25 December 2012

[jdaw1]

Now at the in-laws house at the appointed time. MiL still drying her hair and FiL building new wardrobes. Why do I do this?

1. Please start a new org thread: This is not a Christmas Tasting - 25 Dec 2012 - Venue TBA.

2. Explain the problem.

3. Invite like-minded souls to join us, with a stark warning to festivity-loving interlopers not to join us.

4. Invite shippers to offer us an unmanned quinta for the evening. Tell them they can join us if they pass the test at 3 above.

5. I’m in.

Start with accommodation a house, or a rented flat that can semi-comfortably hold one family. Then invite another family, optionally related, to squeeze into the space, and appoint somebody to enforce the mandatory-happiness and no-claustrophobia rules. Why? Why do this? (These questions are rhetorical neither DRT nor I care one jot for any answer.)

So, instead, on Tuesday 25th December 2012, somewhere, fine port, and no silliness. We might start late on Monday 24th (say, 10:31am) and continue until Wednesday 26th December.

And include me in. (I already have permission.)

[jdaw1]

DRT can’t access TPF right now. So I emailed the above, and

Splendid.

Why are we stopping on 26th Dec?

Is ‟I already have permission” the same as ‟I’m not invited to family events next Christmas”? If so, I also already have permission.

(Please post all of the above.)

[Alex Bridgeman]

Elizabeth has asked that I enquire whether non-members of TPF might be allowed to take part in the TPF 2012 Christmas Escape Offline? We are late for New Year jollities at a charming neighbours and have my in-laws due for their annual review and critique of the house tomorrow.

I don't have enough port for all this - the new case of Skeffington has already been breached!

[WS1]

Elizabeth has asked that I enquire whether non-members of TPF might be allowed to take part in the TPF 2012 Christmas Escape Offline? We are late for New Year jollities at a charming neighbours and have my in-laws due for their annual review and critique of the house tomorrow.

I don't have enough port for all this - the new case of Skeffington has already been breached!

You are late! My new case of Skeffington was breached on the day I got it! Had to bribe my dentist!

Since I pulled 6 bts of Morgan 91 out of reserves the remains of the case of Skeffington 09 does get a breather since DrDirk and I go on a walk later today and need refreshments on the way!

regards

WS1

[DRT]

Non-members are allowed on condition that there is no public display of festive cheer between spouses. If there is a marital need to wish one another "Merry something or other" get a room!

Tinsel induced happiness will be met with shock-and-awe tactics. Yes, that's correct, if anyone dares to display any trace of festive merriment their entire set of glasses of port will be confiscated and they will be made to sit in the corner and drink warm Hutcheson 1970.

I think if we all stick to the rules we could have the best not Christmas Day in history.

Derek

PS: Just in case any of you are reading this and wishing you could pluck up the courage to join us but need an extra incentive before asking for permission: I PROMISE THAT THERE WILL BE NO BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITHIN 500m OF THIS EVENT.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Oh no! Now the Scottish Country dancing has begun. Heaven help us all!

And I object to having to get a room in which to perform spousal merriment, such as the hitting by her to me of several bottles of port. It is quite reasonable to do such things in public, prior to serving said bottles as part of the Bah Humbug! offline.

[DRT]

on Tuesday 25th December 2012, somewhere, fine port, and no silliness.

I object to having to get a room in which to perform spousal merriment

The rules are the rules. In the context of this event "merriment", spousal or otherwise, is classified as "silliness" (whether or not sealed with a cork).

Imagine this scenario: a small group of sensible people are sitting around a large table somewhere in the Douro. The table is covered with decanters and glasses full of fine port. Everyone is have fun and not even trying to avoid talking about what the rest of the world is up to that evening because they just don't care about all that silliness so nothing is further from their minds. Then, without warning, one of the sensible people has a lapse of sensibleness, turns to her spouse and says "M***y C*******s, darling, I hope you liked your present", and then pecks said spouse on the cheek. Thirty seconds later the poor girl is sitting in the corner drinking warm Hutcheson 1970. Her spouse feels duty bound to join her whist the rest of the group carry on being sensible whilst they share out the port that has been confiscated from the people who were silly.

Now do you see the need for a separate room in which such unspeakable silliness can be conducted?

For absolute clarity, and in the interest of fairness, if Julian wished me M***y C*******s and gave me a peck on the cheek he would also find himself in the corner. The only difference between this and the spousal scenario is that I would be unlikely to fee duty bound to join him and would not accept his offer to go to the private room.

I hope this explains the rules sufficiently well and that you and Elizabeth will join us.

[jdaw1]

There’s silliness, and then there’s silliness. And we’ll have none of either.