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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel sad my house doesn't do dinner parties??

95 replies

bordellosboheme · 29/09/2013 18:08

When I was a girl I wanted to grow up and live in an elegant house and throw dinger parties.

However, I have ended up in a house without a dining room.... A small kitchen, and so I've not invited anyone round to dinner in 5 years.

My next door neighbours do this every weekend..... I feel sad.....

OP posts:
Talkinpeace · 03/10/2013 11:47

pointy My house is pretty odd. The skull collection in the dining room is not to everybody's taste Grin Better odd than boring though.

And actually one of the most fun sociable meals is

  • baguette 1 per 3 people
  • cheeses 3 flavours per 4 people
  • sliced veg and jars of grilled veg
  • pates and meats if no veggies there
  • paper plates, knives
  • a large table / worktop / rug in the garden
  • lashings of wine
pointythings · 03/10/2013 19:02

I would love to see your skull collection, can I come to dinner? I'm pretty good on zoology Grin Grin

Talkinpeace · 03/10/2013 20:17

pointythings
A relative of mine ....

teenagetantrums · 03/10/2013 20:21

we have a fold away table in the living room, move the sofas to put it up and used to have people round for dinner all the time, now im unemployed cant afford to do it any more, but sometimes i do a buffet type thing on a Sunday lay out the food in the tiny kitchen, everyone brings a dish and we all eat on our laps, is actually more fun than the sit down three course meals..

Original poster
bordellosboheme · 05/10/2013 14:47

Ah the house clean up begins....

Can I ask what kind of salad you would have with chicken and pots??? I know that's minor detail....

Ds and dp gone to the beach...l I'm here cleaning for tomorrow, will I regret this?????

So tired. I feel a bit of a martyr now...... Hmm

OP posts:
pointythings · 05/10/2013 14:53

Baby spinach leaves, cherry tomatoes (quartered), a few pumpkin seeds or toasted pine nuts. Dressing: olive oil, raspberry or red wine vinegar, a tiny drop of hazelnut oil if you have any. dollop of honey, salt, pepper. Just chuck in a lidded cup and shake - done. As long as you get the ratio of oil to vinegar right (should be 3 to 1) then salad dressings are easy.

SPsTwerkingNineToFive · 05/10/2013 15:10

I do the take away on knee with plenty of alcohol thing and I have a perfectly fine table and chairs in the back of the room.

Original poster
bordellosboheme · 05/10/2013 16:19

Pointy things you are a genius!

OP posts:
pointythings · 05/10/2013 17:25

Enjoy, bordellos. And then experiment some more, you can really show off with salads without actually doing anything very difficult Grin

valiumredhead · 05/10/2013 18:12

Salad-bowl of olives, small plates of chopped tomatoes, cucumber, grated carrot, bowl of leafy green salad. Couple of salad dressings then people can help themselvesSmile

sashh · 05/10/2013 18:28

White sheet on the floor and serve Indian.

A paste table and folding chairs.

Fancy picnic - I used to do these when I lived in a studio.

I have a couple of disabilities so can't get to my friend's 2nd floor flat so she has cooked dinner here, could you do that? Or maybe share the prep with a friend.

shoppingbagsundereyes · 05/10/2013 18:30

My salad tonight is just green things - leaves, cucumber, spring onions and avocado. Will be yum. I like coleslaw with chicken and salad. I buy deli coleslaw from wherever.
I hope you have a lovely time tomorrow, come back and tell us all about it :)

valiumredhead · 05/10/2013 18:44

Oh yes, coleslaw-yum!

Original poster
bordellosboheme · 06/10/2013 13:50

Floor mopped
Leather (ette ;) sofas wiped
Kitchen cleaned
Fabrezed Wink
Kitchen cleaned
Shopping done
Salad done
Chicken done
Jacket potatoes in oven finishing off
Olives and coleslaw in dishes
White wine cooling in fridge

Sitting down with fruit tea and awaiting guests! Phew!

Anyone want to come? Wink

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 06/10/2013 13:56

Well done!Grin come back later and tell us how fab it was and what you're cooking me next weekendWink

Original poster
bordellosboheme · 06/10/2013 22:27

Quick update

Went well...
Kiddos played nice together
Friend liked the food and brought desert stuff.
They stayed for a good 5 hours including a walk and playing in garden.

Friends ds dropped some food on the floor and I said 'dont worry, it's seen worse.' she said, 'i love your house, you can relax and not be uptight about dropping stuff'. I took that as a compliment (I think!?!) Smile hope that didn't mean she thought I live in a hovel! Shock

The food....

It was yummy if I do say so myself...
The beauty of jackets and roast chicken is you can just stick them in the oven and forget about them (until cooked)! Thank you for suggesting the menu and for building my confidence up! Oh and thanks for elaborating on salad options when my mind went black. Coleslaw and olives were yum!
I'm on a roll now... I might invite a mum from the local play group next! What do you think? Some soup and bread?

OP posts:
Original poster
bordellosboheme · 06/10/2013 22:28

One more observation.... I did seem to spend a lot of the weekend cleaning, shopping, cooking instead of relaxing... You do give up your leisure time a bit... But this afternoon was relaxed

OP posts:
Original poster
bordellosboheme · 06/10/2013 22:29

Valiumredhead....

Caviare and canapés Wink

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 06/10/2013 22:42

Oh it sounds fab, they must've enjoyed it if they stayed 5 hoursGrin

Soup sounds fab, you ARE on a roll nowGrin

shoppingbagsundereyes · 07/10/2013 06:54

Sooooo pleased for you, sounds like a lovely afternoon. Soup and bread sounds great.

Jaynebxl · 07/10/2013 07:08

Excellent! And the next time will be a bit easier and you won't feel you have to do so much prep I bet.

Original poster
bordellosboheme · 07/10/2013 08:00

By the way, I may be being a tad over sensitive, but what do you think about the comment above about her not worrying about making a mess? Is it a little bit of a back handed compliment?

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 07/10/2013 08:20

No, not at all she said that because you didn't make a fuss when she dropped something and she was relieved she hadn't dropped food all over a swanky white table cloth with 6 people staring at her. Honestly!

There is no way anyone would stay 5 hours anywhere if they weren't having good good and fun.

OvaryAction · 07/10/2013 08:39

It's a compliment, she feels very at home and comfortable.

NotCitrus · 07/10/2013 09:48

Excellent news - your friend clearly felt welcome!

I've had parties over the years where I've been too ill to do anything - a couple lovely friends help tidy up before and after (one feels bad she can't afford to bring anything, but can clean a bit), I provide wine and ten quid or so for someone to go to the supermarket round the corner. Works OK even if my inner Nigella is a bit miffed!

Must organise another one...