h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A couple of weeks ago I invited my team at work for dinner. That would have been a total of 6 of us. That's fine.

However, for a number of reasons, that has now grown to 10. So we won't be sitting down and I have the cooking and stuff to do. So I thought that it would be a good idea to issue everybody with a job to do. For instance:-

1. Watch over the drinks and ensure that they are accessible.
2. Deal with the music.
3. Make sure that Jason doesn't muddle up the CDs for a laugh.

I'm after another 6 jobs that will need to be done that I haven't forseen. Any ideas?

My usual 'help' Mrs PP is in India. I'm on my own. I wish I hadn't started this now

PP.

* Ferrying food from the kitchen to the eating room
* Laying out the sweets so they look lovely (especially if they are chilled/hidden while the savories are being scoffed)
* Setting up the disco lights and operating them after the eating is done

That's about all I can think of.

Nooooooo!

The disco lights! I forgot them!

PP.

Get some of them to prepare a special dish or mix a drink for the rest, make it a good natured challenge you can provide the ingredients

Make sure that Jason doesn't muddle up the DVDs for a laugh.
Make sure that Jason doesn't muddle up the books for a laugh.

Tie up whoever this Jason person is as he sounds a real trouble-maker...

<BB<

Here is a thought,

Why not have a contest for who can come up with the best (short) party game?

It will not only entertain them, but should also keep them out of the kitchen 'helping'.

You could have a gag gift or even just a computer generated certificate for the winner.

Let everyone vote, with the one rule - you can't vote for your own game, It there is an unanimous vote you win as somebody obviously cheated

Might even distract Jason



F S

I would encourage them to bring dishes. it can be a potluck dinner, less work for you and more participatory.

make them... make it... a ... event.... if you've got the energy entheuiasm! - themeed? eah with job to do... hmm.... themed woudl be, I guess, each bringing, say a themed dish /desset or some such ? err... I've not thought this through...

Judging the fancy dress?

Joking aside, I would explain to them that you're unexpectedly on your own, but you're going ahead anyway, and could people muck in by bringing nibbles, puddings, drinks, starters, bread, or something decorative for the table. That way you won't be lumbered with 10 bottles of wine you don't like, or worse still, things that you will have to put on your shelves to collect dust, with the added bonus for the guests that no one will have to worry about what to bring.

It's not the actual food, but the actual fact of sitting down and eating together. Don't drive yourself mad with lots of fiddly things. Just do a huge pot of chili or curry and a vegetarian alternative, and a massive dish of rice.

Don't go mad trying to clean the house from top to bottom in anticipation, but do make sure the loo is spotless and fully stocked and smells nice.

Don't forget to check with your guests re allergies.

Just be your usual charming self.

I don't know if this entry I wrote is any help.... A87829546

Thanks folks. But:-

1. The house had to be tidied. It was a pig sty, but isn't now. The loo is always ok (But what the hell does my daughter use in the sink? It is always greasy and horrid)?

2. I love playing in the kitchen. That was the best bit.

3. I couldn't tell them I was suddenly on my own. They know I live on my own anyway (Except for my temporarily (after how many years does temporary become permanent?) resident daughter who was at work all day and usually out but managed to get home when food and drink was available)(Mrs PP is non-resident).

4. There is no such thing as wine I don't like (except the red and white that my neighbours bought me from Lidi that were probably £3 a bottle) (I'm going to let their plants die when they go on holiday in the summer)(That'll learn 'em).

5. I looked after the vegetarians. I made veggie options of both main dishes.

6. Tom Kerridge's Treacle Tart went down a treat.

7. Jason didn't mix up the CDs. Nicky appeared to be the main threat so I put him in charge of making sure that Nicky didn't.

8. Amy was first there so got the job of peeling a pommegranite ('I've never peeled a pomegranite before.....)(Young people these days........).

9. Anyone for trifle? I have a couple in the fridge. Everyone wanted the treacle tart.

10. We ate in the kitchen standing up since that's were the drinks were and nobody seemed to be keen to go far from these. We were all watching Nicky so that she didn't jumble up her drinks.

11. I only have about 6 DVDs to muddle up. I don't know where they are. Nobody muddled up my book.

12. Anyone for cheese. There's plenty in the fridge.

Thanks for suggestions folks. I shall work them into the next event. Especially the disco ball.

PP.

*Grabs a dish of trifle*

thanks!

I'm glad that it all went well.