Great Chesterford

Lunch party with friends

Susan and Geoffrey had invited their friends Christine & Thomas and Jane & Eddie to have lunch with us at Susan's home on Monday.

We had spent the previous evening doing some of the preparations which included getting out Susan's very beautiful set of Wedgewood china, her canteen of silver cutlery and the crystal wine glasses from the glass cabinet, to set the table in her formal dining room in a most elegant style. It looked very fine and posh.

Susan rarely uses this lovely stuff and it seems a shame to leave them languishing in a cabinet, but I do understand that they require delicate hand washing, so regular use would not be appropriate or practical.

It was all hands on deck in the morning to do last minute preparations. Susan excelled herself with her menu. A lovely ginger & aubergine chicken dish with roasted potatoes and steamed greens, with goats cheese & caramelised onion tarts, followed by a pavlova topped with berries and whipped cream and a  lemon & orange parfait. Now that's a menu worthy of the good china!!! Everything was delicious too!

Susan serves dessert

The lunch party

Christine arrived with her friend Pat who lives on the Isle of Mann. Thomas had stayed home as he was feeling a bit unwell (still recovering from a stroke some months ago). Eddy, who has Parkinson's, was fortunately having a good day and was able to accompany Jane. We all had a great time chatting and catching up. Barb had met them all before a few times, and John has known Christine since he was a young child and the others are long time friends.

Susan, Christine, Jane, Eddie, Pat, John and Geoffrey having drinks

Christine and Jane

Pat and John

Jane and Eddie (and Daisy dog)

It was a really lovely lunch and the company was great. Poor Geoffrey who did the hand washing of all the good china afterwards may have had some of the enthusiasm  for the day blunted after standing at the kitchen sink for an hour and a half. The effort was greatly appreciated.