WELCOME!!

please let Charles, the door man, announce your presence to the rabble. . .

(and do tell him who you've come as,
since you're in fancy dress. . .
I can't quite work it out!)

.
(YIKES! maybe you're not in fancy dress?
perhaps this is how you always go to parties. . .

you are fascinating!

that'll be why you're on the guest list)

.

(here's a little something
to keep you amused
while I put my lippie on. . .)

not in fancy dress then? help yourself!

didn't find anything that you fancied? take a look in the dressing up box!

please help yourself to a glass of your favourite tipple

we have sun tea!! thanks shot
.

.
. . . and java
.
good old fashioned tapwater. . .
.
fruit without the punch OR fruit with a punch*
.
pink champagne (my preference) (but only because I've never tasted sun tea!)
.
red wine AND rose wine AND white wine

ALTERNATIVELY fix yourself a cocktail from the liquor cabinet!

(*only because we started partying on the first of the month!)

now, let me lead you up onto the roof terrace

it's this way, careful on the stairs. . . you must like exercise! I'm lazy, so I'm going in the lift. . .

actually, it's not because I'm lazy, it's because the gorgeous Johnny is our Elevator Host tonight and so he's come as Willy Wonka! (Grandpa and Charlie forgot to get out)

(Johnny has promised to change into his pirate costume for later on in the evening, ladies!)(or gents of that persuasion. . .)

ta-da! I like to think of it as. . .

. . .my little oasis. . .

.
(I was inspired by singing that Maria Muldar tune the other day. . .) (but I really love this version by The Brand New Heavies, and I did promise the witch some skating!)

and in my little oasis, is a little tree - a housewarming bonsai from the lovely shot! isn't that beautiful! thanks shot. . . erm, I won't tell you at this stage what happened to the last bonsai I was given. . . :-( oops - never mind, I learnt what not to do on the first one and I always learn from my mistakes. . . :-)

.

back at the pool tho. . . HEY! you're getting into your birthday suit!! CRIKEY - I'm sure that wasn't in the dressing up box?? look, don't strip off now, we'll do the skinny dipping after dinner, ok? oh, alright - if you must, just take off your shoes and dip your toes in then. . .

oh DARLING!! how wonderful to see you!!

but, let's not look at each other - let's take a moment to love the view. . .

to the NORTH

to the EAST

to the SOUTH

to the WEST

beautiful, eh?!

ok, I've done my bit

over to you guys to mingle,
and chat amongst yourselves,
skinny dip even. . .
.
whatever you fancy!
.
if you want me, tough ;-)
.
(I'm in the cupboard*)

.
(smooching)
.

(*the one with a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on the door. . .)
.

hey, she says, to distract them,
why don't you all
admire my lovely new saltpig!
.
.
(what is a saltpig
and why does one need one?)

please don't forget to collect
your party bags
on the way out!

and don't you be worrying about how you're getting home, I've sorted that:

hey! someone's left a shoe behind

is it you?

someone saved my life tonight

When I think of those east end lights, muggy nights
The curtains drawn in the little room downstairs
Prima donna lord you really should have been there
Sitting like a princess perched in her electric chair
And it's one more beer and I don't hear you anymore
We've all gone crazy lately
My friends out there rolling round the basement floor
And someone saved my life tonight sugar bear
You almost had your hooks in me didn't you dear
You nearly had me roped and tied
Altar-bound, hypnotized
Sweet freedom whispered in my ear
You're a butterfly
And butterflies are free to fly
Fly away, high away, bye bye

I never realised the passing hours of evening showers
A slip noose hanging in my darkest dreams
I'm strangled by your haunted social scene
Just a pawn out-played by a dominating queen
It's four oclock in the morning
Damn it listen to me good
I'm sleeping with myself tonight
Saved in time, thank God my music's still alive
And I would have walked head on into the deep end of the river
Clinging to your stocks and bonds
Paying your h.p. demands forever
They're coming in the morning with a truck to take me home

Someone saved my life tonight, someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight, someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
So save your strength and run the field you play alone

.

ELTON JOHN