We all know how hard it is to organise a good ol’ fashion drinking session with our girlfriends. Conflicting schedules, unexpected sicknesses, babysitter dramas, not to mention the fact that social distancing is in effect and no bars are open.
At this rate, the next actual catch-up with your girlfriends is probably not gonna happen until 2021. Which means no coffee chats, no boozy lunches, no happy hours, no $20 cocktail nights and no messy mum’s nights out.
Bugger that.
2020 catch-ups cancelled; try again next year
With all the crazy going on, all mums need an outlet to chat, vent and drink away the worries before returning to our new realities of homeschooling and self-isolation. After all, if we’re meant to be the beacons of calm and pillars of strength for our kids, we’re going to need a couple of hours of mummy-time to debrief with our friends.
Sure, physically going out is off-limits but that doesn’t mean you can’t all catch-up virtually and get drunk together, but not together, if you know what I mean. All you have to do is organise a virtual catchup where everyone hops online from the comfort of their own couch.
No need to dress up, do yer hair, book a babysitter. All you really need for virtual catchups is a computer, a bottle of vino and a quiet area where the kids can’t annoy you.
Let’s get this party started
My favourite online platform for virtual shenanigans is Zoom. Actually, we use it for work-related purposes but it will totally work for online drinking sessions/virtual catchups too. Just make sure you don’t take the computer with you on your toilet breaks like this poor woman did!
Here’s how to set it up:
- Create an account on Zoom.com. Easy peasy.
- Go to the homepage and hover over the ‘host a meeting’ tab.
- Click into the ‘with video on’ option.
- Click the ‘invite participants’ option which will allow you to either copy the ‘meeting URL’ or send an email link to the people you want on the call.
- Remind your friends to CHECK THEIR EMAIL. Prepare for at least one friend to need you to resend the link. Probably the friend who already started drinking.
- Have your friends click on the link, set up a profile (takes two seconds) and then they are automatically added to the meeting.
- Make sure everyone has their mics on. There is also a ‘mute’ option so if the kids do come in whinging about something, you can mute your screen to save your mates from having to listen to you yell at them.
More online party platforms
Zoom is only one of the many choices we have. Here are a few more.
Facebook Video
You’ll need to go into the Facebook Messenger App, create a new group of people and press “video group call”. Facebook lets you view six people on a screen at any given time but you can have up to 50 people in on video call.
This one works well for people who can’t be effed to download a new app. After all, practically the entire world already has Facebook Messanger. Even my dad has it.
House Party App
This one is for your phone only but it is perfect if you like Games Nights. And who doesn’t??! You’ll need to download the House Party app and create an account. Then “Add Friends” or share your “Copy Profile Link”. They will need to download it to join too.
You can have eight people on the call and there’s the option to play games, like Heads Up, Quick Draw, Trivia and Chips and Guac. You can use it on a computer but it doesn’t have the cool game add-ons.
Skype
Skype is another popular one. Again, you’ll need to download the app, make an account and invite your friends to join the call. You can have up to 50 people on a group call. Which is pretty crazy, I mean, who has 50 friends??
Our new virtual reality
Online catchups are going to be our new normal for a while. It’s strange, yes, but it’s just how it is. So why not make the most of it? Because we could all use a night away from the telly and the kids, even if we’re just hiding in the backyard.
I’m sure we all have a stockpile of wine just begging to be drunk hidden in our pantries.
Or maybe that’s just me.
