So, MNHQ, bedecked in LKBennett (and Boden for the plebs) are all out stuffing pizza and Bolly, half of the posters and hangers-on are there too: what mischief shall we get up to while they're away?

[WilfSell]

Because I bet they've just left BigTech in charge. Or he/she'll be checking in every once in a while, a bit pished and lairy.

So we can DO. WHAT. WE. LIKE. while the Leaders party.

lol

I have ideas above my station, I always had an inflated idea of my own importance

The ambience was more Ikea Cafe than leisure centre

I kept expecting a platter of meatballs to arrive before I zipped around the Marketplace

It was nicer when it got dark as the mood lighting was incredibly expensive impressive

It setting was a bit office Christmas party. I know it's a tremendously, um, groovy company (is that the correct terminology?) but in the end, it's still a party under strip lighting. Which anyone over the age of 20 is going to feel a bit bitter about.

cunting haiku, here
obviously very jealous
just wanted to ponce

arf at "my RL mate Finbra..." ahundredtimes

Sorry for the repetitive "I'm here to represent the lurkers" mantra. Was on the back foot for not being prolific poster

Aww MamaG I'm with you on the eaten up with JEALOUSY and ideas above station.

Spawnchorus I have never been absent! I am here, just not that interesting probably.

I'm actually a little relieved I didn't go now as I would have been unable to talk intelligently to anyone and would have spent the whole tim hiding in a dark corner.

Right we're back, 17 and a half bacon sarnies later. We will put the video of speeches up soonest (Google chaps are struggling with the technology apparently ) and we will have some pics soon enough, but I need to do some censoring first...

Yes, Ikea canteen was pretty much the location. Brilliant party though. So nice to meet so many of you. Pizza Express was good also.

Justine, we've ALL seen them

x-post. Great party Justine. Thanks.

Are you going to try to make your dress look longer to stop us all turning green with envy at your long legs?

Or did you drop something and bend down to pick it up when the cameras were around?

I haven't got over the presence of Tim Dowling. If they'd said Tim Dowling would be there, I would have spent more than 15 seconds working on my haikus. I was robbed.

But I'm also glad you all had such a well deserved good time. And freaked out by seeing "Cod" written clear as day - I want to keep saying "shhh".

Sometimes it's

'my RL mate Finbra agred was odd'

I gasp every time Finbar, every time.

Yes please to pics. No to censoring (someone should have censored Carrie's breast shot in Telegraph though) and yes to strip lighting a misfortune, but who cares, everything sounds swell. I'm loving it.

Am reading through the thread now.

It was a fantastic evening

Justine, please be sure to censor out my double-chin as I forgot to give it the obligatory 50-upward-slaps-with-the-back-of the-hand before the party (a little tip my mother taught me.)

Boco - how come you didn't go? Didn't you do the mn xmas cards and something for the book(s)?

Cod, it's good to 'see' you.

Yes, why didn't Boco go? She's our illustrator in residence

The only reason I don't want Cod to change her name is because I showed off to BALD that I could do a great Cod impression, and I promised her I would, and she wouldn't know, and I can't if she stops changing names

So how many MNers actually went, in the end, as haiku winners and plus ones and contributors and, er, fish? And did they neck all the booze?

Probably about 20? 25? Not counting journos etc who are also MNers (eg Janice Turner)

Natasha Walter was there; OBM and I got excited and then forgot to talk to her.

Hadley Freeman or Merope Mills was there (not sure which but was definitely one of them)

I think mumsnet are extremely generous to host a party and invite a large number who had to go off and start their own forum as MN wasn't good enough How forgiving

Eh?

Nothing to do with moldies.