Sailing on the High Cs
Aug. 30th, 2005 10:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hellisonFeeling somewhat better this morning, have been lying in bed trying to sort the weekend out in my head and have come to the realisation that I remember practically nothing about sat night. Flashes here and there, but not much coherent. Personally I blame the chartreuse, tho combining it with the other Cs - cider, champagne and cannabis - may also be the reason.
So I shall write down what I *do* recall, in the hope it will make more sense ;p
Friday was uneventful, pottered about all day, went shopping, rode teh horse, bought a ridiculous amount of alcohol (not ALL for me) - 3 bottles champagne, 24 tins cider, 2 boxes of reef, bottle of vodka & bottle of tequila - and set off for Dublin.
Got to Ruth's about 10.30 and spent the evening catching up over wine & champagne.
Sat began in much the same way, pottering around with Ruth and Coralie, going out for lunch and buying the final party essentials (some lemons, a torch and painkillers).
Set off for Wexford about 3.30ish, journey down was great with the new motorway, despite vague pangs of guilt over not being outraged enough about Carrickmines and Glen of the Downs to not use it ;p
Almost rammed Niall at a roundabout in Gorey - typical really, I drive 180 miles and the ONE guy I cut up is the one I've been screaming to about his driving for years. Still it worked out well in that I could then follow him the rest of the way to the beach house.
Arrived just as the lads were getting the old stereo set up, speakers out the window so everyone could hear. Everyone within a 5 mile radius... Things started off slowly enough, the bbq was fired up and more and more people gradually arrived. Most of them I'd met before and almost always at similar events so there was a lot of 'this is Insert Name Here, have you guys met before?' followed by 'um. Maybe. Weren't you at that one on the farm? Yeah, we've met'.
In fact I can safely say that I've never met the majority of the people there when we WEREN'T doing our best to get completely slaughtered. You wouldn't think it from my very crap photos of the evening, but there were about 50 people there, not a bad turn out.
Anyway what with all the wandering about catching up with people and drinking and so on, I didn't take many more pictures. About half 10 or so, Brian called to say he'd driven down on to the beach and got his car stuck, so an Intrepid Band set off to rescue him, including me and my trusty torch. However someone had beaten us to it and we met him driving back half way down the road, which was handy cos I got a lift back to the house.
It was, I think, about this point that I foolishly went back thro the kitchen to get more cider and met Dee. With the Chartreuse. I tried to decline, but he's a man who won't take no for an answer, so down it went and I'm fairly sure its around then I lost the use of me legs. Everything is kinda blurry from, then on, with large black patches.
I do recall getting as a far as the back steps and having to sit there for what felt like hours because I couldn't get up. Literally couldn't - I tried and only managed to fall back down them so I stayed put and contented myself with watching proceedings. There was some dancing, more bbqing, some messing with the blue torch and Niall dragged a gang of teenagers back from the beach who stood around looking slightly nervous but trying to be cool. Which, given that they were standing near where I was collapsed, wasn't hard.
I did make it off the steps in time for the midnight champagne drinking and toasting of the birthday boy.
I decided not to brave the steps again for a while and joined the lads in the dj room, where they helpfully propped me up against a wall so I didn't fall down again. They're lovely people ;)
Eventually tho, I headed back outside to my post on the steps again, but by now it was very dark. There were still people dancing and I even managed to get it together enough to join in. Until Niall decided I needed one of his flying hugs and flying we went - right back into those fucking steps (and I have a large bump on the back of my head to remind me of that one). The rest I don't really remember. There was a fair bit of wandering to and fro aimlessly, men in hats and a lot of drink taken.
Sometime around then I finally had the sense to go to bed. Hurrah!
Sunday was a very slow day. No sudden movements, no loud noises, just nice and calm. Oddly no real hangover pain, tho this may have been because I was still drunk. A few of us went for a walk down to the beach to clear our heads; we managed to walk about 100 yards before collapsing and just sitting about staring at the sea. By the time we dragged ourselves back up the cliff, most people had either left or were taking down tents and getting ready to go and there was much aimless wandering around, interspersed with collapsing on the nearest seat. Had a bit of a smoke with Ruari & Fran before they left and then went back to bed.
