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Parties/celebrations

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Last minutes tips please - grown up dinner party

5 replies

BiddyPop · 08/02/2025 13:39

I am currently sitting on a bus back home after my weekend went to hell in a handcart with teen DD visiting from uni for a cycling thing just when I am hosting 12 for dinner tonight.

I have lemon/garlic Greek chicken breast marinating in the fridge. I have the ingredients for roasted veg, rosemary potatoes, Tim/cucumber/feta salad, green salad. Dips and nibbles to start ?but I need to dice cut d'Or tzaiki). And I bought desserts on my way home an hour ago (I had to come back out to drop rental car back to airport...he'll..handcart...).

I need to turn the chaos to clean beauty, get my glasses/crockery/cutlery for entertaining (not fancy - just plain white but the numbers needed) from my basement storage in the apartment.

I still need to buy fizzy water and wine (shop near apartment has enough for my needs even if more expensive ...today, I'll take that).

Hoover, dust, clean bathroom, empty bins to basement.

Move exercise bike and DD racing bike to spare room around her clothes and chaos. To set up my desk and extend my dining table to fit everyone.

Have lunch.

I guess, now my blood pressure is dropping back from the Saturday chaos of the airport and managing to return the car in 1 piece, I'm trying to prioritise and wondering if anyone has any tips or shortcuts I can steal.

Have 25 minutes on the bus, guests arrive at 6:30pm.

OP posts:
jackstini · 08/02/2025 13:49

Can you use Iceland same day delivery for the sparkling water & wine? Or Uber eats?

Allow for shower time to feel human again

Is your DH around to do the shifting stuff?

Your dinner sounds delicious!

BiddyPop · 08/02/2025 13:50

I am thinking:
Bathrooms
Move bikes
Hoover dining room
Set up desk and find the chairs
Empty bins as they are now
Clear off table and worktop
Put out glasses etc and set table - put large tubs in office where desk normally is
Prep potatoes
Prep veg
Make tomato salad
Make fruit salad
(Probably about now cook for dd before she gets train back to uni - she wants a marinaded chicken breast so I'd added it to the bag)
Run dishwasher
Wash up
Empty bins again
Run out for water/wine
Get changed
Make tzaziki
Whip cream
Slice lemon/lime
Put out candles
Open crisps etc
Pour stiff gin??

Or have I missed efficiencies in there?
(Mopping floors was a dream, tzaziki and cream are not disasters if not done or doing as others arrive).

OP posts:
BiddyPop · 08/02/2025 13:52

Shower - good call.

Might get dd onto the Uber eats (or send her out)

DH is home in Ireland, I am in Belgium for 4 year posting, dd is visiting from Netherlands! We're a strange, but strongly bonded, family. DH coming for 4 days next weekend.

OP posts:
Mulledjuice · 08/02/2025 13:52

I mean, I'd be delegating some of that to DD

BiddyPop · 08/02/2025 13:53

When she gets back from gym, and around her eating before leaving for a 6pm train across the city, definitely!

OP posts:
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