To think sodding Sell-You-Stuff parties are a work of the Devil ...

[Fecklessdizzy]

Rant Alert ...

Seething (and stinking of garlic). Just got back from Stupidly-Overpriced-Cookware demo that I wasn't going to go to on account of having a foul cold and not being interested in podding out fifty quid for a casserole dish.

The friend who was hosting the thing was panicking about no-one turning up and guilt-tripped me into coming along to make up the numbers so I sat through the demo ( think shopping channel but much, much duller ) When the demonstrator handed round the stuff she'd cooked at the end I had a nibble or two then made my excuses and started to slink off when she says " Not buying anything, then?" My mate says " Oh, Feckless isn't feeling well, I made her come " and the bloody demonstrator whips back with " Shame, lucky it didn't affect your appitite, though! "

Snarl ...

Call me a prudish ol' killjoy but if I was going to buy a dildo and some lager-flavoured nipple drops I'd rather NOT do it in front of people I actually knew ...

I used to go to Ann Summers parties a lot in my mid 20s - my best friend's mum was best mates with an AS rep, we got invited to loads.

They were LOATHSOME. Stupid party games involving creating lingerie out of carrier bags and passing balloons along (as said above) and then rifling through a suitcase of grubby vibrators and ghastly lingerie sets, and bottles of crap called Pussy Drops and chocolate body paint.

I bought a few bras against by better judgement and they were crap - very expensive and I could have bought the same quality crap from Primark at half the price.

I really, really don't think that AS lingerie is at the forefront of current lingerie fashion - I mean honestly. Unless the acme of bra style is scratchy nlyon.

I think that vast majority of people who attend AS parties do so under sufferance. I don't know anyone who really enjoys them, it is all done out of guilt - obligation of the party attenders towards the host, obligation of the host to throw a party to a rep (usually a friend). It is not a real job. If you need a job to 'fit round the family' you would probably earn as much doing a few late shifts at Tesco.

Actually, I have a genuine reason for the AS hatred.

When 25 my best friend's mum's mate (still with me?) had an AS evening in a pub. She roped in a load of young gels to model the underwear. I was forced volunteered. Turned up on the night to be given a peep-hole bra, crotchless knickers, suspender belt and fisknet stockings ALL IN RED. The peep hole bits were covered in badges to protect my modesty. This did work, in a fashion, as long as you walked very steadily.

I had to borrow the party organiser's red stilettos - they were a size 6, I am a large 8. Crammed my feet in. Looked in the mirror. Looked like a 70's hooker. Drank several large vodkas.

At this point the pub had a load of women in, about 60, it was a large pub. There was a CATWALK through the tables.

Halfway round I tripped up with my bloody borrowed shoes. Fell over in peep hold bra and crotchless knickers in front of my best friend, all my other mates, my best friend's DAD (why the fuck was he there?) and 60 women. Had to get up and do the walk of shame with my badges all awry.

Fucking Ann Summers. Who is she anyway? I hope she rots.

You have my sympathies!! Went to very similar 'party' and felt guilt tripped into buying some 'life changing' gadgets which have never been used! Even worse, because I was far too much of a wimp to say I really had no interest whatsoever in hosting a similar party myself, bloody woman stalked me for months trying to pressure me into having a party. Never again!!

Getorf - how horrendous!

I have name changed for the story of my Ann Summers debacle as I dined out on it for about a year and I fear someone will recognise me in rl!

And no, it plainly wasn't my scene as I am plainly not an aged hooker who advertises in phone boxes.

Oh, I laugh about it now.

But I died with embarrassment at every recollection of the memory for about 5 years afterwards.

What was I thinking? Plus my bloody friend (who was also going to model the underwear) had a 'migraine' 30 mins before the start of the show, so had to bow out. The kind of migraine which miraculously disappeared at 9pm which meant she could drink vodka and have a good night. The cow. Actully she was a GENIUS

I think I am the only person on MN who has never been invited to one of these parties (not sure whether that's a :) or a :( )

I know that the woman across the road has had a candle party but I wasn't invited as I don't know her. A friend of mine went though.

Judging by what's been said here they sound like hell but I'm not even bloody invited! How unpopular am I?!! Pfft.

I went to a couple and never bought anything. There was this dreadful nightie that you could pull over your head when you were lying back and thinking of England as if.

I find that sort of thing quite embarassing when people pass round vibrators etc like the reliant rabbit.

alemci

"reliant rabbit" - is it made of fibreglas and has three wheels?

Reliant Rabbit PMSL

Mind you that is the kind of shite Ann Summers sells - the sextoy equivalent of a British Leyland car which is an embarrassment to the nation.

Reliant rabbit! Del Boy springs to mind.

I have just told DP about the Reliant Rabbit.

We are both laughing at the mental image.

New York
Paris
Peckham

[unrestrained hilarity emoticon] @ GetOrf

at Reliant Rabbit. that is just hilarious.

I went to an Ann Summers party many year ago and felt no obligation or embarrassment when I didn't order anything. I must be more thick skinned than most on here.