End of the evening...

11/9/2017

Josef Hoffman glasses (c.1910) Kosta Boda Epoque glasses (c.1996) Royal Copenhagen plates (c.1955) monogrammed napkins (c.1936)

I set a table meticulously but leave it like a slut at the end of the evening.

I always wash up the following morning. Seeing off my friends and then getting stuck into the dishes would cast a negative shadow on the end of the evening. Firstly, "tired and emotional", I am more likely to break something; this would warn anyone off using nice things. The next day, I can work slowly and re-live the pleasures of the evening.
Washing up after an evening of serving food and friends would certainly deter anyone from entertaining.

Hospitality NO-NO - never wash up when friends are still with you.

5 Comments

Roger Vincent

23/9/2017 03:45:44 pm

no, i think it is a lot better washing up at night - not really!!

Miranda Starke

7/10/2017 08:03:46 am

"I set a table meticulously but leave it like a slut at the end of the evening." I LOVE THIS!!

Personally I enjoy restoring order to things after guests have gone and waking in the morning to a clean house. And if I've used my c.1910 white French table linen then I pretty much run for the nappy san as soon as the door closes! I don't care what state I'm in - you can't risk a red wine stain setting in! What do you do Cath when linen's involved?

Cath Kerry

9/10/2017 03:28:17 pm

You're very brave Miranda, although I do see waking to a clean house could be nice. All my napkins and cloths are old but I just go over all the marks and smudges with a spray of "whatever" before putting them in the washing machine. This seems to deal even with red wine. I worry that nappy san is a bit bleach-like and might weaken the fibres. Not sure. I once had a guest who got out of her chair to sprinkle soda water or salt on any mess that occurred. As well as being useless, it made everyone feel very uncomfortable. I had to "slap" her in the end. My house, my rules.

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Helen Vincent

15/10/2017 09:27:52 pm

I sometimes wash up but if not I like to stack dishes ready to be put in the dishwasher the next morning.
Always stack the the dishwasher that night.

Cath Kerry

16/10/2017 11:14:04 am

Helen, you are the epitome of hospitality - caring and discreet. I have been places where the wineglass is whipped from my hand and a fork snatched from beneath me, so hurried were my hosts to load that "bloody" dishwasher!
At the house of one of our local rich, business families, they washed up the dishes between courses in front of us. Had two BMWs and a Lexus but couldn't come at a second lot of eight plates. I should have sent them over a spare box of plates from the local auction.

End of the evening...

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