Since there was so much going on somehow we actually just have more or less snapshots of Saturday, not everybody appears on the photos, and some pics came out a blur so I cannot use them. But still here is some impression of what turned out to be a brilliant and fun-filled evening!
At the beginning Stefan adressed the audience, and I got a wonderful present presented by Julia.
There was a guest from England and many more presents from everybody who came.
We had lots of good food - this picture showing how I had the buffet in mind originally, not realizing in the first place that the sideboard was much, much to small for everything that would come later. Cordon Bleue, Chicken Drumsticks, Chili con carne.... And last not least so many thanks to Susi Bayer for her smashing Lasagna, the wonderful cakes from Julia and Juliane (gee, I did not know you would rob a bakery and bring it all along when you announced you would bring "a cake") and Zinsi´s potatoe salad!
Julia and Juliane dragged out of the kitchen. They fully occupied the kitchen after realizing that I was of no use because I was here and there and did not have a chance to work the stove. Without them I think we would still be waiting for the warm dishes. You were wonderful, my two little hobbits! (And yes, Julia, we discussed that: There must be a hobbit somewhere among your ancestors!)
And what did the kiddos do? Dessa was a bit overwhelmed because there were so many people to charm and so much food for prospective eating, and Indy was a little bit reluctant and well-mannered as always, but it did not stop him from pestering people for snacks. To be well-mannered again after pestering.
The atmosphere was brilliant - even though some of my cherished guests had to wait in the freezing night for a while after they had arrived because the door-bell was stuck, and inside we did not hear the frantic shouting outside. Really, really sorry about that! I hope food and drinks made up for it later!
This was the other part of the buffet, that definately did not look as organized as I had had it in mind (when I had thought that I could do everything myself), but there simply was no other place to put things anymore. After all, everybody had enought to eat (and we are going to live off the left-overs for another zillion years).
Gobble, gobble, gobble. It was like on my wedding: I was so busy chatting with friends that eating was a task that always had to be postponed! So I had dinner when the others had dessert - thanks for bearing with me!
And then came Karaoke! When renting the equipment on the net I thought I had bought something that I know from Japan, it is small and you can carry it around like a sound-machine. But what we got was THIS.
Professional equipment that blew off the roof of our house, the bass-box alone weighted more than 40 kilo! Jeez!!!! It was great, thousands of songs and Stefan putting in lots of work as the D.J. We had so much fun with it, I am quite sure that we will do this again! Even friends who are usually very composed (or would never ever sing in public I thought) rocked the place! The last of the singers stopped at 2 a.m., but simply because her voice was hoarse and she was close to falling asleep right in front of the screen.
Some of the artists....
.... and some who refused (but sang later). Karaoke gets all of you one day! Even the ones who quietly crept upstairs after a while because they were frightened they would end up with the mike sooner or later!
And here some of the presents I got. I was absolutely overwhelmed....
