{"id":261,"date":"2012-05-20T02:38:21","date_gmt":"2012-05-20T02:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/?p=261"},"modified":"2012-05-26T02:40:55","modified_gmt":"2012-05-26T02:40:55","slug":"the-accidental-second-leaving-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/2012\/05\/the-accidental-second-leaving-party\/","title":{"rendered":"The Accidental (Second) Leaving Party"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We didn&#8217;t mean to have a second leaving party. Oh no. Quite the reverse. In fact some of us (who can say who?) may have woken up that morning like bears with sore heads, vowing never agin to cease from our existence of solitary tranquility. We paused from meditative contemplation only to examine the fridge, secure in the knowledge that all the evil alcohol had been purged from our lives through the previous night&#8217;s party.<\/p>\n<p>Or maybe not. We have incredibly generous friends it seems, and our humble efforts to diminish the accumulated hard liquor supply of the past three years had been rather squashed by the influx of new arrivals. Still we thought, no need to be hasty. Perhaps we could just invite a few, select friends round to eat the last of the leftover pizza and drink a glass of wine.<\/p>\n<p>Just the one glass mind&#8230;.<\/p>\n<p>And so they came, our wonderful friends; first came Jon &amp; Tek; we watched Jeeves and Wooster and shared a glass of wine. Matthew and Michelle followed; a second episode, a second glass of wine. Then came Tim and Jess, fresh from dinner with friends. Well, that unlooked for pleasure must be celebrated &#8230; champagne seemed to fit the bill. Next up, Stellah and Cordelia, upping the fabulous stakes with their wonderful outfits &#8211; to which we matched bellinis. Last came Giusy, bringing (as always) the party &#8211; and two huge helium balloons. The first we flung into the night, weighted to perfect buoyancy by the slightly unusual, but rather effective, ballast of a carefully nibbled slice of pizza.<\/p>\n<p>What could top a pizza balloon? What more could anyone wish for&#8230;?<\/p>\n<p>Well, to our minds it seemed quite simple. A wish balloon of course. What lovelier than to cast our wishes onto the summer night sky to find who they may &#8230; maybe if we were really lucky landing with the unfortunate recipient of the pizza balloon&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-261 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130082.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130082-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Legendary idea\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-262\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-262'>\n\t\t\t\tIt was a legendary idea.  We were very pleased with ourselves.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130088.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130088-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Attaching wishes\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-263\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-263'>\n\t\t\t\tI got straight to work attaching wishes.  An important job don&#8217;t you know.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130088a.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130088a-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Wasn&#039;t just me\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-264\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-264'>\n\t\t\t\tWasn&#8217;t just me doing this by the way.  Oh no, the whole lot of us were in.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130088b.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130088b-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Very seriously\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-265\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-265'>\n\t\t\t\t Everyone took it VERY seriously&#8230;..\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130093.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130093-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Strapless dress\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-266\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-266'>\n\t\t\t\tWell, until Tek decided to cause chaos with my strapless dress..\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130103.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130103-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Hilarity\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-267\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-267'>\n\t\t\t\tMuch hilarity ensued. \n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130114.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130114-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Back to serious task\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-268\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-268'>\n\t\t\t\tBack to a VERY serious task&#8230;.cutting the wishes to size to allow them to fly!!  Inner hippy and inner banker in one glorious collision.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130141.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130141-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"321 Launch\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-269\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-269'>\n\t\t\t\t 3-2-1- LAUNCH!!  And no-one saw my pants.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130149.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130149-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Decided to dance\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-270\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-270'>\n\t\t\t\tEveryone was very happy.  And so we decided to dance.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130161.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130161-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Fabulous\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-271\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-271'>\n\t\t\t\tAt first we were fabulous.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130161a.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130161a-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"More fabulous\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-272\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-272'>\n\t\t\t\tAnd then even more so.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130171.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130171-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Less civilized\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-273\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-273'>\n\t\t\t\tBut then things became a little less civilized.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130171a.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130171a-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Some a little tipsy\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-274\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-274'>\n\t\t\t\tI began to suspect some amongst the party may even be tipsy\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130171b.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130171b-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Hmmm...\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-275\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-275'>\n\t\t\t\tHmmm&#8230;\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130191a.jpg'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/P1130191a-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Suddenly Blurry\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-276\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-276'>\n\t\t\t\tSuddenly, things began to get a little blurry\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>What a WONDERFUL night \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We didn&#8217;t mean to have a second leaving party. Oh no. Quite the reverse. In fact some of us (who can say who?) may have woken up that morning like bears with sore heads, vowing never agin to cease from &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/2012\/05\/the-accidental-second-leaving-party\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=261"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":294,"href":"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261\/revisions\/294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.viggers.com\/roundtheworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}