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.

We're very sorry we couldn't have invited everyone, folks. We did think very carefully about how to negotiate this as we knew it would be contentious (!). We felt it would be completely invidious and anathema to the MN spirit to pick out particular posters - however brilliant their posts have been over the years - because we knew it would mean someone would feel left out / hurt etc. So we restricted it strictly to MNetters who've been part of the editorial team and who we're still in contact with.

We (ie Olivia) put huge amounts of efforts into organising a fantastic prize for our competition winners, which we thought was the fairest way of making sure Mumsnetters were fully represented at the party, without any charges of favoritism. The Sophable invite was pure human error, for which we apologised swiftly and profusely. It was grim to retract the invite from our perspective too, but if we hadn't that wouldn't have been fair either and would probably have led to charges of favoritism.

Boco you should certainly have been invited - huge apologies. I promise to do my utmost to organise a special Tim Dowling session for you - in which you can stroke him, tell him he's a twat or otherwise.

It was quite a big undertaking for us to organise an event like this with all the different elements - from Carol Ann Duffy to the PM, to hotels and transport - as we're really not natural party planners. Essentially we tried to do things in the MN spirit as best we could. Inevitably we made some mistakes about which we're very sorry. But we did try our very best!

Well Justine I am not QUITE sure that that is really good enough. I have been practising my Haka for WEEKS and was waiting for the auditions. I don't don't what a haiku thinkie even is. (Uneducated obviously!)

I think Sophable did you a favour actually! She could have had a HUGE thread in AIBU getting lots of opinions on the etiquette of being invited and then disinvited to a party and then dropped the clanger that it was the MN party!! (I think you should make it up to her actually.)

And does anyone else find it slightly ironic that we all --well me wanted to go to the party but want MN to be a secret and to be anonymous??!!

I'll just throw in another actually as I don't think i put enough in my second para. Actually.

I WANT A SPECIAL TIM SESSION

You might have to book him for a couple of days and provide him with some Lucozade

Well I was there and it was fantastic!

iw as quite near hin at one point and meant to say summat
but was too drunk was waylaid

Tim Dowling not particularly my thing, but if you could possibly make it Jon Ronson?

Justine - hope you don't mind a bit of chipping in from a non-prolific poster, but I hate that you've now had to come on here and explain yourself.

It must take some of the shine off for you at a time when you should actually be feeling really proud of yourself and perhaps having a little wallow in the feeling of knowing you've created something rather amazing.

Could you ever have imagined 10 years ago that Mumsnet would come to this? That you'd be having a celebratory party that the Prime Minister would attend?

(And before everyone jumps on me and says "What would you know?" You're right, I know almost nothing. But, I do know that I love MN and I am very pleased that it's here. And if this was a thread on AIBU, people would be jumping in saying, "Well, children have just got to realise they're not going to be invited to every party and that's just life.)

Go wallow, Justine. You've all done a great thing here.

Give Boco Jon Ronson (no accounting for taste)and put the Tim session open to competition.

Wow.

Tallest Tower, you said what I wanted to say, but so well.

I just want to add a small, sheepish "thank you".

Mumsnet is amazing.

for Anguis.

Hear Hear Tallest Tower.

And here's to Mumsnet and all who sail in her! (clink of empty tea mug)

Justine - has Carrie gotten over flashing her boob at GB or was it a deliberate move do you think?

Ah so Cod won a haiku thing did she then?
Or wsa she invited as queen of mn?

I think cod has been on the 'editorial' freelancer payroll? So invited as all of those were, as MN workers?

She should have been invited as queen of MN, for shure, but suspect was her brief, but no less bracing or vigorous for that, editorial role as Style & Beauty consumer consultant which won the day.

The competition was great, the party looked swell, MN is a triumph.

Cod was serving canapes

Well it wouldn't be an MN event of any kind without some rumpus/raking over old fights/poor Justine having to explain herself.

Thanks for telling us all about it

Oh jest watched the Ch 4 news bits.

OBM - you were so good.

Benjamin Cohen so obviously pissed.

i seriously hope that nothing has taken the shine off it justine. many congrats and may mn keep going from strength to strength!

Policywonk I'm worried by your shouting and concerned that you're not being entirely transparent about which sense of the word 'session' you intend.

Keywords: Mumnset, party, Tim Dowling, christ man run and hide while there's still time.

Thanks squeaver!

Actually I think BC not pissed, just a bit distracted by Justine high-kicking a conga with Gordon and pals behind me.

Plus - he is so petite that I had to consciously look where his head should have been to avoid double-chin overload.

Just an observation from a Tory Boy.

There seem to have been quite a lot of people from the left of the political divide at this party and quite a lot of champagne.

Champagne and Socialists?

Who would have thunk it!

oh no you are wrong.
twas not so.
i am sure i saw a naice man from torygraph in Hunting tweeds.

chasing Olivia wiht a "tally ho!"