Ex Biscuits At Midnight

My Dear Princess & Dear Fellows,

We were all feeling very middle-aged.  I told my story about how I had been forced to explain VHS video cassettes to a 20something. Then Cazza told us all that she'd recently had it pointed out to her that "Childish Gambino" is a person and not a card game.

But LouLou beat us both with her story. "I was on this plane from Auckland to Wellington when this big bloke walked past wearing shorts and his baseball cap on backwards. The whole PLANE was just buzzing and everyone was turning to look and see who it was. So I took a picture and put it on Facebook and everyone was like 'OH MY GOD YOU WERE ON A PLANE WITH HIM!!!!'"

And? We asked. Who was it?

She struggled. "I want to say 'Ex Biscuits At Midnight'?" she replied. "Is that a person?"

"It sounds more like a weird sexual thing," said Tiger.

I have since Googled Mr. Biscuits At Midnight and no, that is not a person. Or a band. Or a thing. Or an anything.

But LouLou was in high spirits. I should explain. Tonight we went out for a curry with Tiger, LouLou and Joshua for the sole purpose of planning Xmas. LouLou announced that she and Tiger are hosting Xmas at theirs this year and so we are going up on Xmas Eve. 

"This is going to be SO. MUCH. FUN!!!" LouLou said. She took out an exercise book and started drawing lines on it, so she could categorise the fun.

I should explain. She is another IT person.

So she had categories including "Games", "Music", "Food", "Drink", "TV" and "Hangover".

"Berocca," said Joshua.
"Strawberry Milk," said Cazza.
"Chippies," I added.
"That's the hangover sorted," said LouLou, giving the item a big tick.

We also decided that someone needs to arrange Mariah Carey and Jose Feliciano for Xmas. "Die Hard" and "A Christmassy Ted" for telly and a bottle of port for the evening.

"Two bottles," said Tiger. "Just in case".

Tiger and LouLou are a fun couple. LouLou is always very excited and happy about life in general. Tiger is equally positive but in a more laid back way. "And when I'm asleep," LouLou confided, "he likes to lean in close and make fart noises RIGHT NEXT TO MY EAR."

We looked at her.

"With his FACE," LouLou was quick to point out.

"I'm not an animal," added Tiger.

So this is what we are dealing with here. I think it will be a lot of fun. Organised, categorised, carefully-arranged fun but as you might imagine, that is my favourite kind. Also Tiger and LouLou have a cat called Jazzy and they enjoy "Singstar".

We discussed Xmas dinner and all decided that the big roast in hot weather is a non-starter. It will be a barbecue followed by a trip to the beach and we are eschewing Xmas pudding. Because. Oh come on.

It will be Cazza's first Xmas in years without one or both of her parents there. So a real break from tradition for both of us. I'm looking forward to it all. I mean. You know me. I love traditions. But now I'm in another country, I can't recreate them no matter how much I would like to. I'm not going to sit around in an Xmas sweater when it's 20 degrees out.

So time to start with new old traditions. From here on, all Xmasses shall involve the Exercise Book O' Fun, and a rousing Xmas song from Ex Biscuits At Midnight.

S.