Surprise parties
Am frantically trying to come up with fabulous birthday party ideas for my grandfather, who this summer turns 90. I’m a little ahead of myself, but when my work life is as busy as it is, it makes sense to plan ahead as much as possible, if only to ensure I don’t arrange to do a job on the day of his birthday. Am currently thinking of a surprise party on a riverboat down the Thames, serving either a yummy cold buffet style meal, or a lovely afternoon tea. The only problems I’m coming up against at the moment are age related. It’s not so much him as his chums (also mature in years) that I’m worrying about. Firstly – will I be able to get them all on the boat without any accidents (hips can break terribly easily), and if I get them on, will I be able to get them all off again relatively safely? Secondly - will I be able to keep the whole thing a surprise? It would be all too easy for one of his friends to telephone him to check details, momentarily forgetting he knows nothing about it, and that’s it, surprise gone. And he’s so terribly sensible about money that I just know he would want me to cancel the whole thing, and just arrange to have everyone around to the house instead. But we did that last year!
I catered a surprise party for a client (N) last weekend, and luckily their guest of honour was suitably surprised. N had been terribly worried that their sister suspected something – had in fact been awake since awful o’ clock in the morning worrying about the whole thing – but upon arrival, said sister was shocked speechless, to the delight of all in attendance. N had come to the company having tried our food at another party. It’s always so lovely getting business that way – the clients have seen the delicious things you can create and for me it feels like a big fat compliment that they have chosen to use us, as it obviously means they really enjoyed our food. Anyway, N had fallen in love with the idea of having a certain canapé that we no longer do – noodles in a little noodle box with chopsticks – but being the fabulously flexible being that I am (and not in a yoga sense) I managed to source some of the little noodle boxes and she got her canapé wish. At the same time I picked up some more little porcelain spoons that we serve several of our canapés on. They look fabulous (N had some topped with a butternut squash risotto and others with sausage and Dijon mash – very yummy) but I have the unfortunate habit of dropping them on hard surfaces where they shatter into a gazillion pieces and can never be used again. An expensive habit that I really must break – not literally! Idly browsing the web one Sunday evening, I came across some even more gorgeous little spoons that I simply must have – they will look so perfect with so many of my canapés – but am thinking that prior to ordering them I am going to have to practise not dropping things (not entirely sure how one goes about practising that – perhaps using cups of boiling water? An aversion technique.) so as to prevent too much damage.
Anyway, that’s all from me for now,
Farewell,
Penni Black x
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