Eventually there were just 8 of us left - Niall, Grik & Bridin, Paul & Sarah, Ian & Hilda and meself. We settled ourselves around the kitchen table, stuffed ourselves with food and spent the rest of the evening drinking (a very little), smoking (quite a lot) and watching Niall build a house of cards.
A very wonky house of cards.
Ian helped by constantly taking pictures from various angles, (as, obviously, did I) which we found very amusing, if somewhat tense at times.
Eventually tho, it all fell down and we thought thetorture excitement was over. But no, he started again only to be sabotaged by Ian. And everyone else. So we all gave up and went to bed, hurrah!
Monday dawned bright and sunny, tho you wouldn't think it from the photos. Went for a walk along the beach while the others slept, sat in the sun and watched the waves roll in and out again. Gradually everyone one got up and I even managed to drive to the shops so we could have Nice Things for breakfast/lunch.
Niall was determined to go sailing and managed to talk Ian into going too, so off we headed back to the beach with the boat. There was a lot of complicated tying of ropes and wires going on, which Grik & Bridin abandoned to play kites instead. Then Niall realised he'd left the life jackets at the house and tried to drive back to get them. This didn't work out too well, so he reversed all the way to water to get stuck there, while we looked on, baffled. Evenutally they got him off the sand, tho not without some damage to the clutch. Once he returned with the life jackets (parking OFF the beach this time), we got back to setting up the boat and adding the sails, until she all set. Ian and Hilda said a last fond farewell, a quick prayer was said and off they sailed, into the blue.
They did make it home and dry in one piece, with not even one capsize and we spent the rest of the afternoon drying out in the sun, til it was time to pack up and head home. Dropped Ian and Hilda off in Greystones on the way and finally made it back about 11ish last night.
All in all, a damn fine weekend. I wish I could remember more of Sat. night, but since I mostly remember having fun (apart from the falling down the steps bit) and no-one was shunning me the next day, I'm sure it all went swimmingly. It'll be interesting to see other people's photos - might help me piece some more of it together. Well it worked for febmeet!
I survived it anyway and had a very nicely chilled out time on sunday and monday, so it's all good.
But now I have to go to work :(
So I shall write down what I *do* recall, in the hope it will make more sense ;p
Friday was uneventful, pottered about all day, went shopping, rode teh horse, bought a ridiculous amount of alcohol (not ALL for me) - 3 bottles champagne, 24 tins cider, 2 boxes of reef, bottle of vodka & bottle of tequila - and set off for Dublin.
Got to Ruth's about 10.30 and spent the evening catching up over wine & champagne.
Sat began in much the same way, pottering around with Ruth and Coralie, going out for lunch and buying the final party essentials (some lemons, a torch and painkillers).
Set off for Wexford about 3.30ish, journey down was great with the new motorway, despite vague pangs of guilt over not being outraged enough about Carrickmines and Glen of the Downs to not use it ;p
Almost rammed Niall at a roundabout in Gorey - typical really, I drive 180 miles and the ONE guy I cut up is the one I've been screaming to about his driving for years. Still it worked out well in that I could then follow him the rest of the way to the beach house.
Arrived just as the lads were getting the old stereo set up, speakers out the window so everyone could hear. Everyone within a 5 mile radius... Things started off slowly enough, the bbq was fired up and more and more people gradually arrived. Most of them I'd met before and almost always at similar events so there was a lot of 'this is Insert Name Here, have you guys met before?' followed by 'um. Maybe. Weren't you at that one on the farm? Yeah, we've met'.
In fact I can safely say that I've never met the majority of the people there when we WEREN'T doing our best to get completely slaughtered. You wouldn't think it from my very crap photos of the evening, but there were about 50 people there, not a bad turn out.
Anyway what with all the wandering about catching up with people and drinking and so on, I didn't take many more pictures. About half 10 or so, Brian called to say he'd driven down on to the beach and got his car stuck, so an Intrepid Band set off to rescue him, including me and my trusty torch. However someone had beaten us to it and we met him driving back half way down the road, which was handy cos I got a lift back to the house.
