New Years Party + Crazy Germans

I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it. In our new social world we were invited, along with Ian and lorna, to our neighbour's parents' (who are german) New Years bash. It was being held in their basement, kind of remodelled into a German bierkeller. We were slightly nervous about the whole thing but it was a really friendly atmosphere, although far too much bad europop was blaring out of the speakers, when they weren't playing oompah 'music'. But when in Germany.......

We got there at 8pm after having a meal of stew and dumplings, created by me for ballast. We got our first drinks and with my beer I recieved my first schnapps, a sign of things to come.


Us with Tony, the man with a huge choo choo. (Apparently he has a large trainset, seen in the background)

Then the dancing began, it seems that the older german men liked dancing with the younger women (odd that) so Jacqui and Lorna were in demand. Ok with me and Ian as we used them as a dance shield to hold up our English reserve.

When I received some kind of brandy with my second beer I suspected that I may have some regrets the next morning, time for a plan. In the meantime there were all kinds of dances going on and I took the opportunity of dancing with Jacqui during a suitably slow song - I wasn't going anywhere near the faster ones, there were people there who could actually dance.


Jacqui confused by the Greek dance

There was one dance when even Ian and I had to join in a group dance, arms round shoulders stomp stomp stomp kick, nice and simple, even when the pace picked up.


Guys Greek Dance

When I got my next beer, another schnapps was forthcoming which I kept as a kind of spirit shield, to ward off other spirits - I know how pathetic I am when truly hungover. And then it was midnight and the champagne arrived and the hugging and kissing started, all very pleasant.

And then more dancing and some really nice food was put out and the time of the lucky pigs was upon us! Apparently it's a German tradition that guests to a New Year party will each recieve a bag with a marzipan pig in it and one of the men and one of the women will recieve a bigger or 'lucky' pig, it's all luck. And these two will be seen as lucky for the next year.

And Jacqui shall henceforth be known as the Lucky Pig for the next year, it made my day :) Then the male and female lucky pigs dance aand everyone keeps touching them for the rest of the party. Good times for everyone, except maybe Jacqui who was sober in the company of lecherous older German guys.


Lucky Pigs dancing.

Soon the party was ending, around 2am, and we wandered off into the early morning frost. A really good party and we all enjoyed it.


Our friends Ian and Lorna (Lorna may be a tad drunk here).