Tuesday, May 4, 2010

mothers' night out

We recently had one of our local mothers' nights out, as always great fun! It's amazing how having a baby changes your social life! Cut off your work mates by distance and change of schedule, the local mums replace the colleagues. They are the women who have the same problems and joys as yourself, instead of moaning about your boss you'll be moaning about your husbands (never in earnest though) and instead of lunch in town it's playdates at your neighbours'...

Recently we went out to a chinese restaurant that had a '4 courses and a bottle of wine for two' offer, which went down very well. The proprietor was happy to see a big group of lovely ladies take over the majority of his restaurant, and I could see the interest, and dollar signs in his eyes when he realised we weren't there to celebrate a birthday, or anything else for that matter, we were just there for a night out. The food was lovely, and the more energetic of us insisted we try a nightclub in the area.

The nightclub was some experience. It had recently been done up and looked promising, and we negotiated a reduced entrance fee, but once we were inside, the clientel and band slowly caught our attention! A trio of middle aged dolled up ladies were singing their hearts out on the stage, dressed in trendy sparkly dresses and leggings, hair and make up also much like you'd see at a 21st birthday party! My friend described one of them as a 'postmenopausal Pink'! Their voices were impressive, their dancing looked extremely tired and bored. Apparently they were big in the 80s, I wouldn't be surprised if their songs were recorded and just played back!

Shameless: The Complete First Season
The guests were scary looking, to say the least! It felt like we'd walked into the set of 'shameless'! Hair was dyed either pitch black or snowy white (aka platinum blond taken to the extreme), emphasising the orangey brown make up (just like the band), big golden earrings were weighing down earlobes, competing for attention with clunky gold necklaces and rings. The age ranging from teenagers to pensioners (I think a birthday was being celebrated in one of the corners, that would also explain the extremely classy balloons on every table!).

Some of the older women looked like the kind that would be the boss in her prison common room, stocky, at first glance mistaken for a man, wearing leather blazers or checked shirts, and heavy work boots. Some of the young ones were sporting belly tops (showing off a post baby belly) and low slung jeans. We soon decided to try and avoid eye contact in case we'd provoke a fight, so I can't remember what the guys looked like!

After a few drinks however, we relaxed and had a great time, some of us even hitting the dance floor! Everybody in the place was just there to have a good time, scary outfits or not! I wonder if we looked pretentios to the other guests!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

First night away from Emm for the two of us

Last week P and I went to a wedding and stayed over! His mum came to babysit, and Emm didn't seem to be upset in the slightest when P and I left in our finery. While I was really reluctant, I've never left her with anyone but P overnight, and I only spent one night away from her so far, I have to say it was great after all! I couldn't resist to text hourly until she was asleep, but still, The ceremony was lovely (even though the priest kept calling the groom Ann instead of Alan!), the bride was stunning, the food delicious, and the drinks plentiful! I chatted to loads of people, even though I hardly knew anyone, and was on dancefloor for almost every song! It was a great night! We even lasted through another round of drinks in the residents' bar, and then hit the hay.

We had one of those hotel rooms with a double and a single. I woke up the next morning wondering about the pillow and folded duvet on the floor... Then I remembered! I woke up in the middle of the night thinking 'Oh no, Emm can't sleep in the single bed, she'll fall out!' I then decided to make her a bed on the floor, thinking 'good job she's still small, I can fold the duvet to make a mattress and a blanket!' Only when I looked for her in the double bed and she wasn't there did I remember that she was at home in her cot, safe and sound!

Thankfully I wasn't hungover at all, as I stuck to vodka and soda, apart from the wine and champagne early on, but I must have been drunk enough, to build a bed for the little one!

Emm had the biggest grin on her face when we came home, so sweet... She also started saying Granny now, even though it sounds more like gaddy! She's got about 80 English words now, and 45 German, we wrote down all the ones we could think of last week. I think that's not bad for 18 months. And she's started to walk on her own, which is so cute, she's so proud of herself!

No crafting done in ages, I hope I won't have to start her dress again, but maybe I should?? She hasn't put on any weight in ages, but she grows and grows, all her tops are getting too short, and she went from 3.5 to 4.5 in her shoe size in 8 weeks!

Anyhow, enough proud mammy babbling, I'm off to help my friend declutter her wardrobe!