Party party

Yesterday we hosted a tea party for a 3 year old. Most of her guests were adults but the children who did come had squash in tea cups poured from pretty tea pots. Note to self: remember this simple change to tea parties for next season because the kids really love it.
Today we held baby Daniel's Christening celebration. Lots of banners and balloons, sandwiches and scones, cakes and canapés. And lovely people. Which isn't alliterative.
By 4 o'clock, as the poor weather set in, the last customers left.
I was home by 5.30.
It's properly autumn now.

Confession

Among the first customers were three regular visitors who sat in the conservatory and drank americanos.
Among the last customers were the same three people, who sat at the same table, in the same seats and drank tea and ate scones.
In the interim they had been somewhere for lunch.
They told me that they think of the tea rooms as their special place and they love to come. But they were horrified when they came on one of the Bank Holidays this year to find a queue to the door and every table full.
We have had amazing Bank Holidays this season. Sunny, hot and incredibly busy.
They don't make me happy though.
I like people to see us at our best, to have a chat about cake, coffee strength, tea in pots and how lovely the china is, the surprising beauty of the Church and the shocking state of the drive.
On a busy Bank Holiday all this goes out of the window as multiple trays full of food and drink are carried out and multiple trays full of debris and remains are carried in. It's all a bit of a rush and not conducive to pleasant conversation and individual attention.
And it takes us ages to clear up at the end of the day...

Grounded

Ha.
Wasps don't seem to like rain.
The rain today was very welcome.

Lovely customers. Not in large numbers (because of the welcome rain) but nevertheless lovely.

Her loss

Apparently Miley Cyrus was in Great Witley last Sunday.
She signed the Church visitors' book.
She didn't sign ours, but maybe that's because she didn't make it down the path to the tea room and didn't fancy a homemade scone and a nice cup of tea.

The Late Show

The Langley Local History Society was late. 

Thank goodness.

The day turned into a beautiful one, as predicted, and couples and families and groups of friends braved the wasps and came out in the hot sunshine which meant that we were very VERY busy at the appointed hour of 1pm. 

When the nineteen arrived at a quarter to 2 (they had very kindly warned us that they were behind schedule) we were in a far better state to receive them.  

A little luck can make all the difference. 

Pest

Distinctly autumnal this morning but I am assured that the fog will lift, the grass will dry and that we're in for another beautifully hot day.
I shall be doing battle with the wasps again, this time to try to deter them from ruining the Langley Local History Society visit.
I'd love them to be able to have their lunch outside.
The wasps may love that too.

I find myself grateful that the forecasters are offering rain later this week. With luck this will mean I can write about something other than insects.

Menace

Wasps continue to annoy though in significantly lower numbers.
I have colourful wasp catchers hanging in the garden.
I have fresh mint in jars on the tables (apparently wasps hate the smell of mint - who knew?).
I have citronella tea lights in jars.
I have a swatter.


Do I feel sorry for the slaughter of the little striped things?
No.
They have been attacking one of our hives. Our lovely hardworking bees have been killed for the honey they've spent weeks making.
No. With wasps I am hard line.