Oh, What A Night!

Happy 2012!  I'm still drunk, not dressed and I've had a plate of chips for breakfast, if this is an indication of what the rest of the year's got in store then bring it on.

 I didn't used to care for New Year's Eve but after a crazy beach party in India ten years ago I saw the light. Great company, good food, plentiful booze, banging tunes, late night drinking and dancing with added fireworks and champagne, what's not to love?

Liz and Adrian

Due to an outbreak of man 'flu there were only five at last night's party but that meant all the more food and drink for us.

Tony, Jon's childhood pal and ex-flatmate.

Sarah and Helga sent me tablecloths within a week of one another so I can't remember which goddess sent this beauty.

Retro party nibbles.

I'm a disgrace, despite having a professional qualification in patisserie the puff pastry was shop-bought but I did make the Mexican vegetable vol-au-vent filling myself (kidney beans, sweetcorn, diced green pepper, red chilli and red onion in chilli-spiked mayonnaise) and I had more time to get ready, always a bonus.

My home-made cheese straws, party crackers topped with cheddar cheese with chili and chives & Dee's green tomato chutney, cream cheese with pesto, Spanish olives and chopped parsley and, for the non-veggies, sardine pate with gherkins and anchovies (kept away from the vegetarian options).

Cubed Edam and pickled silver skin onions on sticks

Retro-tastic devilled eggs - hard boiled eggs with the yolks scooped out and mashed with mayonnaise, Madras curry powder and diced cornichons, garnished with smoked paprika.

Crab vol-au-vents for the non-veggies (everyone but me). Adrian made some fabulous hummus, gravalax and dill dressing. I would have taken a photo but that would have meant putting my wine glass down. 

A party is the perfect excuse to showcase my jumble sale tat retro cocktail accessory collection.

Jon's chana massala with home made naan bread

You'll always find us in the kitchen at parties.

Silver Star maxi and cape from the fabulous Kitty, headband from a charity shop, daft smile courtesy of 2 bottles of Chardonnay.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

As usual everything descended into chaos so I forgot to photograph my vegetarian Champagne and wild berry jellies served in 1970s coffee cups or the huge box of posh Greek pastries from Selfridge's Tony bought us.

Jon thought my superhero cape looked better on him.

The lads dancing to Dexy's Midnight Runners' Geno.

The boys pimped themselves up.

and we played at mad hatters, too.

You can hear my divine Black Country twang shrieking through the fireworks, classy.

Happy New Year! Here's to a 2012 packed with even more fun, frolics and fabulous frocks.