That wasn't the point ..... though
Look, the point of the thread was not a bleat about the ball but a wish/hope for a maintainance of standards. (Beags...I actually got alot of that from the likes of -and- you) Especially since I (bold/capital/underline...don't know how to do it) told my guests these, as advertised in the invitation, were the standards required.
I know of functions in the Sergeants mess where they have been prepared to uphold and enforce the standards more so than I have seen recently. I would so much rather pay more and do it less often if at the end of it you got what you paid for.
Oh and just out of interest Health and Safety won't let you make decorations out of tri-walls anymore....though it must be said when Squadrons/units got allocated a room each to dress and decorate (using said cardboard) there were some incredible efforts made and superb inventions.:ok