A Fiery Farewell

One of Boo's co-workers just retired and the gang from his ward were going to bid her adieu with a dinner at the Latin Quarter, a venerable restaurant on the Commercial Drive scene.  Since it's not that far from where we live, Boo invited them by our place for cocktails before the dinner.

To me, "cocktails" means drinks and "drinks" regularly involves wine.  However, once again, this isn't a posting where I get to add an abundance of bottles to The List.  With Boo playing host and me designated cater-waiter, it wasn't a real "sit down and enjoy a bottle" scenario - which appears to be the determining factor for making The List.  

I wasn't about to let the whole affair go without some credit though.  So, when one of the guests brought along a celebratory bottle for the evening, it wasn't much of a tough choice to decide to count it - if only because I made sure that this waiter became a full participant.  We don't get the chance to pop the cork on a true Champagne all that often.

43.  N.V. Piper Heidsieck Cuvee Brut (Champagne - France)

Piper Heidsieck was a participating winery at this year's Vancouver Playhouse Festival and the program notes stated that this is the world's third largest Champagne house and it dates back to the reign of Louis XVI - apparently being the preferred Champagne of his Queen, Marie Antoinette.  Another icon of her time, Marilyn Monroe, is quoted as saying that she woke up every morning with Piper Heidsieck.   Our retiree was obviously being feted with a bit of class.

Marie Antoinette may have "let them eat cake," but this gang was eating tapas.  And to me, tapas cry out for margaritas or sangria - neither of which are topics for The List. 

By the time the after-party arrived back at our house, it was bed time for this boy - it being a "school night" and all.  So, I packed it in upstairs.  That didn't mean that I was oblivious to the shenanigans that were continuing downstairs - even the neighbours were asking about some rather raucous activities.  Knowing that the mild and demure reputations of certain participants may be at stake, I'll leave it for other media to recount the on-goings.  Far be it from me to go into tales of belly dancing, grass skirts and flaming matches.  

I remember, back in university days, that the nurses could always be counted on for partying.  I guess some things never change.