Nans 24 hour bash! (Family Party)

Member Name: sunbeamshubby

Product:	Family Party
Date:	10/12/01 (130 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great food, drink and a good time

Disadvantages: Bad wind!

8 years ago I was sentenced to 24 hours a year in the lunatic asylum. I later realised this was better known as the Boxing Day Party...

Let me explain...

It's all sunbeams (the wife) tribe of mad uncles and auntie's and a hyperactive Nan! It may surprise you to know that its Nan that runs the whole thing and keeps going long after we've passed out.
Apparently it's been happening every year since sunbeam can remember and it's the one day of the year that my dear wife (!) goes on about all year around.
I find it hard to believe they can all get so rowdy as most of them are quiet people. It all kicks off at 10am at Nans house with the women bringing all sorts of food up to be cooked. I myself stay well out the way as the kitchen becomes very busy. That way I can escape all the work.
All the men do is bring beer and neatly stack it in one corner and stand back and admire their handiwork. They then ask if anyone's making any drinks yet!

After that we play the traditional old game of hunt the chairs and table followed by international table and chair arranging. The challenge is to get 18 people around one table. This year we will not be using the antique wicker chair as my ass fell through it last year. That's my bum, not my wife!
As most years we managed to cram everybody around but as there's another baby this year someone may be on the floor.

At about noon, all the men decide to retreat down the pub and avoid the hustle and bustle of the kitchen as 6 women jostle for position and argue about how stuff should be cooked. This is where the wife also escapes as she'd rather be down the pub using the excuse that there's not enough room and being one of the youngsters its best left to the older members. Good excuse I think!

We arrive at the pub to find the door shut, as we're always the first ones to arrive. After banging on the door we surge to the bar but t
hen hell breaks loose as we play the other traditional game of "Who's round is it anyway?". Some tight old uncle always remembers they got the last round last year, even though they spent most of the last party on the floor!

After it's all sorted out we sit down to play cards, playing only for 5 pence a game. We win more on this than dooyoo pay for a read! There is always one uncle that comes out with a big bulging pocket. No he hasn't spotted the barmaid but is full of MY five pences!! Last year was very good as he was boasting all the way home until his wife overheard and asked for half. Then he went quiet.

We all sit around the table, some of us with a table leg stuck up our...er where was I? Dinner. Loads of food is placed in serving dishes on the table. Why is it whatever end of the table I sit at we always end up with the brussels sprouts and the carrots and they get the roasties? Every year so far there's been a family announcement, our engagement, cousins babies etc. Last year however as a joke, the wife stood up knowing that the family would assume she was pregnant but instead she just asked for the roast potatoes!

Traditionally in the family the men have to wash up if they can be found. It has been known for several of the uncles to hide under beds and one year to even go up in the attic. They were found, dragged down and forced to wash up.

Straight after dinner is not the best time to light up (not that its allowed) as there is a lot of methane gas which the little ones find very funny as they hear different tones ringing out from various bottoms.
Silent but deadly ones don't work as the little ones will drop you in it with a chorus of "You've got a smelly bum!" over and over again.

After everyone's had a good sleep its present time. It is a tradition at the party when Nan decided not to have crackers as the presents are not very good. We call th
ese Christmas tree presents namely because they are under the tree! Because it is Nans party we all get her a little present so she ends up opening presents for ages...helped by the little ones.

Tea is a massive feast of trifles, cheesecakes, sausage rolls etc I always have a plate of sausage rolls to myself because it's one of my favourite party foods. After a tiny bit of tea it is back down the pub for a rematch of cards and "Whos round is it anyway?". Some of the women are now allowed out as it is dark and people will not see them. Nan and a few others babysit the youngsters and generally get merry.

After we've been kicked out of the pub, its back up Nan for supper and more drink. Once the kids are in bed the adults get the cans out and flop out. In the olden days according to the stories my father-in-law would be known to put on a tea cosy and act as DJ whilst the others danced (staggered) in the kitchen but this was before we had young children around.

It starts to wind down in the early hours and people start to stagger home whilst others stay at Nans for the night.

The party doesn't end there though! In the morning its back up Nans to help clear up and pinch any leftovers! I normally leave with a good food parcel.

Overall, I really enjoy the Boxing Day party as it's the only time the whole family is in one place and look forward to it every year.

So...Who's round is it anyway?

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