Party Fever

As much as I love to entertain, I never demand to be centre of attention. But for one night of the year, I am Queen.  I have an annual Midsummer Night’s Dream party and I transform myself in Titania, my garden into the enchanted forest, and my husband into a BBQ maniac.

My garden is normally - shamefully - neglected. There’s an overpoweringly big tree that I haven’t the heart to cut down, particularly because of my precious party. I spread velvet cushions underneath it and hang miniature lanterns off its branches - and every year a repeal is granted.

I felt inspired by Marrakech this year, and thought I’d go more ‘I Dream of Jeannie’. I swathed low tables with saris in saffron and marigold and set one of my large Mabel storm lanterns in the centre of each, with a golden candle.  Then I filled lots of the small storm lanterns with Moroccan roses, broken cinnamon sticks and ginger slices to fragrance the air. I left little dishes of dried dates, figs, nuts and olives to pick at…

 

J was doing his bit by the BBQ and the aroma of roasted cumin lamb had neighbours hanging out of their windows and our nosy local tabby cat ready to pounce. I’d even managed to knock up a few tasty dishes myself: koftas with minted yogurt, salads with pomegranate, fruity couscous and spiced pears. 

With 35 people, I couldn’t do a seated dinner, but I wanted to mix my friends up (match-make? moi?) So I filled one box with padlocks for the boys, and another box with keys for the girls. One key fits in one padlock. You picked up a key/padlock with your first cocktail and had to find your partner for supper.  Fate worked its magic and nudged together some perfect pairings.  In the eyes of a few of my guests, I saw Turkish delight by lantern light, and watched them relish the chance to cosy up on some of the smaller cushions.

The following night J and I had been invited to an 18^th century themed party in the country.  I can normally rustle us up costumes with a quick visit to the haberdashery department and a bit of sticky back plastic. But on this occasion, I sensed we might need professional assistance: the National Theatre Costume Hire warehouse is the most exquisite dressing up box.

The party was set in a proper enchanted forest, with insect-like stilt-walkers, flame throwers and jugglers to entertain the 200 elaborately dressed guests. After dinner in a decadently red and gold saturated tent, we danced furiously under the stars with sticky pink cocktails in our hands. Needing to catch my breath (difficult in a tight corset that felt like a bullet-proof vest) J helped to hoist me onto the pyramid stacked hay bales  (it seemed easier to negotiate than the cushion covered trampoline or the hammocks in trees….)

Surveying the scene of romp and circumstance, I had to admit that my own soiree had been a little upstaged. But there’s always next year in our garden– I’m sure I could get J to put up some hammocks, build us a tree house, do a few tricks…

Please note we are offering 15% off our storm lanterns from today until the end of July 2010
enter Partyfever at checkout.

Scarlett Willow