Last weekend I went to a “pre-wedding celebration” for my friend Karen, who is getting married this Easter. Let’s see, group of women, going out for a party, just before a wedding…well that would make it a Hen night, wouldn’t it? But aren’t those usually for women only? So how did I end up going? And aren’t they rather raucous affairs, involving screaming women, dare games, and foot-long novelty penises, not to mention the always popular game “Pin the Penis on the Groom”?
Well, according to that Wikipedia link, it seems that the party may be a “normal party…in the style that is common to that social circle.” I have known Karen since my first days at university, where we were living on the same floor at O’Rorke Hall. We subsequently flatted together for several years at 196 Hobson St. Over those years, I can recall fewer than 5 parties with Karen that involved novelty penises, so maybe there was a valid reason for the party being a quite civilised affair, with no Pecker Pops involved. Turns out they’d sold out of those anyway.
Since this was not going to be a stereotypical hen night, and because I’ve known Karen for a long time, I was invited to join them. I was unsure about it, but when told that I would not be the only male, I agreed to attend. I thought I would be safe enough, and could avoid being roped into being a stripper if there was another man there. However, late in the piece, someone, and I’m not naming names, but it starts with P and rhymes with wall, came up with some rubbish excuse about having to go to India for work. That sounds all well and good, but how many fridges does Fisher and Paykel sell in India? Eh? Bollocks. So I was the only male.
Not to worry though, for Suzie and Anna had organised a lovely day out. Auckland had turned on one of those days that make you forget about any problems the place might have, and want to tell any Jafa-haters to **** off. Blue skies, almost no wind, calm waters, thousands out on the water in boats of all manner, etc. We caught a ferry over to Waiheke Island, where we went on a tour of wineries. with an interlude of lunch on the beach. So there was a little bit of drinking, but it was all of a civilised manner. You can’t just quickly down glasses when you’re pretending to be interested in whatever nonsense the winery people are rabbiting on about.
I must make a special mention of the lunch nibbles that Suzie had prepared – she had outdone herself, with an outstanding array of treats. It was all a bit tough sitting under a tree, on the beach, drinking bubbly and eating from an exotic assortment of hordeuvres.
One of the wineries we visited was Obsidian. This was my favourite winery, for both the wine and the relaxed atmosphere. Janet, who had cooked our lovely BBQ lunch the previous weekend, was one of the people who ran the place. It was great to be able to return the favour, by visiting her winery and buying wine there. Not that I did it for anything other than selfish reasons – it’s good wine! Nice to complete the circle.
In the end I only had to deal with a few comments about being the stripper, and it turned out to be a really nice day. Tucked up in bed early I was too. Think it could be a bit bigger night at the wedding mind you…