It is all my parents fault really.

When I was growing up in the fifties and sixties my parents were great entertainers. Not is the variety show entertainer sense but as in party throwers.

It seemed like we always had a house full of people, eating and drinking and laughing and dancing around the house. Mostly we kids were ushered off to bed while the parties raged on but I would lie awake in my bed for hours straining to hear the sounds of the music and laughter.

Some parties were intimate affairs and some were huge extravaganzas that would take weeks of preparation.

In our neighbourhood our house was the ONLY place to be on Boxing Day or Fireworks Night. Packed to the rafters with friends and neighbours and spilling out onto the big grass lawn. And when it came to special celebrations like children’s birthday parties every child in the class would be invited.

I know that my mother didn’t work per se - well not in a regular 9-5 job it was the fifties after all, but she was on committees all over the place and an artist and an actress and was constantly on the go not to mention having 5 children. But despite being somewhat time poor, she had the knack - my father too for that matter - of being able to organise the most brilliant parties - right down to making unique decorations to suit whatever theme was chosen.

If it was a chinese dinner party for example - I remember we would travel miles to the chinese emporium in Lane Cove just to buy “proper” chinese lanterns and fans to decorate the house. My mother always had to be as authentic as possible. Special food ingredients would be sought in the back alleys of chinatown near Paddy’s Markets and orchids ordered from the florist. Mother would dress us in little silk chinese pyjamas and tie my hair back in a long plait and draw black lines in the corners of my eyes.

At the Boxing Day Party my Dad was more involved. The centre piece of the affair would be trays and trays of seafood, prawns and lobster and freshly shucked oysters. We lived on the Lane Cove River and in those days you could get a feast of oysters straight off the rocks. So off we would go, my brother and I with our buckets and oyster knives and return to our father who would open them all.

I am therefore certain I have inherited some entertaining gene from my parents - because one of the things I most love to do is host a party for my friends.

There are many positive things to be said about entertaining/hosting an evening at home whether its for a few friends or a whole crowd:

1. 1.You don’t have to worry about drinking and driving
   

2. 2.You get to choose the music
   

3. 3.You can dance without embarrassment
   

4. 4.You can eat what you like to eat and cater for special tastes and allergies etc.
   

5. 5.It costs less
   

6. 6.It is fun to plan and prepare
   

7. 7.You can choose the mix of company
   

8. 8.Its a chance for your friends to meet new people
   

I think most aussies like a good party - but in recent times with both men and women working, organising a dinner party has become somewhat a thing of the past, replaced by fast-and-easy-throw-away-ready-made options.

But we need the human interaction - we yearn for it...That’s why  we all welcome Summer with its spontaneous  BYO outdoor barbeques and pool parties being a popular way for most aussies to entertain with their friends. In winter however, there is less inclination to throw an indoor party, and a sort of hibernation happens. Although, I read recently that the Masterchef phenomenon together with other reality TV shows from England such as “Come Dine with Me” has seen a return to entertaining our friends at home coming back in to fashion.

I thought I should therefore start the ball rolling and with less than a week’s notice contacted fouteen of our nearest and dearest mates. It was really no surprise then when they all accepted our invitation to join us for the semi-spontaneous BYO POT LUCK soiree at our place.

Everyone bought a dish and their own booze. With over a dozen guests we ended up with a great assortment of food. An entree, three mains and two desserts. I had planned a game of Pictionary in case the evening lagged but the conversation was lively and enjoyable and when everyone got up on the dance floor and some even started singing. The games were soon forgotten. The night ended around 2.00am Sunday morning when everyone decided it was time to go. Three friends stayed over and we all had brunch together the following morning.

The planning for this party was minimal, and I probably spent more time rearranging the furniture to accommodate the merry throng than I did in the kitchen cooking. It helps to have a partner who can cook - I must say. 

So much it reminded me of those early days of my childhood - only I didn’t have to go to bed early. And what a nice change it made from a night out of fast food and the movies, or a Saturday night at the local club/pub bistro followed by half an hour of playing the pokies and sitting around drinking or staying home and watching the telly and eating pizza.

The feedback from my friends about what a great night it was, was overwhelming and hopefully I have started a trend and they too will consider the entertaining at home as a viable alternative to “going out” on a Saturday night.

Why not start a dinner party club - I used to have a group of friends when I lived up the coast and we would regularly take turns to throw a themed dinner party - each friend trying to out do the other.

One time we had an Indian feast and the girls came dressed in Saris and the boys as Maharajahs, we played indian music and tried our hand at some Bollywood style dancing - it was a hoot.

But the best party was one the “boys” decided to throw. Turned out to be a “Christmas in July” complete with Christmas Crackers, a Secret Santa and a Christmas tree. They even had cooked the whole Christmas feast, Ham and Turkey and Roast pork plus the works. The kids loved it and it was nearly better than the real thing.

Its July now so there is a good place to start.

© Copyright Sascon Pty Ltd (Groovy Grandmas) 2010