Australia Day and Burns Supper 2013

Like last year, this year I also decided to throw a large Australia Day bash at my apartment.  Once again, I made preparations (6 months saving those bottles of Bundaberg Rum) and threw open the doors of my bitchin' Awa pad to welcome in 40+ guests and celebrate my home country.  We feasted on kangaroo skewers and Aussie beef rump steaks.  We drank Jacobs Creek wine and Bundy rum.  We listened to a playlist of Aussie music and donned the obligatory green and gold zinc stripes across our cheeks.  We ate, drank, danced, talked, kept my neighbours awake late and generally just partied in true blue Aussie fashion!

Representing with fellow Aussie gal, Holly.

Me and Maiko causing shenanigans in the kitchen.

After the Australian stickers came out, with Liz and Todd (who was disappointingly America-representing in a Bulls shirt).

The next day, I woke up to an apartment strewn with people.  One by one we roused and after the boys went on a mission to get Maccas for breakfast we all sat about in the lounge watching films and just generally talking nonsense.  In the afternoon we headed on down to my local supermarket to gather supplies for that night's Burns Supper (if you remember, a poetry party in a cabin far out west) and came back to make a mess of my apartment preparing plates to share.  Dinner made, we all piled into a couple of cars and drove the one-hour west to the cabins we'd rented where we met the 30 or so other people in attendance and got the second party of the weekend started.

First up was dinner and everyone piled into the big cabin to share a meal together.  After the feed we settle down to read some poetry together and just generally drink ourselves into entertainment.  It might have been snowing outside, but the atmosphere in the cabin was cosy and festive.  Carrying on the Australia Day theme (Burns Supper actually fell on Australia Day proper this year) I read a poem from my favourite Aussie author, Gwen Harwood, while others chose to play instruments, sing songs or recite their own obscure and favourite literature.  It was a late and at times, messy night, but fun was had by all.

Kagawan JET, Matt, taking to the stage.

Tyler and Alex did a very funny little comedy number.

Julie's presentation on "how to pick up Japanese boys" was hilarious.

Zach and I got up onstage (again) for a live knitting lesson and demonstration.

The talented Canadian Colin decided to play us a musical number on his guitar.

Simon and John watch on in awe.

Ayumi, Hannah and Saad.