28. 90s dress up

28.  90s dress up

*events may have been paraphrased a little*

Saturday, approximately 12pm:

Phil: Hey Anett, do you want to come geocaching with me and Jill this afternoon?

Anett:  No I'm tired and I want to stay inside and do yoga

Phil:  OK that's fine but you're not allowed to be boring all day so when I come back we're drinking margaritas and going out to hunt Irish boys

Anett:  I hate you.  Buy limes.

And so it came to pass that at 10pm we were drinking margaritas and looking for something from the to do list to tick off.  We briefly considered getting tattoos but Jill wasn't up for it (apparently the margarita stare-down wasn't an effective persuasion tactic) and then settled on 90s fancy dress.  Perfect attire for a dance in the Swan!

Lookin' fresh!

We donned our best leggings, crop tops, denim shirts and hi-tops then accessorised with colourful sunnies, slightly too much make up and the highest ponytails we could manage.  At this point Jill decided we were definitely crazy and went to bed.  Apparently it's not cool to drink on buses these days so we walked to the Swan and upon arrival for no apparent reason some boy paid for me to get in.  Thank you, random boy!

From that point in it all gets a bit hazy.  It turned out that the random boy at the door wasn't the only one who was appreciative of our retro outfits and we were bombarded with free drinks all night.  Naturally we fended off most of the men by flashing Anett's engagement ring and telling them all we were getting married soon.  Thanks for the drinks, random men!

No idea who this guy was.  Didn't even remember taking the picture.

Anett was wearing her Fitbit and it told us that by 4am we had reached her daily steps goal of 10,000 steps.  By 5am we'd hit 12,000 steps which is equivalent to 8.56km of dancing.

At the end of the night I turned around to see Anett with a boy and so followed suit in order to avoid playing third wheel.  Crafty!  One of the boys was Irish.  One wasn't.  Still, we took the obligatory photographs.

Irish boy

Not an Irish boy

90s Dress Up List Trumps!

Cost: 5/5 (Lots of free drinks + free entry for me meant between us we spent about £30)

Originality: 4/5 (Nobody else was wearing what we were but obviously everyone did back in the day)

Fun factor: 4/5 (Outrageously entertaining night and so much dancing but we did both seriously regret the boys the next day)

49. Spy on a Tinder Date (guest edited by Lotti)

What do you do with your Sunday evenings?  If it's not spying on your friend's first date with a stranger whilst wearing large sunglasses and a hat with cat ears, you're not living.

We allowed the hopeful Love Birds an hour to acclimatise, to warm up and get past the awkward nervous tensions.  In we stalked; Anett clad in all black including large sunglasses channelling her inner Jennifer Garner circa Alias, and I, my best detective mac and conspicuous cat-eared cap.  

Exhibit A: spy attire

We sloped to a table within range, close enough to take detailed notes - taken down detective style - but far enough away not to be too obvious when taking photographs.  

Exhibit B: remaining inconspicuous

And here we begin the notes; henceforth Philippa will be referred to as 'The Subject', the unnamed man 'The Date':

• The Subject and The Date are laughing.  A good sign.  Subject clocks us, we nod and take our positions.
• The Date is wearing flip-flops and shorts (Lotti is aghast).  Would suggest he's a little too laid back to function.
• The Subject is wearing her seriously tight jeans and sheer blouse.  Seductive, but not great when consuming large quantities of liquid.  Regular Wee Trips a strong possibility.
• The Subject is leaning in across the table.  The Date may be leaning away but his outstretched feet resting inches from The Subject's betrays his lust.
• Another One Bites The Dust plays. Foretelling the future?
• The Subject displays a coquettish head tilt and splendid eyelash fluttering, our menu fell down in the breeze.
• The Date responds positively.  Leans in.
• Body language is being mirrored.  Golly, get your coats this is going well.
• Things get even sexier, Muse plays [ed. note: Lotti says Muse makes her clothes melt]
• The plot thickens.  We're interrupted by 2 slightly inebriated chaps.  We're offered beverages, politely decline but they sit down anyway.
• We tell them the plan, after some minor judgement they agree to join in.  (Hereafter they shall be referred to as Drunks 1 & 2)

  

  Exhibit C: Drunks 1 and 2

• Phase 2 begins.  Kicks up a gear.  We're heading in.
• Drunks 1 & 2 head over to the table adjacent to The Subject and The Date's
• Drunk 1 drops a menu, collects, drops it, collects it.
• Drunk 2 "Is this a date then?"  A conversation ensues.  The Subject looks nervously at us.
• PANIC! WE'RE BUSTED! ABORT MISSION!
• Drunks 1 and 2 make a swift exit.  Lotti retrieves her stolen hat.

  

  Exhibit D:  drunks undercover

• The Subject heads to the Ladies. Lotti gives chase.
• Quick chat, all is well, he is "a lovely guy" Cover not blown.  We stagger our exit so as not to arouse the suspicion of The Date.
• Full focus is returned to The Subject and The Date.
• The Date leans back and preforms a stretch. Cue involuntary stare at his crotch.  Reasonably impressive.
• [Ed. note: The Subject is a fairly active date.  Arm gestures, facial expressions.  She really gives her all]
• The Date heads to the Gent's.  The Subject heads to the bar.  Anett swoops for an interview.  (See video, exhibit E)

Exhibit E: mid-date interview with Subject

• Cue Lotti's frantic arm waving. The Date returns
• As they order another round we decide to close our books and take our leave.  After all, it is a Sunday.
• The verdict? Too soon to tell.

Spying on a Tinder Date List Trumps!

Cost: 2/5 (You have to buy your own drinks, and depending on the contents of your wardrobe, adequate disguises)

Originality: 4/5 (Most people we spoke to found it odd and borderline "creepy")

Fun factor: 3/5 (It's great analysing a friend's date.  Perhaps more fun not on a school night when more alcohol can be consumed.  Or perhaps on a more active date)