I’m back on nights until Saturday morning.
Saturday night I’m having a dinner party
After writing those words, I’ve realised just how old fashioned I am
Apparently people don’t “ do” dinner parties anymore .
They just do food.
Chic Eleanor is one guest and our friends Sara & Pask are the others. Pask is a colourful Italian doctor who is a real natural foodie, which raises the stress of what food to pick somewhat, but I’ve made it easy on myself and have kept things simple . Eleanor will bring with her the starters and the others will bring the desert.
I will be cooking an all-in-on chicken, rice , olive dish from Spain
Last time they all came, Eleanor dropped some red hot french beans into Pask’s lap, causing him to tear off his trousers, ones that needed sponging down, leaving him to finish the dinner in his underpants.
That was a first at Bwthyn y Llan.
Anyway it will be nice to have a houseful again.
I’ve been collecting a nice set of cutlery over the past couple of years, buying the odd spoon and knife from John Lewis every time I go. I now have enough for four guests to use all at once, but this morning I realised I don’t own four matching cup and saucers, so popped down to Sainsbury’s and bought two to make up a set.
That’s as far as I go with pushing the boat out.
Maybe you should all just start in your underpants?
ReplyDeleteNow there’s a view
DeleteI'm feeling frisky and out-of-bounds today - a good change from the down I have been feeling lately!
ReplyDeleteFrisky is good
DeletePerhaps you should advise Pask to bring an extra pair of trousers! LOL
ReplyDeleteOr a flameproof bib
DeleteThank goodness nothing actually caught on fire ... the beans were just super hot and, evidently, so we're Pask's by that time! LOL Ouch!
DeleteI wonder what clothes Pask will take off THIS time?
ReplyDeleteLol we shall see
DeleteI love the expression, "pushing the boat out." I've never heard it used before which is surprising because we Canadians who grew up by the ocean love our nautical expressions. When I moved to landlocked Ontario at the age of 19 and first used the expression, "I'm as happy as a clam", the group I was with burst out laughing.
ReplyDeleteThis explanation (i.e., a boat is metaphorical for a glass) is consistent with the use in Army and Navy slang of to push the boat out in the sense of to buy a round of drinks. This usage is first recorded in Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases (London, 1925), by Edward Fraser and John Gibbons—to stand treat means to bear the expense of a treat; the phrase seems to be Army slang, since Fraser and Gibbons do not specify “(Navy)” (which they always do for Navy words and phrases):
DeleteIt is in common usage in Britain, Melinda.
DeleteIt's common among the Canadians I grew up with but they were "old stock" British immigrants, who our current leader despises.
DeleteYears ago-over 40 to be precise I used to partake of a tasty Italian sausage or a slice or 2 of salami-but declined the'proscut'x
ReplyDeleteSteady
DeleteIf I opened the pantry door and ventured in there would be all sorts hanging from the ceiling-and once I was in a relatives garage and their working cocker was standing directly underneath a drying leg and it was dripping into Brunos mouth x
DeleteYou must be feeling better. So glad.
ReplyDeleteI’m feeling better yes thank you
Deletewhat fun! i am very big on holding diner parties though things have slowed down significantly since covid. pask gave hot pants a whole new meaning.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t had one since before lockdown
DeleteDinner parties are SO yesterday, darling! (Says she, who's never given one.) Relaxed food with friends is much less stressful, unless you happen to lose your trousers! You must be feeling better to even think of having friends round for a meal. Shame about the night shifts. Don't forget to keep drinking the water! xx
ReplyDeleteThey pay better
DeleteYes, but bugger up your body clock! xx
DeleteYour guests must wonder: What surprises will we experience at John's dinner party? A good meal and lots of laughter will be great.
ReplyDeleteI hope so
DeleteI remember some very jolly evenings round at yours.
ReplyDeleteYes, they were always good fun
DeleteGlad you are feeling better, John!
ReplyDeleteI am better thank u
DeleteAre you feeling better? Think 'come round for food' is what younger people say.
ReplyDeleteI’m hip and young at heart x
DeleteChick, Rice, Olives sounds very much like paella, and I'm sure Pask will enjoy whatever you serve, so long as it doesn't end up in his lap this time. LOL.
ReplyDeleteThe chicken pieces are on the bone and there is heat from paprika
DeleteArroz con Pollo? Yum.
ReplyDeleteAnd what's a dinner party without a man losing his trousers?
XOXO
It was a first to me
DeleteDinner parties and matching tableware are so yesterday! Nowadays who cares whether crockery or cutlery matches, it's all more casual and bohemian these days and trendy to have mismatching stuff.
ReplyDeleteWe've done all the dinner party stuff in the past, sitting round the dining table but nowadays friends come for "supper" and we congregate round the kitchen table. Casual, relaxed and full of fun with no stress.
I would mind if I brought out mugs and not cups and saucers
DeleteHope the long night shifts are a breeze so you'll be in good shape to cook come Saturday. Are you s
ReplyDeletesure you don't want to make the main course in the slow cooker?
Dr. Pask is brave to return for another dinner at Bwthyn y Llan!
Hugs!
It’s a casserole one pot dinner
DeleteOh, you are going to have a good time.
ReplyDeleteIt’s about time
DeleteMore than one way to get a man out of his trousers :)
ReplyDeleteI’ve used other methods
DeleteJust simple food and good company...no stress.. can't beat it.
ReplyDeleteHope you all enjoy yourselves xx
I had a very close encounter at a French ladies dinner party(I originally met her at a salsa evening on a village green-she seemed nice and invited me into their old bentley as it began to rain)-apparently she taught business men to cook in her cottage and also pedicures!"the dinner party"(yogurt in mugs!)was disturbing"but luckily I escaped- later she was arrested for being in possesion of a potatoe knife x
ReplyDeleteFlis, you have certainly had some strange experiences! xx
DeleteI think I may have had happy hooker-I wondered if the electric treatment someone gave me tuned me into a peculiar frequency x
DeleteWhat a strange imagination you have flis. Strange and unbelievable. Perhaps due to being low on real life experiences.
DeleteI've not a full set of anything either but follow the Nigella table laying and using which is making a feature of things being odd.
ReplyDeletePeople I know still do dinner parties. And you couldn‘t possibly just call it food if Chic Eleanor is involved. Now who else could you invite that you‘d enjoy seeing in his underpants?
ReplyDeleteI used to give regular dinner parties until I lost the farmer but since then I only just do food - and usually at lunch time.
ReplyDeleteI have matching cups, plates and bowls, but seldom use more than a paper plate, a reused water bottle and bowl.
ReplyDeleteI hope that Sara and Pask don't bring the Sahara Desert as it's quite big.
ReplyDeleteA Saturday night dinner party sounds like a lot of fun! I remember you describing the pant-less dinner when it happened. It sounds like they are an understanding and fun loving couple and probably got a laugh out of it. I am happy for you that you are feeling up to hosting!
ReplyDeleteDont be nervous about the foodie! Food served with love is the best of all and every foodie knows that
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a visit I once paid to a Welsh Restaurant. They had no alcohol licence, so our wine was served in a teapot, and drunk from cups on saucers!!!
ReplyDeleteThe welsh find a way x
DeleteHow lovely! I used to entertain a lot, we've got about 25 of everything, not matching, because we used to do big pot lucks and thanksgivings. Not done it for years though with the sick hubby and me not being able to stand for long. I'm feeling a bit sad about that. I'm thinking I should start small again.
ReplyDelete