It was, I think, about this point that I foolishly went back thro the kitchen to get more cider and met Dee. With the Chartreuse. I tried to decline, but he's a man who won't take no for an answer, so down it went and I'm fairly sure its around then I lost the use of me legs. Everything is kinda blurry from, then on, with large black patches.
I do recall getting as a far as the back steps and having to sit there for what felt like hours because I couldn't get up. Literally couldn't - I tried and only managed to fall back down them so I stayed put and contented myself with watching proceedings. There was some dancing, more bbqing, some messing with the blue torch and Niall dragged a gang of teenagers back from the beach who stood around looking slightly nervous but trying to be cool. Which, given that they were standing near where I was collapsed, wasn't hard.
I did make it off the steps in time for the midnight champagne drinking and toasting of the birthday boy.
I decided not to brave the steps again for a while and joined the lads in the dj room, where they helpfully propped me up against a wall so I didn't fall down again. They're lovely people ;)
Eventually tho, I headed back outside to my post on the steps again, but by now it was very dark. There were still people dancing and I even managed to get it together enough to join in. Until Niall decided I needed one of his flying hugs and flying we went - right back into those fucking steps (and I have a large bump on the back of my head to remind me of that one). The rest I don't really remember. There was a fair bit of wandering to and fro aimlessly, men in hats and a lot of drink taken.
Sometime around then I finally had the sense to go to bed. Hurrah!
Sunday was a very slow day. No sudden movements, no loud noises, just nice and calm. Oddly no real hangover pain, tho this may have been because I was still drunk. A few of us went for a walk down to the beach to clear our heads; we managed to walk about 100 yards before collapsing and just sitting about staring at the sea. By the time we dragged ourselves back up the cliff, most people had either left or were taking down tents and getting ready to go and there was much aimless wandering around, interspersed with collapsing on the nearest seat. Had a bit of a smoke with Ruari & Fran before they left and then went back to bed.
Eventually there were just 8 of us left - Niall, Grik & Bridin, Paul & Sarah, Ian & Hilda and meself. We settled ourselves around the kitchen table, stuffed ourselves with food and spent the rest of the evening drinking (a very little), smoking (quite a lot) and watching Niall build a house of cards.
A very wonky house of cards.
Ian helped by constantly taking pictures from various angles, (as, obviously, did I) which we found very amusing, if somewhat tense at times.
Eventually tho, it all fell down and we thought the
Monday dawned bright and sunny, tho you wouldn't think it from the photos. Went for a walk along the beach while the others slept, sat in the sun and watched the waves roll in and out again. Gradually everyone one got up and I even managed to drive to the shops so we could have Nice Things for breakfast/lunch.
Niall was determined to go sailing and managed to talk Ian into going too, so off we headed back to the beach with the boat. There was a lot of complicated tying of ropes and wires going on, which Grik & Bridin abandoned to play kites instead. Then Niall realised he'd left the life jackets at the house and tried to drive back to get them. This didn't work out too well, so he reversed all the way to water to get stuck there, while we looked on, baffled. Evenutally they got him off the sand, tho not without some damage to the clutch. Once he returned with the life jackets (parking OFF the beach this time), we got back to setting up the boat and adding the sails, until she all set. Ian and Hilda said a last fond farewell, a quick prayer was said and off they sailed, into the blue.
They did make it home and dry in one piece, with not even one capsize and we spent the rest of the afternoon drying out in the sun, til it was time to pack up and head home. Dropped Ian and Hilda off in Greystones on the way and finally made it back about 11ish last night.
All in all, a damn fine weekend. I wish I could remember more of Sat. night, but since I mostly remember having fun (apart from the falling down the steps bit) and no-one was shunning me the next day, I'm sure it all went swimmingly. It'll be interesting to see other people's photos - might help me piece some more of it together. Well it worked for febmeet!
I survived it anyway and had a very nicely chilled out time on sunday and monday, so it's all good.
But now I have to go to work :(
