7th Annual Anti-Valentine's Event

BACKGROUND
On February 14, 1999 a group of 8 single people, disillusioned with International Hallmark Day gathered in the beer garden of a fairly seedy pub in the Rocks. They eat, drank, laughed, visualised the rest of the beer garden naked and generally had a whale of a time.

Over the next year news spread, members of the Group of 8 became otherwise involved with members of their chosen gender but more people came to replace them. There were approximately 25 attendees of the 2nd Annual Anti-Valentine's Day event.

By the third year, interest had grown. People in relationships who were equally as disillisioned with the annual "celebration" expressed interest, so a set of rules were drafts. These rules have been lost in the sands of past email accounts but the essence remains:

• if you are taken but your partner is away, you can come
• if you are taken but your partner is at work, you can come
• if you are taken and you AND your partner want to come, you can come... but you CAN'T have any physical contact with your partner during the course of the evening (physical contact with people who aren't your partner strongly encouraged)

Anti-Valentine's 2001 was held inside the pub due to inclement weather. There were about 40 people (including at least 2 couples). One Portek was the only remaining founding member.

Anti-Valentine's 2002 had a record 75+ people and is remembered by all involved as a highlight of the 21st Century thus far. This year also saw the return of some founding members, back from Planet Taken.

AV03 and AV04 were also hits, though the lateness of organisers (yours truly) meant that some people arrived in the beer garden, looked around, couldn't find me and left. There are now a number of people who have attended multiple years, and each year there's a new batch of people to add to the mix. Each year there's at least one couple who "breaks up" for the evening cos they remember their single days and how much more fun AV. We still eat, drink and are merry. We have been known to boogie into the wee hours of the morning

Since 2002, about this time of year, I start receiving emails, phone calls and texts confirming that "it's still on" and I'm still organising it. At AV04 it was suggested that we should let the establishment know that we run it there each year and try to get some free booze happening. Laziness and busy-ness has meant that I haven't got around to it.

CHANGE OF VENUE
Let's face it, the Orient is a hole. Each year there are sleazier backpackers and the beer is more expensive.

As the only surviving founding member I have self-appointed power of veto and have decided that the time has come to move out of the Rocks. We're not in first year anymore.

This year, the 7th Annual Anti-Valentine's Day Event or AV05 will take place in the beer garden of The Rose (cnr Shepherd and Cleveland St, Chippendale). All complaints can be directed to me...

DETAILS
So, to re-cap...

WHAT 7th Annual Anti-Valentine's Day Event
WHEN from 8:00pm, Monday February 14 (I know it's a Monday, so you have an excuse to leave early)
WHERE The Beer Garden of The Rose (cnr Cleveland and Shepherd St) Chippendale
WHO Any single people (come one, come all)
WHY Do you need a reason?
RSVP You don't have to, but if you want to let me know you're coming, respond via the regular channels

Until then,
Be Good (or good at it)