it must have been a very long time since I last drank 3 cans of with-caffeine Diet Coke in an evening – pathetically, as a result I have now been awake all night, yes all frigging night, as a result. What a dork. Even the hefty slugs of vodka that accompanied them at Clarkie's 50th birthday bash didn't help the kipping. Arse!
Anyway, here comes a 'just given up and got myself a cup of tea and the dog' pre-6am posting, it was at least a very good night! Clarkie played at Wimbledon HC when I was 21-30 so we know lots of 'the old gang' and plenty of them rolled out last night to help her celebrate. Jo, Georgie, Jodie, Batch, Rhian, Q, Nicole.. the list goes on. As well as the many Puritans and Epsom hockey folk, whose clubhouse we were in. Only in a battered old, badly lit, leaky showered, tatty kitchened, characterful hockey club can you still get beer for two quid a pint these days, and long may it last!
Bloody good effort from Swight and Woodsie for sorting her presents from everyone and the brilliant if spooky Clarkie masks that were worn to sing Happy Birthday to the old goat.
And hats off to Clarkie for a top notch speech in front of everyone, in her very natty shiny party boots. The triathlon cake looked fab, always a good reminder that I'd far rather that was her hideously painful hobby than mine..