It was a rather long process to get ready. Jimmy, Russell and Joel went with the scary clown theme, Dave went as a vampire, Dillan just wore a nighty that was supposed to be the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood but he didn't wear the mask he just wore the creepy hands and a purple wig, and I went with a classic - the zombie bride. Jimmy bought one of those professional movie quality clown masks that you glue to your face and then paint and had a ring leader outfit and massive clown shoes. He looked amazing, it was weird cause it was Jimmy but when he talked the mask moved like it was his face so it wasn't Jimmy at the same time, just a really scary clown that will give me nightmares. My make-up took quite a while. I had to cover myself in white powder so I looked really pale, then I used purple eyeshadow to put dark patches under my eyes and also used it as blush to make my cheeks look sunken in. Then I did really dark eyes and fake eye lashes, black lipstick and of course fake blood which a put under my eye and all over my neck. Note to self: Next time you apply fake blood, use gloves, that stuff does not come off easily! I then put on my dress, veil, socks and heels, put a bit more fake blood over my arms, grabbed my black rose and was ready to go!
Around ten thirty we got taxi's to the venue in Elephant and Castle. While we were lining up all these French tourists wanted photos with us so we took a few but were pretty eager to get inside and see what it was like. I was absolutely blown away by how extravagant this place was. There was a symphony playing on the stage and everyone was waltzing around the dance floor in eighteenth century gowns, wigs and masquerade masks. It looked like a scene out of a grand Dracula movie. There were naked people covered in blood wandering around feeding people grapes and dancing in cages. I had something thrown at my head on the dance floor, so I picked it up and realised it was a real dead chicken. Still warm. Jimmy then proceeded to carry it around for a while, and then we saw that there were also dead chickens hanging from the walls in all the hallways. Creepy. Dave found himself in a sort of bondage themed room and got tied up by his arms, then people took his wallet and phone etc and left there to fend for himself. There were circus performers doing aerial acrobatics from material hanging from the ceiling to the floor, all wearing Harlequin masks, performing to this eerie symphony music that had everyone in a trance. The whole dance floor went still and silent, all just watching the dancers falling from the ceiling. As well as this a number of different gothic/halloween themed bands played throughout the night including a definite favourite - The Urban Voodoo Machine.
It was the most amazing night, it just had the most fantastic atmosphere and you actually felt as if you were in a real Halloween Ball at Dracula's Manor back in the sixteen hundreds it was so extravagant, with a real romantic, gothic, dream-like feel to it. Definitely fit the theme of the 'beautiful and the damned'. Only wish it had gone on for longer. It was around four thirty when we left the party and headed home. What a night, Halloween is my new favourite holiday, I wish I could stay longer and go to their masquerade balls too! Maybe I should start something like this in Sydney...although I hope there is something similar at home because I really want to go again!
Happy Halloween :)
