Garden supper this evening. Would it be reasonable to suggest that guests might leave the table for the football?

[LemonRoses]

We have a ten people arriving for supper this evening. We plan to eat on the terrace, with a 7pm start to catch the last of any sunshine. Clearly if they arrive at 7.15, have drinks and warm spiced nuts/olives then sit down to a starter of crab, we’re not going to be serving the entree until well past 8pm.

I don’t know two of the couples. My guess would be that three, maybe four, of the men would want to see the match. I don’t think most of the women would be particularly interested.

My problem is I wasn’t aware there was a football match this evening and I rather suspect some guests will want to see it.

Do we;

• open the doors so people can pop in and out?
• suggest those that wish cut their food at table and then eat of their knees with a fork whilst watching the television?
• suggest we watch together later?
• not mention to football and hope nobody else does?
• arrange regular update messages from someone who is watching?

If a match is at 8pm, what time will it finish? Should we defer eating until after the match but add in more substantial canapés?

@dappledsunshine

I want to know how to warm nuts......

Cup gently

@VerticalHorizon

I loved in America for a while

What you did in America, stays in America!

😂😂😂

I want to know what Richard has to say on the matter?

The OP sounds lovely. The sort of host who would let you put a fizzy in her fridge without raising an eyebrow.

@PattyPan

I’ve never understood the use of entrée to mean main course. It means starter. Even if you don’t speak French, it’s very clearly a cognate of entry i.e. logically the first dish.

Not entirely...

It was really the entrance to the roast, which yes, was often the first dish, but in America, French chefs created more courses, and the roast was deeper into the number of courses.

Once they went back to more conventional number of courses, 'entree' stayed, but came to symbolise the main course.

That's language for you. It has a nasty habit of evolving, sometimes diverging across regions!

I think you should probably see what Tarquin wants to do.

Where in the country are you? It’s freezing in the south east. I’m jealous of your terrace supper.

Back to the question…. I would put tv on in lounge, do starters before 8. Mains at 849, offer people to watch it or stay at table, deserts and cheese board from about 945pm, booze through out, coffee and mints at around 10pm. Depending on results football might all be over by 10pm, if not then the coffee at 10pm would be ideally timed anyway.

If the football goes well, even for the most passive of observers, the atmosphere can be quite electric. It may even prove to be a boon!

Sport can do that. It's one of the more positive aspects - it can bring people from all walks of life together.

Just sayin'

One of the funniest threads for ages

I'd switch up my plans and put what can be, in the freezer. And normally football can fuck off.

I'd serve pizza, beers, chicken wings, dips, salad and corn on the cob etc.

@VerticalHorizon

God bless you for that explanation of language. (Helpful and interesting)

Now can you explain to the people who have questioned the OP that 1)the Internet and mumsnet are accessible internationally.
2)The UK allows people from other countries, including the US to live there.

Tombero - my soulmate, perhaps. IOW food is fantastic. Lucky you having it on your doorstep.
Liz Earle nuts (thanks to the the thread)

Bembridge crab served with an IOW tomato salsa made with Arson Fire dipping sauce.
Fennel, lemon and garlic pork with a Gallybagger and Romesco tart and warm green been salad.
Minghella Ice cream for affogato or Summer fruit cheescake sundaes
IOW blue and soft, and Gallybagger with Quarr Abbey green tomato chutney.

Washed down with Adgestone's Something Blue, Rosemary's vineyard medium red or dry white and a bottle of Kinda Lingers to finish.

Gosh I'd forgotten that the lifting of restrictions would also restore episodes of "Tales from Brigadoon".

PPs are correct - entree is the main course in the US but not in the UK (or anywhere in Europe that I can recall). Rookie error there.

I wouldn't be overly optimistic about eating al fresco in the southern counties today. Moving to the orangery might be safer.

@Amillionnc

Why are people taking the piss out of the OP? She has a different lifestyle to yours, that does not mean you need to make fun of her.

