News and photos

Issue No 31:
15 June 2005

Welcome to our thirty-first PartyChitChat. Just to let you know our news first:

• We have created a "meet and mingle" version of Caught In A Spanish Web for 17 to 30 guests.
• We have created some small standard versions for our Christian kit The Search For The Truth for 10 to 16 guests.
• We have created a "play" version of Who Stole The Cookies? for 8 to 16 guests. Although it is a play, you don't have to use a stage. You can simply say your lines around a table or sitting in a circle on sofas. This is a flexible "one size fits all" type of kit so as long as the 8 suspect roles are filled, you can use it for however many guests turn up.
• We have also decided to hold a regular decor prize in addition to our usual photo competition. So if you think your mystery party decorations were special, please send us a photo or two of your decorations and some comments. See decor competition for details.

• BIG NEWS: We are celebrating 10 years in the mystery business. We started in 1995 as "Tailor Made Murders", then changed our name to "Tailor Made Mysteries" and last July we changed it to "Merri Mysteries". As part of our celebrations, we are having our first ever sale just for our subscribers to Party Chit Chat. As part of our celebrations, we are having our first-ever-sale just for our readers of Party Chit Chat. During the coming 6 weeks until the end of July, we would like to offer you and your friends a 10% discount on any mystery party kit you would like to purchase. To claim your discount, simply enter 776 in the Quote Number field on the first page of our secure order form.

• Our photo competition winners
• Additions to our Party Tips pages
• Feedback on Who Stole The Cookies?

Our photo competition winners

We had so many good entries for the photo competition this time, it was hard to choose the best. We would like to thank everyone who entered. The 3 winners are:

• Diane Sauer (USA) for a photo from her Mystery In The Library party
• Denise and Lyn Exton (UK) for a photo from her Fame, Money and Murder party
• Nicola Farnworth (UK) for a photo from her Storm Survivors party.

We are commencing a new competition with a closing date of 1 August 2005 (see photos.htm for details).

Diane sent in this feedback about her "Mystery In The Library" party:

"Greetings,

On April 10, 2005 our library hosted the Mix (meet) and Mingle version of Mystery in the Library and it was a great success. We chose your program because it was in keeping with our commemoration of children’s literature during National Library Week.

Fifty-two students, faculty and staff members participated, making it a great success. Several of the participants said they would like to see this an annual event. We were pleased with the success of the party and with how well your product, ‘Mystery in the Library” suited our needs. I hope you enjoy the attached photos of our party.

We fully intend to have another mystery party in our library in the next academic year.

Thank you for supplying us with the program for a special Mystery in our Library.

Diane Sauer
Kellenberger Library
Northwest Christian College"

Additions to our Party Tips pages

We have added a lot of extra sections to our Party Tips pages. It now contains the following sections:

• Ice-breakers
• Fancy dress
• Drama tips
• Decorations
• Music
• Food
• Children's and teenagers' party games
• Prizes
• Recovering from the party!

Tips for seasonal events such as:

• Valentine's Day party game ideas
• Saint Patrick's Day parties
• Halloween parties
• Christmas parties
• New Years Eve parties.

Feedback on Who Stole The Cookies?

"Thank you for a wonderful Party. We used this for my daughter turning 11. It was perfect for her age group. I really appreciated the way it was simplified for a younger audience by telling each person when to reveal their clue, rather than relying on them to pick up on things on their own. We also enjoyed the fact that it was a mystery without the murder (for this age group). It made it a very easy party to run.

"The kids were soo excited to dress up in the age appropriate characters. They were all darling.

"I got so many comments from parents of the girls, "what a good idea" "Where did you find this?". We sent each child home with a bouquet of cookies on a stick for the party bag. Thanks again for a wonderful, simple party, that was the hit of the year.

Denise Hardy"

Here is a photo of Robin Hood and Maid Marion from Diane's "Mystery In The Library" party:

Denise and Lyn sent in this photo of Serina Dockafeller (sister of the victim and a belly dancer teacher) and the naughty side of male suspect from their "Fame, Money and Murder" party:

Nicola sent in this feedback about her "Storm Survivors" party:

"Stephanie

A belated thank you for all your help with the Storm
Survivors edition that you sent to me for my birthday
party.

We really enjoyed the game and have attached a couple
of photographs for your amusement.

Many thanks again,

Kind Regards

Nicky"

Here is Nicky's photo from her Storm Survivors party: