I was in attendance, but apparently my phone battery was flat and she urgently needed to contact her brother, so of course the solution (suggested by the bouncer, falling foul?

They've also been known to fly halfway round the world on the scent of a good party. It's an uncanny gift.

He also passed on a private message from Dr Alan Bollard, which involved a threat of violence to my?

And you don't even have to buy a book. Just come along to introduce yourself and then guzzle up the free booze.

A which point: ta, Monteith's and Matawhero.

And really, your closing riff on dancing, line and otherwise, was pure magic — surreal, whimsical, like listening to something being?

That Gracewood woman is incorrigible. I recall a similar event at the closing party for a certain Wellington web conference.

The next step, clearly, is the White House.

pure magic — surreal, whimsical

Indeed, I was captivated. A marvellous theme delivered to perception that held the assembled throng in the palm of your hand.

You had to be there to appreciate the imagery of a one-man-dance-troupe on a random street corner in Sockburn attempting and failing at line-dancing.?

I'll pick it up in person at No4 on Monday night ;)

Just come along to introduce yourself and then guzzle up the free booze.

So I guess it's going to be another early night before the dehydration migraine makes me unfit for human company. Bugger.

And David, what the others said, the story was fabulous, and delivered with great composure.

Composure? I thought the "Help! What the hell am I saying?" look on David's face contributed significantly to the flavour of the story...

Our M7 topics are: 95bFM's 40th anniversary, with Gemma Gracewood, Paul Casserly and Troy Ferguson.

Murdoch?

and then begin to talk utter rubbish

Well, there was a point, just when you were about to read, when you suddenly started talking about something else. It was at that point that I almost yelled out, "Just shut up and read, ow!"

But I was in Parliament so I?

How about hydration so you don't get a migraine, maybe some water,yes? :)

I'd rather not have to pay bar prices for it, like I had to at a rather unpleasant work-related Christmas party last year.

I'd rather not have to pay bar prices for it, like I had to at a rather unpleasant work-related Christmas party last year.

The water will be free! Promise!

The water will be free! Promise!

Yay! Though you've just done yourself out of one hell of a floor show. :)

The water will be free! Promise!

We've found our new champion of the anti-water-privatisation cause.

I must say that it was wonderful to finally put faces to names that I've known for years: Stephen Judd, Rob Hosking, Robyn Gallagher, Giovanni Tiso, Lyndon Hood, and Graeme Edgeler — to name but six of the most drunken attendees.

You don't know how much it pleases me that?

But are you actually from Naenae? That's the real question.

Oddly enough, there was an Italian boy in my class at St Bernadette's. Name of Benvenuti, not a trace of an accent. Deep cover in the Hutt Valley? He wouldn't be the first.

You Gracewoods certainly stick close – first?

Go the Mooloos.

Ben Gracewood is almost a perfect anagram of WE ARE BORG

It's also an anagram of RACE ON, WEB GOD.

Jolisa Gracewood, on the other hand, is an anagram of GO, AIR COOLED JAWS.

It's also an anagram of RACE ON, WEB GOD.

That is mighty! I bow to you, sir. And dare Ben to get it on a T-shirt, or even better, as a tattoo.

My air-cooled jaws are entirely due to this miserable, but entirely seasonal, New England weather. Brr.

Ben Gracewood is almost a perfect anagram of WE ARE BORG.

How about WE CAN BORE GOD?
Philip's is way better.

Go the Mooloos.

I need more Cow Bell

Didn't Stephen attempt to establish that I was from Te Awamutu a while ago?

I thought I saw you at The Regent 3 Cinema in Alexandra Street. Great things have come from Te Awamutu--not just the Finns.

But I am procrastinating--I should get back to updating my chapter on NZ?

I thought I saw you at The Regent 3 Cinema in Alexandra Street.

I think I saw Men in Black there. You have a terrific memory.

Great things have come from Te Awamutu--not just the Finns.

My beloved, for one thing.

(but they do have to be publishable!)

There goes?

Philip, we should fly you to New Zealand

Seconded.

Hi David, what did you do with that painting I gave you, don't lie, you dropped it into the nearest burkes bin, didn't you.

Steven: that was you? Why in God's name didn't you introduce yourself? I was completely bewildered — I thought you must work for Arty Bees and?

Steven: that was you? Why in God's name didn't you introduce yourself?

Despite my extroverted appearance on here, I'm actually very scared of formal events. I'm trying to overcome that insecurity by becoming a circus clown.

I'm glad to read that the paintings are still at Arty bees, if you?

For years I have suffered nightmares in which I am giving a speech to a large crowd of onlookers. The sequence of events is always the same: I forget what I am supposed to say, fall into a complete panic, and then begin to talk utter rubbish.

As a teacher?

Had four hours sleep last night and drove from Palmerston North to Auckland today with a toddler.

Perhaps you should get some cushions and teach Bob to drive — he don't need no stinking sleep. :)

Amazingly, the hardened security-dude wilted ... and let her through without a murmur of protest.

Yeah, I know you're all envious of my skills. So I'll tell you what went down at Parliament, for free. The rest of my "How I get into all the parties" tips will be in?

but Bob-the-Tattooed-Baby's topless appearance at the Auckland launch took the cake.

It's not a proper party unless someone takes their top off and runs screaming through the room — it just happened a lot earlier than usual...

She thought her husband might like it too – he's the chair of the RB.

Ahaha... fantastic.

he's the chair of the RB.

It was only a matter of time.

This all makes sense to Wellingtonians.
And they all seem to have good senses of humour.

That comes from having our hairdos constantly blown out of shape.