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?

@Howshouldibehave

You need to move things much earlier so you’re starting on the warm spiced nuts at 5.30/6. Then you can do canapés or perhaps some cheese fondue at half time. Then Arctic roll or something for afters.

😂😂😂

@moonbedazzled

Ah, *@LemonRoses*

Eating on the terrace...😍

I've done that, when we used to have barbecues.Now my terrace is grotty and has weeds. Oh dear, writing it down makes me feel guilty.

I presume the 'do' is over now. How did it go op?

How boring life would be if everyone liked the same things! Personally I loathe 'reality' shows, especially those with serlebs, amateur cooking, painting, sewing etc programmes,. I do like some sports programmes though I'm not allowed to watch, listen or even check the score, being the kiss of death

Well you won't catch anyone in this house watching any of that shite either lol

@midsomermurderess

Is this the only site on the internet you can use, collar?

No but I couldn't be arsed to Google it thought I'd be quicker asking here. Didn't you know either?

[quote CandyLeBonBon]@Thedogscollar

It was suggested upthread this was an Italian midfielder but actually it's this: [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affogato]]

[/quote]
Thanks Candy. It sounds lovely. Must try it sometime.

Apparently guests were fighting on the terrace, as fans of smoked salmon clashed with those of pea and mint croustades.

Reports claim that many guests arrived without enthusiasm, which officials say were in short supply prior to the event.

Scenes after the clashes involved abandoned pineapple and cheese on a stick, alongside a demolished Pavlova.

Fears that Wednesday's dinner party could see a repeat of last night's clashes have cast doubt over the viability of sherry trifle amongst the hoi polloi element of the guests.

If you witnessed last night's events, which are currently being labelled 'The Supper of Shame, we urge you to contact Mumsnet.

Really enjoyed this thread, thanks for taking it in good humour OP

Will the butler be serving the food & won't it be tiring for him serving food in several locations, by the time he has served warm nuts in the grounds & the house, it will be time for the crab entrees to be served? All this talk of warm nuts & crabs sounds more like a visit to the STD clinic. Get down to Iceland & buy pizzas, garlic bread & vienettas, get some paper plates as well.

I bet it was a great night!

'Supper' What are you? Exceedingly posh? It's dinner

@CorianderBee

'Supper' What are you? Exceedingly posh? It's dinner

Oh. We have supper if we miss dinner time and need something late, say 7pm onwards.

We are FAR from posh!

@namesnamesnamesnames yes but that's the correct way to use it. If I have toast at 9pm that's supper. But a three course meal at dinner time is dinner, not supper

That is the equivalent of me saying that ‘tea’ can only be a drink or a light snack at 4pm.

‘Supper’ has been used to describe an informal evening meal (I.e. not a meal involving several courses and a dress code) for decades.

Go back further than 100 years and eating habits would have been very different, so it’s irrelevant to talk about wrong or right names for what we eat now. Tea/supper/dinner are all ‘correct’ if enough people use them in a particular way.

@TheRosesOfSuccess

I love this thread. The detail (warm nuts), the language, the sudden switch from crab and an entree to popcorn, hot dogs and ice cream, as if that's what people eat at football

I know this but was a nice touch

Hoping OP comes back to update us!

@CorianderBee

'Supper' What are you? Exceedingly posh? It's dinner

For those that say “tea” supper sounds exceptionally posh to me every time

Oh we know it will have been an absolutely SPIFFING night. Even if the hot nuts went cold and the entree wasn’t actually an entree

Have sent DH into the loft to unearth my Jilly Cooper collection

It was a very jolly evening. Thank you, for asking.

The weather held sufficient not to breach the guidance. Only one person was truly interested in football, but four of the chaps moved in after the fourth goal and too their puddings with them.

In general, a very democratic supper (too informal for it to be dinner). Consensus was reached on cheese before or after and on pairing versus preference.

Not too much football chatter, but a very funny rendition of Human League’s ‘Don’t you want me’, mimicking their spouses naked dancing on the bed on honeymoon.

Sadly, the Kinda Lingers remains in the wine fridge, for another time. Perhaps a different set for the semi-final. Wimbledon is so much easier.

Op

How come two couples over that you didn’t know?

One couple moved to just outside the village a short while ago, but we haven’t really been able to invite them previously. The other was a work contract for my husband.

Let’s hope none of them on mumsnet as pretty identifying!

Sounds like you had a lovely evening, good that the weather held out for you.

I can’t see they would be, but not an issue as they’d not be upset if they saw themselves.

When we play Denmark, make sure you get some Danish pastries in.