2015-06-13: Party Time!

I like parties, they are a great place for chaotic relaxation.
Japanese parties tend to have a start time and a finish time. They have dress codes and invites.

Naginata Sensei

I have fallen afoul of these rules as a guest at parties in the past. I am of the opinion that parties finish when the booze runs out or the police scatter the guests too far for a successful regrouping.

Jukendo Sensei

There may have been times where my adherence to the dress code was debatable, although I rarely remove the offending clothing any more as nudity is even less appreciated.

Japanese Sensei

Fortunately Conrad is helping with the organisation side of things and so our farewell party will be more in keeping with traditional Japanese party rules. I think he is setting the rules of the party as close to my expected behaviour as possible without enforcing my behaviour on others.

Trouble Sensei

I have been told that one of the traditions of Japanese Parties is that embarrassing behaviour is conveniently forgotten the next day. I hope this is true.

Conrad is not above causing chaos himself

We are all going to Chez Toto to eat vast amounts of froggy food and say thanks to the people that have helped us, trained with us and so on.

Snails and Steak were all consumed despite the volumes.

Activity Review: Present Giving

Japan has lots of rules around present giving. We have brought lots of little presents from Poland.

Some people make the little hats look cute.

We suspect that little bottles of vodka should not be given to kiddies but we aren't sure so we have simply distributed them around the tables and will allow the guests to decide on the appropriate actions.

Some not so much.

We also have little hats modelled after the traditional hats of the mountain men from Zakopane and little axes that the same mountain men use to settle disputes.

Giving weapons, even toy ones, to martial arts people is a sensible choice if chaos is desired.

Seated at different tables unfortunately.

Rating: 9/10 (everyone joined in on the silly hats but no one would spar with the axes)

Not looking at the timestamp for this photo.

Showing commendable planning Conrad escorted the chaotic people from the party at the scheduled end to a tequila bar.

And we all drank too much and staggered home in the early hours feeling a sense of achievement.

Somehow we remembered to take the baguette home with us. Maybe it was just me that drank too much.