@almillonc

I really don’t think people are. It’s the crazy, weird initial statements that totally lends itself to it. Any replies that @LemonRoses have replied appear to have been taken in good humour. I’ve skimmed some of her other threads/posts and she seams a nice person with a life style very different to mine ( in fact lots of people).

She’s “a good egg” and just to make her feel comfortable, this evening I shall serve my white lightening in crystal glasses and have the scampi fries in a glass bowl rather than straight off the floor!

[quote hannayeah]@VerticalHorizon

God bless you for that explanation of language. (Helpful and interesting)

Now can you explain to the people who have questioned the OP that 1)the Internet and mumsnet are accessible internationally.
2)The UK allows people from other countries, including the US to live there.[/quote]
Well...

As with any forum this size, there's going to be a bit of jingoism, and a healthy sense of dry British humour.

Given the majority of Brits (and I would imagine MN users too) tend to live fair average lifestyles with a relatively modest income, we like to poke a little fun at anything remotely 'posh' or perceived as such. It's a bit of a British passion, and even inspired a few TV shows.

The irony is, a great deal of Britain puts on a bit of a posh front too!

I don't think there's much malice in it. It probably reflects the abject boredom of Saturday afternoon, and people just having a few giggles, albeit at someone's expense (or more accurately, at the expense of their situation).

But we love a good sport. Someone willing to laugh along with us.

But your point remains. Mumsnet isn't the sole domain of women, or British, and we have a healthy population of immigrants, some of whom are not entirely au fait (bit of French there you see!) with our ways.

@LemonRoses

Oddly, not a tease thread. We’re not a football household. I’d barely registered the World Cup was on and England were in the final. Only Johnson spaffing about on a giant flag made me realise something was happening. None of the guests have mentioned it and we know the majority very well.

I’ll email them, I think. One chap will probably be fretting.

Oh op I love you ! Some teasing on here but the fact that had no idea about the England game and that you call it the World Cup and talk of crab and tarts . I’m guessing as none of your guests have mentioned it the football isn’t much of a priority to them . Good Idea asking them anyway , don't bother about some of the comments it’s just joking. I hope you have a lovely evening.

Please OP please please post some pictures of the food later to make us properly jealous - it sounds AMAZING.

I've lost track a bit - is OP in the IoW or otherwise why is it themed IoW?

Hear hear. Have a wonderful night whatever you choose to do!

Keep us posted though!!!

Please OP please please post some pictures of the food later to make us properly jealous - it sounds AMAZING

They could be laid out in the incredible bedroom.

I can only conclude that some people on this thread are encountering the OP for the first time.

@AlyssasBackRolls

Please OP please please post some pictures of the food later to make us properly jealous - it sounds AMAZING.

I've lost track a bit - is OP in the IoW or otherwise why is it themed IoW?

Or just paste some pics from the internet?

It's a parody account isn't it?

And Saturday is parody time!! (in American accent)

In my view you should contact all the attendees and make it absolutely clear that you are a fool and that you should never have organized a social event when there was football on (and by football I don't mean england in a major tournament, I mean football).

Tell them that you will understand if one or both halves of each couple do not want to come. Tell them how big your TV is, how comfy your sofa is and how far it is from the TV. Make it clear whether people will be allowed to smoke inside, and if so does that include weed or just fags / cigars. Tell them that anyone who wants to watch the football will have their courses brought to them on the sofa, and that you will enforce majority votes if some people watching football wish to exclude others who are sitting there making ignorant or distracting comments.

Tell them that you really are sorry for inviting at such a stupid time, and emphasize that you will not be offended if they'd rather watch it at home.

Reminds me of the idiots who have weddings during the football or cricket seasons.

@AlyssasBackRolls

Please OP please please post some pictures of the food later to make us properly jealous - it sounds AMAZING.

I've lost track a bit - is OP in the IoW or otherwise why is it themed IoW?

💯 this. Your menu sounds amazing! ( although you had me at warm spiced nuts).