If it weren't a dastardly plan then it could have been.

We put up a sign telling people that the conservatory would be closed from 1.30 for a private party. The High Tea birthday party of a wonderful 85 year old. No one believes he really is 85. He must have a portrait hidden in some attic somewhere.

Anyway, the sign prompted several people to ask for details about booking parties.

If I were cunning I'd put one up every week....

Tart

Tomorrow we have an 85th birthday tea at 2pm.

First coach party of the season on Sunday.

Lemon Bakewell will make its first appearance tomorrow.

My idea of heaven.

A question too far.

"Ham please" she said.

"Ham salad?"

"I don't like salad." she said

"Sandwich?"

"Do you do ham sandwiches, oh yes please" she said.

"The sandwich comes with a little salad on the side....would you prefer not to have it?"

"I'll have it," she said, "then I can put it in my sandwich."

O

K

Fun and Games

A couple from Ho Chi Minh City came this week and wanted to try everything.
And they kept saying "local" which was music to my ears.
They asked if I had heard of Vietnam, then ordered soup, made with locally grown asparagus, she had quiche, he had pork pie ploughmans (having first asked if he could have the pork without the pie) local apple juice and two pieces of cake. A lot of food, I said. No light lunch, she answered.
Half an hour later they sank back in their chairs and exhaled.
Then wrapped the cake up in napkins and took it away with them.
Yesterday we served a young couple from Vancouver.
Last week the Russians came.
Is this the Olympic effect come early?

When will I learn?

Note to self. For future Bank Holiday weekends with poor weather please remember that people STILL GO OUT. If it's cold they just eat and drink different stuff.
A much, much better day than expected given the dreariness of the forecast and the grey of the sky.
Still selling heaps of chilli for masses of jacket potatoes.
Came close to running out of milk due to the gallons of hot chocolate we were making.
The special panini have sold out so in the morning - Bank Holiday Monday - I have to trawl the stores for a replacement.
That's a nice predicament to be in.

Feeling Good

I have never known us sell so much chilli. We're making it daily now. One American lady who said she was very hungry ordered a jacket potato with a double-chilli filling.

We tried out our homemade pork pie ploughmans. It was more popular even than the Lightwood cheddar option and will certainly stay if we can make enough. The bacon, Brie and cranberry panini sold out so that's a winner too.

A Bank Holiday is an odd day to choose to try these things out. But I have been making some strange decisions recently.

Chilly

The heating went back on today. That chill in the air means most opted for soup and jacket potatoes. We had to make even more chilli yesterday to warm those cockles. Children were the only ones to brave the garden.

But Summer is nearly here. The "asparagus for sale" sign has gone up at one end of the village meaning that, joy of joys, it'll be our feature soup tomorrow and for the foreseeable weeks.
Pork pies are being made tomorrow in time to serve them as ploughmans for Easter.
Have just collected my compost bin prize. It looks like a green dalek. The lady who gave it to me said mine wasn't the only entry. And I believe her.