What was I thinking?

[KatyCooks]

By the way, I have one advantage that the rest of my friends don't - an open fireplace!

You cannot beat an open wood fire for ambience. Smell, warmth, glow... all good.

Not sure how much longer it will be legal in the UK, but I will be putting (properly kiln dried) logs into my fire until they arrest me!

So, if nothing else, I can get the guys to discuss lighting fires! Proper manly stuff! LOL

 

[pacanis]

Perfect! Who doesn't like lighting a fire and keeping it going?

 

[KatyCooks]

Ah... I see.
It's probably a term that is stuck in my old ways. Like "the girl" who cuts my hair, or cleans my teeth.
Probably not *correct* anymore. No matter the age.
But I have no filters and I LIKE IT!

But yeah, you girls

All the fun has been sucked out of life by having to be TOO politically correct. (IMO)

In the right context, I am happy to be called a girl.

 

[KatyCooks]

Perfect! Who doesn't like lighting a fire and keeping it going?

Exactly! (I start fires perfectly well myself of course - quite the expert actually.) However, in the interest of getting the chaps involved....

 

[forty_caliber]

Beer. Lot's of it. Will go off without a hitch.

.40

 

[dragnlaw]

Who doesn't like lighting a fire and keeping it going?

I start fires perfectly well myself of course - quite the expert actually.

And I, who earned her Girl Guide's Fire Badge while still in Brownies, have a hard time when meeting those who have no clue to the basics of starting, stacking, or banking for the night.
As I also heated my home with a wood burning stove for nearly 20 years - it was more than just a whim at the cottage!

and i think taxy will know exactly what that is like too!

 

[dragnlaw]

And.... before I forget come the day... IT WILL BE GREAT BECAUSE IT IS ALSO YOUR BIRTHDAY!

FOOD WILL BE GREAT,
FRIENDS WILL BE GREAT,
AND A GREAT TIME
SHALL BE HAD BY ALL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY (to come)​

 

[taxlady]

I really don't like being called a girl. I particularly don't like to see grown women referred to as girls, when the grown men are referred to as men, at the same time.

 

[Meryl]

By the way, I have one advantage that the rest of my friends don't - an open fireplace!

You cannot beat an open wood fire for ambience. Smell, warmth, glow... all good.

Not sure how much longer it will be legal in the UK, but I will be putting (properly kiln dried) logs into my fire until they arrest me!

So, if nothing else, I can get the guys to discuss lighting fires! Proper manly stuff! LOL

Yep, your fireplace will definitely be an ice-breaker, if all else fails Katy. Speaking from experience, there is nothing better than getting a conversation going with the question: "I see you all love sitting next to the fire, well, somebody better volunteer to go and fetch some firewood soon , or it'll just die out!"

 

[KatyCooks]

Yep, your fireplace will definitely be an ice-breaker, if all else fails Katy. Speaking from experience, there is nothing better than getting a conversation going with the question: "I see you all love sitting next to the fire, well, somebody better volunteer to go and fetch some firewood soon , or it'll just die out!"

I might even put one of the chaps in charge of keeping it going! ;-)

 

[KatyCooks]

And.... before I forget come the day... IT WILL BE GREAT BECAUSE IT IS ALSO YOUR BIRTHDAY!

FOOD WILL BE GREAT,
FRIENDS WILL BE GREAT,
AND A GREAT TIME
SHALL BE HAD BY ALL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY (to come)​

Thank you in advance dragn!! (My birthday is not actually on 1st November - it's just the day that everyone was available.)

 

[KatyCooks]

And I, who earned her Girl Guide's Fire Badge while still in Brownies, have a hard time when meeting those who have no clue to the basics of starting, stacking, or banking for the night.
As I also heated my home with a wood burning stove for nearly 20 years - it was more than just a whim at the cottage!

and i think taxy will know exactly what that is like too!

Most people I know have never lit a fire (or grown up in houses with fireplaces). However the house I live in now does have a small fireplace so I had the gas fire that was installed in front of it removed (professionally of course and the gas safely capped off), and I learned how to light fires etc. I can look at each log now and have a pretty good idea how long it will burn.

 

[FrankZ]

Cards Against Humanity

Cards Against Humanity is a party game for horrible people.

www.cardsagainsthumanity.com

Enjoy a few laughs

 

[Meryl]

Most people I know have never lit a fire (or grown up in houses with fireplaces). However the house I live in now does have a small fireplace so I had the gas fire that was installed in front of it removed (professionally of course and the gas safely capped off), and I learned how to light fires etc. I can look at each log now and have a pretty good idea how long it will burn.

When I came here thirty years ago, (from London), I didn't have a clue how to light a fire. I have also now become an expert on log-burning , and I have learned that you can't beat oak wood for keeping a warm fire going , that's for sure.

 

[KatyCooks]

Well, the gathering is nearly upon me! I have been cleaning and tidying and plotting and planning!

My fridge is too small for a load of lagers/beers, so I will have two coolboxes on the go (the freezer packs are already frozen and ready to go in them). The guys can just help themselves. (However, my fridge is not too small for a good quantity of pink prosecco strangely enough.. ahem.)

The fireplace will be ready to go in the living room but also, my brother Rob seems keen to get the fire pit going in the garden too - so why not I say! (Marshmallows may also be involved...)

Food - I won't be cooking anything (after all, it is my birthday as well as Halloween so I would like to relax and have fun too.) So lots of store bought things (hot and cold, savoury and sweet) will be laid out.
I have bought a load of halloween paper plates, table cloths, napkins. (Trying to keep down the amount of washing up that will be required as I do not have a dishwasher.) However, we are not barbarians - drinks will be served in glassware.

And I have a large quantity of black paper bats of varying sizes to liberally sprinkle over the walls, plus a couple of paper skeletons. Mood lighting will also be in place (I am a huge fan of appropriate lighting).

I have created a Spotify playlist (which I am sure will cause much horror!) But the guests are welcome to play whatever they want.

So, I am about as ready as I can be. Hope I start to relax at some point during the evening!

 

[dragnlaw]

Well done Miss Katy! Once you have that Prosecco glass in your hand... You could even sneak an early one - maybe just quietly on your own or with Olie before they all arrive!

 

[KatyCooks]

Well done Miss Katy! Once you have that Prosecco glass in your hand... You could even sneak an early one - maybe just quietly on your own or with Olie before they all arrive!

Not the worst suggestion I have ever heard....

 

[blissful]

@KatyCooks I can't wait to hear how it all went! Who made the biggest mess? What was the funniest thing that happened? Did they bring you nice birthday presents? Will they all get invited back for your next party? Did YOU have a nice time?
Have fun!

 

[KatyCooks]

@KatyCooks I can't wait to hear how it all went! Who made the biggest mess? What was the funniest thing that happened? Did they bring you nice birthday presents? Will they all get invited back for your next party? Did YOU have a nice time?
Have fun!

I hope nobody makes TOO much of a mess blissful, but if someone (other than me) has a minor mishap, it could be rather funny to be sure!

I will, of course, report back - good, bad or indifferent!

 

[taxlady]

Well done Miss Katy! Once you have that Prosecco glass in your hand... You could even sneak an early one - maybe just quietly on your own or with Olie before they all arrive!

Not the worst suggestion I have ever heard....

If anyone is a beer drinker, I don't suggest offering them Prosecco before they will be drinking beer. Remember,

Wine after beer. Have no fear.
Beer after wine, not so fine.

Ask me how I know.