Just what I needed...a good laugh!

It doesn't doesn't happen very often that myself and my old school pals manage to get together all at the same time, but we managed it last night (but only just). Suk and Leigh were the hosts at their huge house in Rayleigh. John and I gave Ellie and Simon a lift, Elena

and her sister Lianne made their own way there, as did Sunita, Praful and their two girls. However, Sunita's family only stayed an hour as she said the girls had been ill - they

seemed ok to everyone else as they went off to play; it was Sunita herself that was looking a bit tired. So unfortunately, they didn't stay for dinner.




Suk put on a lovely spread as usual. For starters: proper Chinese mini veggie pancake rolls with sweet chilli dip and slices of green pepper, cucumber and carrot. You couldn't stop eating them - they were so yummy, but I had to leave some room for the next two courses. Being the non-meat eater, I had ratatouille whilst the rest had spicy chicken, noodles, veg and potato mix and salad. For dessert, it was one of Suk's infamous crumbles. Apple and pear this time. I just about managed a few mouthfuls with custard. Excellent tucker my dear Suk!

Afterwards, the fun began. It was cocktail time! There was a wide range of spirits, liqueurs and juices to choose from and everyone took it in turn to make each other their own concoction. Funny how they seemed to get stronger and stronger as the night wore on. Unfortunately, I was driving so I limited myself and as soon as I started feeling the effects, I stopped. Elena could almost drink for England. Having sipped a couple of her drinks, I nearly passed out but she put them away without too much trouble. Boy! Some of those mixtures were lethal! I now know I don't like tequila and I'm not too keen on Baileys but everything else was nice.

Leigh decided we should play Celebrity Heads - the game where you write the name of a celeb on a post-it note and stick to each other's foreheads. You then have to guess who you are by asking questions that only require a yes or a no. I don't know how but I got mine first, with the only clues being American actor over 40. I was Tom Cruise. You could tell the alcohol had taken effect as some people were asking the same questions over and over when it came round to their turn again! I don't suppose you'll get Tom in a room very often with Ozzy Osbourne, Kylie Minogue, Hugh Grant, John Motson, Peter Kaye, Pete Docherty and Atila the Hun. Funnily enough, as the night wore on, both Leigh and I agreed that Simon was looking a tad like Hugh Grant - although the pic (middle) doesn't really pick this up.

We'll certainly have to do another cocktail night again, only I'm not gonna be driving! And, we'll have to think of some good drinking games. Anyway, it was a really fun night, a real good laugh.