Saturday ~ 22/7/06

Limped over to Sainsburys and bought food for friends coming round ...

Tidied up ... started cooking ...

David, Hope and Kate arrived just after 7pm.

Had a round of dry martinis then went in to Dinner.

Chicken in a rich tomato sauce served on a bed of rice. Accompanied by chilled soave.

Cheese course accompanied by a ruby port.

Was a moment of comedy when the port came my way and as I struggled to get the stopper out, half of it stayed in the neck of the decanter. Surprise all round. Hope & Kate carried on talking as David & I stood holding the decanter neck under hot water, trying to winkle out the remaning chunk of stopper with a thin knife. It worked.

Guests left just before 2am.