Midsummer Nights Masked Ball

[smokingboot]

See, generally I find balls disappointing adventures in overhype; one prepares for ages and spends more time enjoying the pre-tartment than the actual event. This one was different. The guild hall in Salisbury was a beautiful setting, carriages turning up to the door, string quartet followed by gothboppaproppa*, but these are not what made this the best ball I've ever been to, no. That came down to the glorious guests.

People took the theme of fairies to the max, sparkling in brilliant costumes, corsets and wings and masks became tree ents and moth people, harlequins, 18th century fantasies, cyber-ravens, fire elementals, moon men and butterfly ladies, one notable example of silverness and fay dreadlocks adorning herself with fairy lights powered by a battery pack concealed in her bosom. We all looked magnificent with nary a whiff of cheese, and the guest list read like a catalogue of mates in real life and via lj; I'm not going to name anyone for fear of missing someone out, but I hope you all know how fantastic you looked. All I can add is my delight in meeting and catching up with everybody. The organisers are thinking of running a midwinter ball and I am up for it, if we have any money spare...

In other news, larians has been offered a relocation package that makes it appropriate for us to move to London. The idea is to let out our house and rent my brothers place. I have my doubts re certain aspects of this, but in the main, I think I am very pleased. The main bugbear I have right now is my ridiculous out of control fatigue - I seem unable to do anything, including continue this post! More later I hope xxx

*Though the years change us all, and I must now concede that it's possible to tire of 'Temple of Love' after the first 4 minutes.

Comments

[ravenrigan.livejournal.com]

Yay for chummage returning to London.

Boo to fatigue, I also have the knackered!

Yay for Midwinter Ball, time money and work permitting, we will be there and looking damn fabulous, though I may settle for customising an existing dress, or finishing something half done already, I don't think I have another BIG DRESS Project left in me this year.

Have you seen the photies linked from dark_masquerade?

In the photographers 100 best photos Boot is in 7 of them!

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Seen the photos - Dylan was very generous with me (though I could do without the last one at the end of the night!)Maybe his instincts led him to help out the girl with the appearance issues, he was very kind and stopped me from dreading the lens. We do look great don't we, generally? A bunch of stunners! You and your outfit were so incredible, I was following you around half the night! I can't match your skill, but next time, I want to wear something properly exotic:-)

[mitchy.livejournal.com]

In other news, larians has been offered a relocation package that makes it appropriate for us to move to London

Squeeeeeee!!!

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Ahahahaha! Squeeeeee indeed!

So frustrated with my schedule and lack of time to catch up with chums, I moved cities! Can't wait til I can make proper arrangments to meet up:-D

[velvet-the-cat.livejournal.com]

You are SO all over their website you camera-tart you. And here's me thinking you didn't like having your photo taken... ;o)

Lookin' good there girl!

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Oooh I dunno - there's one that's a wincer, but hey, that's how I looked by the end of the night, so there you go. Dylan the photographer was very kind (as you are being!). I don't know why he gave me so much time, but it was good of him; I would so much love to be pretty, really pretty, you know? And he had me posing here there and everywhere, I think just to build up my confidence.
Camera tarting could be fun if I could just get past my face!

It was very good to see you both there, why on earth didn't you get your photos taken? You looked glorious, and Dan's mask was deeply sinister, with its strange little mouth

[bytepilot.livejournal.com]

This is me giving you a Paddington style Very Hard Stare

Darling Boot, apple of mine eye and keeper of a wonderful pair.

My own perspective I will admit is biased, since I love you dearly, but you have whatever quality it is that makes heads turn when you walk into a room, that makes people whisper quietly, "hey, who's that girl..." when you walk out, that makes photographrs say "Yep, a couple more shots of the gorgeous lass in the pink will do nicely"
If I knew what it was I'd bottle it and make millions*

In short, you are mouthwateringly lovely.
You're not going to appear on the cover of vogue, for which relief much thanks, because if you styled yourself on the plastic punch out dolls that seem to be the fashion today you'd gain nothing and lose your soul.
You'not the kind of beautiful that wins pagents, you're the kind of beautiful that wins hearts.

P.S. I've pinched that photo of you poking your tongue out at the camera and I'm keeping it, so ner. Going to print it, write your phone number on the back. In a hundred years time It'll remind me to call you and remind you that you're still lovely.

*Private island, good chums, champagne and internets for all

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

The first time I read this, I cried like a great dafty!

Thank you, beloved duke. You keep that photo and keep me laughing at my foolish self in this foolish world, until we're away on that rocket to a new one xxx

[bytepilot.livejournal.com]

(hugs)
So, perhaps you'll keep in mind just how lovely you are ?

Got to keep laughing gorgeous girl, the alternatives are not half so much fun.

Give larians a big, manly thigh slapping hug for me ?

[pinkzhazha.livejournal.com]

oh amazing, where was this?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

This was the guild hall in Salisbury, a few miles away from Stonehenge. It's a bit lovely innit?

[hybridartifacts.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a wonderful evening! :)

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

It was indeed. Now I know how good these events are, I'm going to plaster links to their website the moment another ball is attended! I hope everything is hunkydory with you and wingleam xxx

[hybridartifacts.livejournal.com]

Life is unfortunately being a pain right now- flat broke, looking for full time work and putting the artwork on hold for now :(
Plus all sorts of issues with my father that are very stressful.

Still-it's a sunny day, I have an interview in Worthing today and both of us are currently fit and well!

How are things for you? Is the idea of moving good, bad or mixed overall? How is everything else?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Very sorry to hear that life is being a pain. I hope the hassles fade away gently but quickly. Here's to your interview!

Things are good but very tiring. The idea of moving? It's a mixed bag. I have never taken to Manchester, and have always missed London, but now, I am a bit scared of the old city having to prove itself more than nostalgic indulgence rotting my brain, and I do not forget that it was here, oop narth, that inspired me to write my book. Plus, will we have enough friends, will the cats be happy?

I must sleep for a week at least before I can give these issues proper consideration xxx

[hybridartifacts.livejournal.com]

I have an image in my head of you making yourself new friends in London- setting up a little workshop and making them from clay and recyclable materials while the cats sit on plush thrones...

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Hmm. We do have a workshop. Now all we need are body parts...

[bytepilot.livejournal.com]

(coff)
Cast smokingboot as the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz.

"If I only had a brain..."
(coff2)

[the-pale-queen.livejournal.com]

It sounds a wonderful occasion. If you have any pics, could you post them?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

It was wonderful, looking forward to another made even better by your company! I have no pictures, there are some here:http://www.midsummersnightball.com/images/dylan/index.html
but none of larians. He does have some on his facebook page however, though mostly out of focus. He was being purple and discreet that night!

[the-pale-queen.livejournal.com]

Ah, another colour of the larians ;p

You look fantastic!

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you though tbh everybody looked beautiful. It was a night of real fairy glamour. The shots of larians don't show up the eastern detail on his dark shirt, it was very elegant.

I am desperate to do the whole thing again, and with a bit of luck, we can get you lot to join us:-)