"When the working week is done, Oh, girls just want to have fun..."

I always thought that at some point I'd get too old for a sleepover, but there is nothing like a girly night in with friends : )

I remember having sleepovers when I was still reasonably young (as in between 11-14 years old) but honestly can't remember which friends of that time they were with.  All I remember were things like staying up really late for that age (like 2am) and watching things like "God's Gift".  If you never got the pleasure of seeing this program, it was a show for I'd say women in their 20s upwards, where men did sexy things to gain approval from the female audience members.  It was kind of like a sluttier version of "Man-O-Man"  hosted by Chris Tarrent in the 90s and played in prime time.  It was basically a chance to giggle and joke at men with their tops off and then to go silent if you thought your parents were going to come downstairs.

My next memories of sleepovers were being 16-18years old, when it was all about daring friends, fake saonsis, watching horror films and talking about boys.  These years had fond memories, as I started to make decent friends, who I could have a joke and a laugh with whilst growing up.  One of the funniest memories from this was definitely when we made a pact that whoever fell asleep would be drawn on.  We all tried so hard to stay up but then one of the other girls fell asleep.  It seemed really funny at the time that we should draw on all her limbs where her pj's didn't cover.  Shortly after we all fell asleep.  In the early hours of the day (as in 7am ish) she woke up to find the drawings on her legs and arms.  I can't quite remember if she screamed or just woke us up, but we were soon all laughing and giggling, even though we were so tired.

The years of 19-23, were mainly alcohol fuelled and there is probably many an occasion that I can't remember.  However there is one night that always comes to mind.  Ages ago I had the idea of Anti-Valentines day (or alternative, as I kind of call it now).  It was the idea that anyone should have fun with friends, family or loved ones).  On the first Anti-Valentine's day celebration, a group of us stayed at a friend of ours.  It was a mixed group of girls and guys who were all friends and single and we listened to music, drunk alcohol and just had a laugh.  One of our male mates feel asleep and the whole idea of drawing on his face was suggested.  The other lads got in first, drawing on a moustache and I think colouring in his eyebrows - I think some of it was with biro : s  Then us girls decided to add some eye shadow etc.  We decided we wanted him to look like William Shakespeare.  After finishing out master piece, we let him sleep and carried on having a laugh.  When he finally woke, he was still quite tipsy and being an English Student, we asked him to recite his favourite shakespeare quotes and talk about the man.  He was so hard to hold in the laughter, especially as the alcohol was well and truly in all our systems.  Being the mean people we are, we even let him leave the house and get in a cab wearing all the make-up.  We heard the next day that when he got home, he saw his face in the massive mirror that was in his parent's hallway and managed to wake up his family at silly o'clock.  We also didn't realise he had a big interview the next day and I think he had trouble taking it all off before the meeting.  Oops : s

The last big sleepover I had at mine was for my 25th birthday.  I invited round about 8 people to celebrate getting older and being a quarter of a century.  It was reasonably chilled watching films, chatting, drinking and eating.  It was really cool and a nice way to catch up with everyone.

Between then and now, I hadn't been to a sleepover (other than crashing at people's houses when I'm too drunk or can't get home).  Then a few days ago I went to a mate's house for one for her 29th birthday.  There were 6 of us who all roughly knew each other and the night consisted of a board game, karaoke on the wii, one friend was painting peoples nails, drinking, chatting, eating and laughing.  The thing I liked about it the most is, we all might be mid-20s to early 30s and doing all different kinds of jobs, but when it comes to a sleepover, it's all about having fun.  For our ages, we all managed to stay up until about 1:30-2pm - which is impressive, as we mostly find late nights quite difficult now.  One mate also decided to go with a onesie, whilst I decided to wear my Selk bag (a sleeping bag that has arms, legs and a hood - its very cool!)  

The thing is, you are as young as you feel and although we had a sleepover, it is completely different to when we were younger.  For me, it was just nice to have one night where you could forget about everything else and just have a night in with the girls.  After all, "When the working week is done, oh girls just want to have fun".

Blog title is from this 80s song (and also the title to a film I like from the same period : p): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIb6AZdTr-A

"If you like it, then you should have put a ring on it"

Went to my 3rd ever Hen Do on Saturday (I think it's my 3rd, I don't think there has been any unmemorable ones : s).  I've been invited to others, but normally because of work, haven't been able to make it.


