I think so. Everyone has pre-drinks somewhere before they embark on a night out, and many continue the party on back at someone elses house (or if you are unlucky enough, yours) for at least 1 more nite-cap. Does this mean that we are lacking the sort of establishments that cater for our ever changing needs? Or are we just what the media depicts us to be? Binge drinking, shag-a-delic individuals.

Wednesday’s big ticket event was a singles party at The Grange. The weather was fugly but by far the majority of the female ladened crowd were not. The next night’s excitement took me to see a comedy show, drink perfectly crafted cocktails at Bungalow8 (thanks Kristen) and b-bop post-op at the Pony shop. Tarnos’s 30th birthday bash house party took out Friday night’s top award with DJ Lady K working up the Hawaiian themed party into a hurricane force sweat. Stereodays at Space was the surprise mega hit. I stopped in to say hi after dancing on the mantelpiece at Our House’s Winter Wonderland party and was greeted with a capacity crowd going bananas to the main DJ act, Tara Reynolds, very reminiscent of my old London raver days. I couldn’t leave, and my hands stayed in the air till I managed to hail a cab heading to the after party.

Speaking of after parties, a new Ponsonby after party force has risen to challenge Dougal for supremacy. She’s blonde and her name rhymes with Havana. New challengers welcome

A quick mention. Two guide-getting friends of mine, Rebecca Dearing and Ben Hanna, are doing the $10 Auckland to Queenstown charity challenge this year. Check out their plans and what they intend to do…  www.fundsonline.co.nz/rebecca.robbie and www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/corporateclownspoker

Actual race info is here: www.experiencequeenstown.co.nz/events/feature-events/10-dollar-race-cure-kids/