18 January 2009

I can't take it anymore

Last Friday night was Fred's sister, Mary's 50th birthday, so she had a birthday bash. I was really looking forward to 'cos I love a good party (I take after my mother). It was in the games shed out the back, where we had the Christmas Eve do. We arrived about 7 and I asked Johnny, Mary's son, where his mother was.

"I dunno," he replied. "But she's got a big glass in her hand." Ok. I then asked Sylvia, the oldest sister, where Mary was.

"She's around somewhere. She's got a big glass in her hand." What's with this big glass, I thought? I then found Mary and here she is with the big glass.

One of her sons bought it for her and as Mary likes Kahlua and milk, that's what's in the glass. I told her not to fall in or she'd drown.
I found a seat for Jane and me and poured us each a glass of wine. We were joined by Fred's aunty Toni and her husband, Michael, then some more people joined our little group and we chatted until the music started up. Keith, a friend of the family's, had brought his guitar along so we got into it. Songs like La Bamba, Eight Days a Week...you know, good stuff. Then he started playing and singing the Dr Hook classic, Living Next Door to Alice. Now words have been added the chorus of this song, well here in Australia, anyway. So the two lines in the chorus that end with the word "Alice" have an addendum, i.e:
...so I'll never get used to living next to Alice (Alice? Who the !@*& is Alice?)" And the extra bit is yelled out with great gusto.
The same sort of addition has also been added into other songs, namely Will I Ever See Your Face Again? by the Angels and We Will Rock You by Queen. Is this just an Australian thing or do other nationalities do it?
Keith and guitar and Jo playing bongos.
After a good sing along and a bit of dancing we had dinner which was spit roasted pig and beef...yum. Then dessert. Lemon meringue pie, cheesecake, a huge pavlova smothered in cream and fresh fruit, jelly slice and the birthday cake which was some sort of chocolate gateau. Double yum.

Mary saying thank you to us with Sylvia, her elder sister alongside.

Some of her gifts. Her children bought her a beautiful bronze statue of a horse and foal, which was inside. It was magnificent. Apparently Mary had seen it in a shop and fell in love with it, so the boys got it for her.

After supper, there was more singing, but this time the singers were Maria and Manuel, a Spanish couple and the songs were the more familiar Spanish and Italian songs.
Maria & Manuel with Michael (who's Italian) singing Arriverdeci Roma. Maria had brought her castenets along and she also danced for us...
The photos aren't as good as I'd hoped but the quality of my photo taking is relative to the glasses of wine I drink...
Anyway, we had a great night and after going into Fred's mum's place for a cup of coffee along with Fred and his sisters, I finally got home at 2.30 am. Consequently, yesterday was a very quiet day although I did have to go up to the doctor to renew a prescription which I was almost out of. To my consternation, he decided to take my blood pressure.
"Bloody hell, " I thought. "This is not going to be good."
It wasn't...he was frowning ominously and giving me a look. I told him I'd been out the night before and didn't get home until late.
"Did you have a few drinks?" He asked.
"Yes." I admitted sheepishly.
He roared laughing and said "I wondered why you looked concerned when I started to take your blood pressure." Apparently it was 160/80...I knew it would be high and I knew why.
Anyway, today I have recovered somewhat and feel much better. I know my blood pressure is back to normal, I can feel that it is. But...I have come to the conclusion that I just cannot take too much riotous living the way I used to.

14 comments:

Walker said...

You're just a party animal LOL
Sounds like you had a good time just the same but take it easy for a while.

Gattina said...

When I read your title I thought OMG, in what trouble is she ? and then I read about a very funny birthday party, lol !
160 blood pressure is not that high, Mr. Gattino has to take pills because lately it went up to 190 and he has to have a surgery at the carotide on the 22nd !

Merle said...

Hi Robyn ~~ I think Walker has the right idea ~~ you are just a party animal. You may have to tone it down a little. Your Doc sounds very understanding.
I am glad you are Content and it took me even longer to reach this condition. Take care, Love, Merle.

rel said...

Robyn,
I'm sitting here reading your post and I'm trying my darndest to pronounce !@*&, But for the life of me I can't tell if I'm saying it correctly. Is it an Australian slang word or what? Maybe you could spell it phonetically for us so we can join in the sing-along.
0230 ? Cripes I'd've passed out long before then.
rel

TorAa said...

Haha,
We tend to forget we are not "teenagers" any longer.

You seems to have had yet another great party.

Have a great week to come

Anonymous said...

Rubbish Robyn. I bet you will be partying like a teenager well into your 90's. You go girl.

Jellyhead said...

Oh wow, that IS a big glass!!

Your post reminds me of when I ask patients about how much alcohol they're drinking - they will often tell me 'just a couple of glasses of wine with my evening meal'. I do often ask how big the glass is, but I never counted on anything that ginormous!

Isn't it funny about the added lines.... I never thought about it before - don't all countries add expletives to their songs? ;-)

Ramblins of a middle-aged goddess said...

WOW!! That is not a good blood pressure at all..i think you love to party and it sounded fun...just have fun and stay away from the drink..go with something that will not take that b/p up so high!! Nice to have fun with your friends...Good life!!

Mountain Mama said...

LOL!!! I can just imagine the look on your face when the Doc. was about to check your blood pressure. What a picture that would be.
I don't usually drink at all, except for an occassional toast.And then I don't drink all the champagne in my glass. I have BP issues too and have to watch it.

I wonder if this was a plan... We become pensioners then we have to cut out all the fun stuff.
And they call these our golden years.

Jeanette said...

Gday Robyn. You party animal you, the partying is good but not the next morning lol..Hehehe, can imagine the look on yourface when Doc took your blood pressure..
Oh I love a good party.. well it looks like a lot of fun was had by alll..

Anonymous said...

Whoaw! that's a big glass! hehe You always go to the best parties Robyn :)

Just wanted to wish you a Happy New Year, coz I don't think I've greeted you yet, I had to disappear into the real world for a bit. All the best in 2009!

Carole Burant said...

You party animal you!!! hehe I wish I could attend some of those parties with you, they look like so much fun:-) I had to laugh at the size of Mary's glass. Too funny! I can well imagine how worried you were when the doctor decided to take your blood pressure...that'll teach ya! lol xoxo

Merle said...

Dear Robyn ~~ Just a quick note to wish you a really Happy Birthday and
I hope you have a great day and get a fe prezzies. Much love, Merle.

Liz Hinds said...

You have soooo many parties! You and your friends really know how to enjoy yourselves1

But watch that blood pressure!