This particular Hen Do was for someone I have known for a few years, who I was lucky enough to meet through another close mate of mine.  I felt really privileged to be invited to her Hen Do because we don't get to see each other that often, even though we get on well when we see each other.  Therefore, I would like to dedicate this blog to her (you'll see her at the end of the blog, I'm putting her picture up, lol).


Anyway, so the Hen Do.  I have to say, I think my ideas of Hen Do's have changed over the years.  When I was really young (early adult, not a child, lol) I thought of them as scary nights out where old woman get drunk and get off with people, when I was a bit older,  I saw it as a good old piss up with the girls, as now, I like the idea of having a realign good day, night or weekend with the girls without the piss up being the main and only feature.  


I used to be a reasonably heavy drinker.  Not in a really bad way, just I got used to holding my alcohol and being able to hold my own on a night out.  Then after one or two particularly embarrassing nights, I lightened my drinking and became a lightweight (something I hadn't been since I was about 18/19).  The problem is once you've been a heavy drinker and then cut down, you have seen yourself and others in a really bad state and it doesn't seem so appealing as the first time around.  I like to be happily tipsy or toasted sometimes but the puking thing is not and never was fun (and this is coming from someone who has only ever been sick outside the boundaries of her house once and even in the house it has been bucket or toilet allocated - you should be impressed by that, I am : p).


My last two Hen Do's were quite different.  The first one I went on was a weekend away in Brussels with all the girlfriends of my boyfriend's school mates.  At the time I had been part of the group for a few years (and I wasn't the newest member of the team at that point), so it was an enjoyable trip where we went sight seeing, shopping, eating and drinking - it was a really good weekend.  It was also the first time I think that any of us had seen a massive public billboard with a man and woman completely naked on it in missionary position - I tried to take a picture at the time, but we were on a bus, LOL


The second Hen Do was for a friend of mine from university.  For this one a really big group of us started at my friends house drinking champagne and then went on to have a night of crazy drinking and dancing at a Bavarian pub in town - dressed as wenches and maidens, LOL.  I have to say, due to starting with Champagne, I actually didn't drink that much, as I was worried about feeling ill (especially after feeling sick in the toilets).  It was fine though because I took lots of pictures, helped other people that had drunk too much and in general, had a really good night.  I think the scariest point of the night was a man wearing red Baywatch pants, no top on and wearing a giant horses head - thank god I didn't drink more, that would have haunted my nightmares, lol.


So, back to the other night.   We started in a really nice restaurant South of the river Thames (three course meal and cocktails) and put on badges and sashes for the night ahead (classy ones I tell you, very classy).  After a few more drinks at the bar, we were very kindly given lifts by some of the girls and headed to the O2 for Kisstory (the best music from the history of Kiss Fm).  Now, you may or may not appreciate Kisstory, but it is one of many music hours I love listening to on the radio and couldn't wait to experience the club night. 


Well, the people were as I expected them.  It sounds harsh, but I don't fit the expected target audience of Kiss.  I am an all-round music lover (who looks more rocky than anything) who breaks the boundaries of the usual target listeners and hard core Kiss fans these days are normally bracketed more as trendy, urban and young!  You see I know loads of people that like Kisstory and don't fit this mould, they just wouldn't go to the club night (closet listeners, lol)  I have to say though, I was a little worried of fights or punch ups starting in general, but only two people got chucked out that I saw and the bouncers did it quickly and smoothly - I was VERY impressed!  That and Kele Le Roc played, Justin Wilkes rocked the tunes and it all took me right back to the old Skool : )


So, the night at Kisstory went well, we danced our socks off to Reggae, Garage (not so much me, lol), Dance and R n B until the final song - it was good!   We even got our Hen's inflatable Gary Barlow joining into all the tracks (our Hen is a big fan of his) - slightly worried that he got more attention from guys in the club than we did, but that's Gary for you!


The only let down was out two cabs not turning down.  I wouldn't normally do this (because I am bigger and better than this) but don't use Blackheath cabs (putting a downer on my friend's Hen Night - tut tut!)  They not only didn't turn up, they kept telling my friend on the phone that they were on their way... for nearly an hour!  So after freezing ourselves to the bone, we managed to get two other nice companies to drop us all home - hooray, it all turned out well in the end!  And that was the success of another Hen Do : )

For more from Kisstory, follow Justin Wilkes ‏ @justinwilkes
 Blog title based on Single Ladies by Beyonce:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m1EFMoRFvY


And just for fun...


Piss take with Justin Timberlake in:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRGogYu2gRE


Gary Tank Commander piss take:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TRiLDuzx5A&feature=fvst