In which I remember how to go out ...

Socialising hasn't been my strong point for the last couple of years, if a report was to be written about my social achievements (or lack thereof) it would be pretty damning. After suffering severe social anxiety I stopped going out at all. In fact prior to last weekend my last 'evenings out' were these -

My 'leaving the library' do

Look how thin I am!

Lou and Sam's wedding -

Me and gorgeous Lou

Me (in a red bow and bag shocker), Lydia and Alli

Me, Lydia and Hilary .... the first rule of Polka Dot Club .....

And my 25th Birthday -

Me (in a Mars shirt shocker) and Helen

Luke, Hilary, James and Lydia

Showing exactly how much of a shortarse I actually am

Over the last year I've been so lucky to get back in contact with my friends and this weekend I had a new 'socialising' challenge of Jo's hen night. I was super nervous as although I'd been seeing the gang regularly it was normally at Luke & Barry's (aka Party Central) so in a comfort zone. It was also going to be a bigger group that included people I didn't know. 

The afternoon started with tea at Bills where I indulged my inner Mad Hatter -

I believe the technical term is nom nom nom

Ladies what tea

After lining ourselves with tea and cake we spent the rest of the evening at Hudsons where we learnt the art of cocktail making. I made official photographer for the evening which actually helped the anxiety by giving me something to focus on. 

Here are my pick of the photos -

Firstly it's the girl of the night Jo looking stunning

The group propping up the bar

Me and Hilary getting a fit of the giggles after she tried to mix Bacardi with my arm rather than her cocktail ...

My Purple Rain cocktail - naturally I renamed it Purple Haze after one of my fave songs by Jimi Hendrix

Me, Hilary, Lydia & Jo with our handiwork

Hilary, Alli, Lydia and Holly

Me and Alli

Next up we made my favourite cocktail the Cosmopolitan (just call me Carrie Bradshaw)

Lydia and Hilary

This is my 'listening carefully' face

Concentration face #1 (plus one nervous looking barman)

Concentration face #2

Shaking it Taylor Swift style

V proud of my cocktail

Jo making her Cosmo

Me, Jo and our friends the Strawberry Daquiris

Jo and Lyds

Me, Jo & Lyds

The evening went pretty well I think, everyone seemed to be having fun when Alli and I left about half 10 to get home to our respective offspring (human in her case furry in mine). 

Quote of the evening goes to Hilary's "We're not lairy, we just get things done" and as Jeremy Clarkson would say "On that bombshell ... goodnight"

Love Jen

XxxX