Deluge

An interesting day.
We opened early for a group of 24 who were coming from Cheltenham. They wanted coffee before their tour of the Church at 11.15. We were poised and ready at 1030.
Except they didn't arrive.
Well, they did, just not at 1030, or even 11. And then not to us.
We had a call from the Court Visitors' Centre at 11.15 to say the group had pitched up there and were making their way over.
And that a second group of fifty one had also arrived and were coming straight to us for lunch.

So which is better? A group of 24 who are expected but don't turn up? Or a group of 51 from Buckinghamshire who are wholly unexpected and need to be fed and back on their coach by 1pm?

Both groups were actually delightful, grateful and understanding.
Group A (Cheltenham) had their preordered two-course lunch in the warmth of the garden after their church and crypt tour.
Group B (Bucks) had coffees with us and ordered takeaway sandwiches so that they could see the Court with the little time they had.

By 2pm we were pretty quiet.
We waited for the forecast thunder storm which never came. Much like our morning guests.