Well, I throwed a party, and it seems to have been a success. I was nervous about mixing the work, the salsa, and the juggling crowds but it seems to have been largely successful, though in future I will make more of an effort to cross-pollenate the groups. Jugglers were in the minority, and a little out of their element with lack of toys or board games and surrounded by a larger crowd of wine-drinking, slightly more “mwah mwah” people.
Only one incident, involving red wine accidentally thrust upwards into an unsuspecting face, up nose, in eyes, up wall, onto ceiling, and onto a formerly pale throw on a manky old chair. Miraculously not a drop on the carpet!
About 30 bottles and half a large plastic tub of beer, 16 bottles of wine, a small bottle of tequila and half a bottle of triple sec were consumed, and there seems to have been a net gain in booze, I need to stocktake yet. There was definitely a net gain in food, with many guests bringing nibbles. I now have 5 types of cheese to eat all by myself and the chapattis, raita, lime pickle and chutney need to be consumed toute suite! By the time I would have liked to have served these items the kitchen was no longer a functioning facility as the place was packed to the rafters with people on the stairs and spilling out the back door, reminiscent of an indian train pulling out of the station…