[tcsparky]

I went back for another visit in January, and will go back again in a few weeks. I'm really LOVING the area. Mersea Island is just beautiful, and Essex is such a wonderful blend of urban and rural.

I've learned a lot about the schools, and about the culture. The language is still a little tricky, but I'm getting better. For instance, parties are "do"s.....a leaving do (going away party), a hen do (batchelorette party)....

So next month, my friend has asked me to go to his rugby club's end of season ball. He said I need a "posh" dress. The pictures he has posted on his Facebook page from last year's party have pictures of men in tuxes (no women in any of the pictures for me to check out what they are wearing). I am assuming that women would wear the same thing there to a formal party as we would wear here. Does anyone know for sure? My friend is no help. He apparently didn't notice what the women were wearing!! The only thing he said was that we would be walking across the island to it, and that it is in a marquee on a farm.