Hold the phones

I have always been a big fan of London (yes this post will go to mobile phone use, hang on). Love the humor of the British, the cultural calendar to explore, and the pubs. I try to go once every year.

While there I read about an organization that produces immersive themed parties called Secret Cinema. It sounded like a must to have experienced once so I put it on my mental bucket list and enrolled in the newsletter. Parties came into my inbox with themes like Grease, Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future, and Moulin Rouge but never did I buy a ticket. Till Bridgerton hit the inbox.

My friend Eelke was a huge fan of the series, she instantly agreed to the plan, hired themed dresses, and off we went. The evening was nothing short of memorable and never to be relived. It started weird (something with a crime scene and a dinosaur, no joke, but that was before the party). And I will only tell you about the party in real life since there is so much to tell.

One thing I do want to share and why I’m posting in the first place…. Our phones were put into something similar to this and in a locker. Only allowed to be reopened for the last hour of the party. And it was amazing! Everyone was fully present and interacting.

It reminded me of the “handi-spa” Hugo Suidman has at meetings, which is a box to store your mobile in during sessions. Maybe a must and free tip for everyone.

You see the backlash on mobile phones everywhere. Coldplay begs people to put their phones away. A restaurant in Verona, Italy offering a free bottle of wine for ditching your phone. And an entire movement in the UK to postpone mobiles till 14 years old in the UK.

I am no saint and use my phone way too much. But I am getting more and more aware of its impact. So do hold me accountable when you find my annoyingly on my phone in your presence.