jesus may ball

[helenic]

It is 4.11pm and I have just got up, having only just got back from Jesus may ball before 6am. My sleeping patterns recently have been ridiculous. During my revision period I was getting a regular 3am-11am; in exam week when I had a paper at 9am every morning I slept from 2am-8am and then again for three hours in the afternoon, and I think I've had an entirely different eight hours every day this week. At least I've survived so far without a hangover. Having mastered the art of dancing without being completely wasted, the long drinking days demand a more moderate pace, or you'll wipe out within three hours and miss the rest of the night.

Oh, but last night! I can't put it into proper sentences without beginning to go on about fairylights and magic and becoming horribly trite, so I shall keep it to roughly list form.

Two hours queueing, twelve blisters, champagne, chicken noodles (never attempt to eat noodles with chopsticks in a ballgown in the dark while drunk), waffles and maple syrup, too many dinner jackets, endless strings of fairylights, ice sculptures. Jesus was beautifully lit and there was more food and drink than I could ever get through; burgers and hot dogs, fajitas, a whole hog roast, icecream, huge marquees full of cocktails and cold beers and smirnoff ice, wine, a neverending supply of double vodka and red bulls. There was a live music tent, a caricaturist, a masseuse, iceskating, a hypnotist, a casino, dance tents, rose gardens, strobe lighting. Oxbridge balls must be a unique phenomenon; part hunt dinner elegance with evening dress and gorgeous architecture, part funfair with dunkin' donuts and dodgems and fireworks, part music festival with tents and no chairs and live bands, and part typical student night out with kebabs and dance music and drunkenness. I can't think of anywhere else in the world you'd get that combination so successfully.

Needless to say I had an absolutely amazing time. Photos are here; mouseover the pictures for explanations. I have a garden party to go to.