The Christmas Party fiasco

DAY 40

With Christmas rolling around as it inevitably does, the annual Easterfest Christmas party was once again upon us. Being the frugal person I am I offered to arrange the catering for a classy BBQ for 20 people on my boss (Isaac's) beautiful new deck.

I spent a long time choosing the menu, especially the desserts that I would effortlessly whip up without even breaking a sweat. Luckily two friends offered to help - so I farmed out the salads and potato bake to extremely capable hands.

All was going to plan in the lead up - except for a pavlova that took me two tries to perfect, and a 'brownie raspberry icecream cake' that needed some serious help at the last minute (read... cooking another layer of brownie at 6.30am on the day of the party).

Party day rolls around. Freak heavy thunderstorm at 2pm. No dramas. Head to the house to set up all the hired tables/chairs/plates/glasses etc at 4. No power. No dramas - Ergon says power back on at 6.30pm. Great. Round up as many candles as we can locate just in case Ergon are lying to us (shock, horror!). Oven is gas (hooray!) so no need to panic.

Guests arrive. Second severe thunderstorm rolls in. All guests race out to pack up previously mentioned beautiful table setting. Everyone jams in to the house to wait out the rain while it steadily gets darker and darker and darker.

The rain lets up an hour later and the fog rolls in. No dramas. Everyone out again to wipe down the tables and chairs and set everything out again. Men start BBQ cooking. Drinks start to flow. Everyone gathers round the outdoor gas heater (in the middle of summer!).

Ergon updates with 'no power in the near future' info. Hmmm. Very dark. Children running around the house like bats, bashing in to things, wreaking havoc. Occasionally I see a light-sabre floating from one side of the room to the other. Turns out it was the best source of light in the house. Oddly comforting.

Ok - dinner is ready. Outside on the tables it was a romantic candlelit dinner for 20. Can't see the food you are eating - no dramas - just keep quiet, be happy and hope that dark splotch on your plate is a piece of lettuce and not a wayward bug.

Dessert time. Aussiejoy and I head in to make something wonderful happen. Pavlova success from Joy. I nearly set the house on fire by lighting-up the baking paper (a welcome source of light for a moment there). No dramas. I run squealing to the sink and extinguish the flames. Crisis averted. Icecream cake has been steadily becoming smoosh in the freezer since it arrived. 'Eat up quickly before you lose it' was the best advice.

Party finishes. Everyone happy and well fed. People chip in to help clean up. "Don't blow out the candles - we can't find the matches". Too late! Dark.

Isaac leads people down the foggy front steps, swinging a lit lantern. Reminiscent of Monty Pythons 'Bring out your dead'. Maybe this was the source of the nightmares I had last night.

A Christmas Party to remember but not one I would like to relive. I can handle the rain, just give me some power!