IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PREPARATION...
Over the past few years, we've had quite a few major celebrations at the old homestead. Two fiftieths, a couple of Christmases, one eightieth and just last weekend the biggest affair so far, an engagement party. Touch wood, all events have gone amazingly well. This, of course, has meant lots and lots, and lots and lots, of preparation beforehand. Nobody wakes up one morning and says,' oh 80 or so folks coming tonight, wonder what's in the fridge?' It requires thought, planning, preparation...and lots of damned hard work! Nothing just happens.... You plan, hope the weather is perfect (and have a Plan B if not - or if the power goes off like the 80th party). Usually there is a theme, the engagement was a picnic casual affair. We had rugs on the front lawn (begged, borrowed and stolen), we had a trestle table laid out with yummies, baskets held aeroguard as well as torches...and fairy lights helped create an atmosphere. The chef at the pizza stat...