What a hoot – on Saturday we hired a sort of gypsy-wagon-come-chalet in the garden of the Leather Bottle, Earlsfield – the perfect size and shape (and privacy!) for c 18 of us who tipped up for the hockey xmas do.
Much merriment was had with the Secret Santa presents, which people were allowed to steal from others if they had a higher number ticket in the draw – after the 4 bottles of mimi fizz (guzzled in a nano second) the favourite play-able item was definitely the velcro hat and balls. Modelled beautifully here by Jp, who was fined for knocking over not just one, not just two, but three drinks with her bum as she sidled out to the loo (and she does not have the biggest butt in the team..) – her punishment was doing several 'ears' of donated mixed up drinks. It's more usual to have to use you own shoe to do a drinking fine but the ears just had to be put to good use. As was the Pin the Tail on the Donkey behind her – another 'good game, good game'.
And not just one, but two packs of sticky moustaches obviously made us all the more attractive, particularly when standing at the bar indoors, out of context, where many a strange look was exchanged by the local punters. And does our goalie Vicks, or not, look just like a cross between Aslan of Narnia and D'Artagnan??!
The final touch – being invaded by some total random bloke in a pink gimp suit that matched Captain Claire's pink top – was a splendid one, where the hell he came from I have no idea. But that's a hockey night out for you…
Good going the Aces – February is the next outing! Sx