St Catherine’s - a baby among the Oxford colleges, existing in its current state since 1962 - hosted nearly two thousand partygoers last weekend. Guests were invited to ‘leave time behind’: Catz seriously took its motto ‘Nova et Vetera’ to heart with a 'Continuum'-themed ball. On the 'Vetera' end of the spectrum there were 60s arcade games, an ABBA tribute band, and a late-night screening of 'Back to the Future' - lots of retro cuteness balanced out by imposing ice sculptures, modern art installations, and up-and-coming music acts across three stages in the college grounds. The ball carried on in full swing until Sunday morning - and there was no shortage of things to do, what with the mini golf course, hook-a-duck, a coconut shy, the all-important photo booth, candyfloss and popcorn and craft ales.
A five-strong team of hair stylists were on hand ready to rejuvenate any worse-for-wear hairdos, and in case the four-course Scandinavian dinner at the outset wasn’t enough, flagging revellers were fuelled until the early hours by fresh crumpets, artisan cupcakes, Vietnamese and Tibetan street food, churros, and coffees from the firm Oxford favourite The Missing Bean. And after the sloe gin cocktails, the boozy butterscotch concoctions, and the Baileys lattes, Goujon Monkey's offerings of fish and chips, deep-fried Brie, and crispy chicken were eagerly received. Catz was my 12th and possibly last Oxford ball as an undergrad - now that we're Proper Grown-Up Finalists, apparently Trinity Term is no longer for picnics and punting and Pimm's, but for exams and Real Work. Who knew?!
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
The official website of Yorkshire-made, Oxford-based writer Isabel Parkinson. Want fewer words and more pics? Follow me on Instagram!
(Header Photo: Radcliffe Camera, Oxford - Isabel Parkinson 2016)
|