Warmed

The New House of Stories is well and truly warmed. The Cahooties arrived on Friday evening. They are working all the hours God sends and getting their wee house in order and had just driven up from Yorkshire and looked exhausted, so it was a delight to pack them off to a cosy bedroom for the night and let them sleep as long as they wanted in the morning. No hassle, there wasn't much to do for the party.

If you love cooking you might really enjoy all that stove and oven glove lark getting ready for a party, but I suspect even the dedicated find it a bit stressy. Our party catering was -

whizz round shop for little snacky things that will keep for ages if they don't get used, and a variety of drinks

count glasses and supplement with plastic ones

buy bubbles for children

cut up cheese

hull strawberries

slice peppers, carrots, etc, because it's healthy and colourful

put stuff in bowls

put drinks on tables

blow up balloons

sit and chat to the Lassie and see if anyone's going to turn up. And suddenly they did, and more and more of them, the house filled up, people who hadn't met for ages got together, people who'd never met before had great conversations, there was laughter, the sun shone, guests spilled out into the garden, children blew bubbles, food and drinks were enjoyed, and suddenly it was five thirty, then seven, then eight, and the last people left shortly before nine. It seemed like no time at all. Tiredness hit me as if I'd walked into a wall, but there wasn't much clearing up to do.

And the New House of Stories gave a sigh of delight.