres of green land near Norwich (north east of England) and is made of several century old buildings that have been expertly and carefully restored to their former beauty while still being equipped with all the modern necessities of life (WiFi, flat screen TVs....).
But the awesome place was just the beginning. Mobz' parents had thought of everything. When we arrived, the front lawn had been set up with a huge barbecue pit with locally sourced meat and homemade salads to produce the best meal ever prepared outdoors (Hubby went back for THIRDS!!). A tent to the side had been set up as the drinks station and "all you can drink" doesn't begin to cover it.
By 3 the party was full on. We must have been around 100 by then and the sun was up and shining. Happily fed and subdued by drink Hubby and I obligedly followed the crown to the other gignormous front lawn (I tell ya, this place was amazing) where a whole inflatable sports center had been set up!
There was a double bungee run, a human table football, a rodeo bull, a bouncy gladiator ring.... I mentally reminded myself that the birthday boy was turning 50, not 5.
I'm not gonna lie, at first I had been a little hesitant to join in. I'm not in my element when it comes to outdoor sports. But I gotta say, once I got sucked into all the energy and excitement around us it was incredibly fun! We each had a name tag with a color for our team (Red, Green or Blue). Everyone could go on any of the games and anytime someone won points these would go the team's tally. You could play if you wanted or watch if you wanted or not do any or do all!! There was absolutely no pressure to get on or off, in or out...... you could ride as much as you wanted ... or not ride at all. Nobody judged nor cared how long you stayed on the rodeo bull, or how flat you fell off the gladiator ring... everyone just had a blast.
Following the afternoon tea and cake (helloooo - England remember???) there was still the egg tossing and wellie wanging competitions.
And just when we thought it couldn't get better? Did someone call for an especially ordered Fish'n'Chips van driving to the inner court of the farm, setting up camp and serving the freshest, locally sourced, most delicious beer-battered deep fried fish I've tasted in the 2 year I've been living in the UK? You totally betcha! Now that's what I call a proper dinner!
We polished off the evening with some amazing cupcakes made by Modz herself (dear lord, that girl can bake!) and sang Happy Birthday to the birthday boy.
Sadly enough, Hubby and I couldn't camp out as we had to get back to London that night but in hindsight I almost regret we didn't. We're sure that would have been so much fun too!!
On our drive back Hubby and I agreed we'd had a very fun and very British day. A themed party?!? No one in France does themes. Wellie wanging? Egg tossing? The only thing the French throw for fun is petanque balls and you don't see players yelling out in blissful glee. Jumping on bungee inflatable games? Quoi? And who in France would reasonably consider Fish'n'Chips a proper dinner and cupcakes a proper dessert? Moi!!!
So in the grand scheme of things, we're getting acquainted with the British definition of fun.... and really enjoying it!!
.... which sadly can't be said for getting better acquainted with Nature.
Fned.
Actually, the bash was for the dad of the girlfriend of a friend from Hubby's office.
I have to admit, when we got G-Man (friend from work) and Mobz' (girlfriend) invite, I wasn't exactly thrilled. The invite said the party would be out in the countryside (first bad sign, this city gal does not exactly mesh well with mother nature), on a farm (eek!), we'd be camping out (double eek!!), they'd be inflatable outdoor games (wha-aat!?), and the party had an "Olympics" theme.
A party with a theme. Never a good sign.
The icing on the cake? the big shebang was happening in a town called Diss.
Seriously.
Diss.
 |
| Don't diss Diss |
Well, gotta say, the joke's on me.
Let me start out by saying that Mobz' parents live in the most awesome farm I have ever seen! The place is set on acres and acres of green land near Norwich (north east of England) and is made of several century old buildings that have been expertly and carefully restored to their former beauty while still being equipped with all the modern necessities of life (WiFi, flat screen TVs....).
But the awesome place was just the beginning. Mobz' parents had thought of everything. When we arrived, the front lawn had been set up with a huge barbecue pit with locally sourced meat and homemade salads to produce the best meal ever prepared outdoors (Hubby went back for THIRDS!!). A tent to the side had been set up as the drinks station and "all you can drink" doesn't begin to cover it.
 |
| This BBQ was EPIC!!! |
By 3 the party was full on. We must have been around 100 by then and the sun was up and shining. Happily fed and subdued by drink Hubby and I obligedly followed the crown to the other gignormous front lawn (I tell ya, this place was amazing) where a whole inflatable sports center had been set up!
There was a double bungee run, a human table football, a rodeo bull, a bouncy gladiator ring.... I mentally reminded myself that the birthday boy was turning 50, not 5.
I'm not gonna lie, at first I had been a little hesitant to join in. I'm not in my element when it comes to outdoor sports. But I gotta say, once I got sucked into all the energy and excitement around us it was incredibly fun! We each had a name tag with a color for our team (Red, Green or Blue). Everyone could go on any of the games and anytime someone won points these would go the team's tally. You could play if you wanted or watch if you wanted or not do any or do all!! There was absolutely no pressure to get on or off, in or out...... you could ride as much as you wanted ... or not ride at all. Nobody judged nor cared how long you stayed on the rodeo bull, or how flat you fell off the gladiator ring... everyone just had a blast.
 |
| Modz & G-Man giving the bungee run a run |
 |
| Hubby showing the French Flair to bull riding!! |
 |
| Fned playing... what else?... FOOTBALL!!! |
Following the afternoon tea and cake (helloooo - England remember???) there was still the egg tossing and wellie wanging competitions.
 |
| What a bunch of (egg) tossers! |
 |
| Fned salivating in front of the Fish'n'Chips van |
We polished off the evening with some amazing cupcakes made by Modz herself (dear lord, that girl can bake!) and sang Happy Birthday to the birthday boy.
Sadly enough, Hubby and I couldn't camp out as we had to get back to London that night but in hindsight I almost regret we didn't. We're sure that would have been so much fun too!!
On our drive back Hubby and I agreed we'd had a very fun and very British day. A themed party?!? No one in France does themes. Wellie wanging? Egg tossing? The only thing the French throw for fun is petanque balls and you don't see players yelling out in blissful glee. Jumping on bungee inflatable games? Quoi? And who in France would reasonably consider Fish'n'Chips a proper dinner and cupcakes a proper dessert? Moi!!!
So in the grand scheme of things, we're getting acquainted with the British definition of fun.... and really enjoying it!!
.... which sadly can't be said for getting better acquainted with Nature.
 | ||
| Fned staying away from the chickens |
Fned.
10 comments:
This sounds like the most fun birthday party ever! I'm so glad you guys got to go...can you imagine how much you would have regretted it if you'd passed and then heard about all this fun stuff after the fact?
Hey, 50 is the new 20 :)
I love this!!
You are such a Londoner!!! Norwich is not even close to the north! Looks like an amazing weekend - no one does country fun like the Brits!
Talk about a great party! Sounds like the party of my dreams. Glad you got to go and congrats to the half-century b'day boy!
Thanks Emily! It really was fun and I am sure glad we went after all !! x
Thanks!
I agree! And those in their 30s are only teens!!! :-)
LOL! So true!!! I was thinking "north OF LONDON".... :-)
Thanks mom! you would have loved it!! x
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