Back To The Ranch

My Dear Princess and Dear Fellow,

I'm not proud, I will admit it, I've been dropping HEAVY hints that we should have a Xmas get-together at either Olivia or Fazzy's. 

They are more central than we are up here in Paraparaumu. Plus I want to meet Olivia's doggy. 

But both of them were resolutely clueless regarding my "hints"* I suspect on purpose. So in the end I suggested a return to Cobb & Co, the sheep-station themed family restaurant where we went last year. 

The FOBs seized upon my plan eagerly. Manda also decided to join us. I met her in Porirua. 

"Iiii've been drrrrrinkin' since noon," she informed me. 

You don't say. 

We got there earlier than everyone else where we indulged in the vodka-infused Traffic Light Drink. Briar and Olivia showed up subsequent to this. 

"That ended badly last year," said Briar, looking at my drink.

"I have no recollection of that," I replied. Which was technically correct.

Fazzy arrived much later. She wanted to have dinner with her family, but dessert with us. She ordered the chocolate chocolate chocolate chocolate dessert (or something) and then we all settled in to play "Telestrations" again. 

I got "texting on the toilet" on my card. So I drew a man texting on the toilet. 

And.

Then. 

BRIAR.

Basically by the time it got to Fazzy it was something quite different. Feel free to look at the extras to see what Fazzy drew. 

So it was heaps of fun and larfs and Manda even seemed a little bit more sober by the end of the evening. "It's the SUGAR," she told me, pointing at her second Traffic Light Drink. 

"I'm gonna have SUCH a headache tomorrow," she opined.

Sure. The sugar. Ssssssssure.

I felt a bit sad that our numbers were depleted this year. No Ellie, no Jefe, no Shenée, no Craig. Circumstances have loosened the ties between us this year. But I miss them all. 

Still. I have the FOBs. And Manda. I do hope she's feeling better today.

S. 


* For example, "Hey, why don't we go to OLIVIA'S for Xmas???" Subtle.