TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE: How this book came about.
CHAPTER ONE: FIRST THINGS FIRST: SETTING THE STAGE. An exclusive post code is a must. A house is not a home unless it is a centre of culture and taste. Nothing continental. Decorating up to and beyond British standards. Dressing for the occasion. The tasteful accessories of a well-laid table. The musical accompaniment. Rehearsals All Important!
CHAPTER TWO: BREAKFAST FOR THE FAMILY. Normal everyday fare. Getting it all done at once. The Tea. The grapefruit half. The toast. The announcement. The exclusive European high-fibre breakfast cereal. The Perfect Full English Breakfast (for those “Special Occasions”)
CHAPTER THREE: COFFEE. Ordinary coffee for a neighbour (with or without tinned biscuits). Having Coffee “out”. Aromatic Nut-Roasted Special Coffee with Cotswold Cremes (for times when making the right impression is important).
CHAPTER FOUR: LUNCH. A Simple lunch for the family. An even simpler lunch for a husband left ‘on his own’ – temporarily! An elaborate ladies’ luncheon with Guest Speaker. Pre-luncheon cocktails and canapes at home when the actual luncheon is scheduled “out” (and not always at an exclusive restaurant).
CHAPTER FIVE: TEA. . Making the Perfect Pot of Tea. Casual Tea for a neighbour. Tea and Light Refreshments for a Vicar. Formal Afternoon Tea (for Entertaining an Executive’s Wife). A Serious Tea for a Mrs Councillor Nugent Tea and Nautical Light Refreshments. Hyacinth Bucket’s Country Crème Tea. Tea at home with Your Husband.
CHAPTER SIX: THE CANDLELIGHT SUPPER.
CHAPTER SEVEN: THE ORDINARY FAMILY SUPPER. Boxing Day. Every Day.
CHAPTER EIGHT: BETTER-CLASS BARBECUES. Casual Dining Alfresco. The Well-Planned Country Cottage Affair. The Exclusive Outdoors-Indoors Luxury Barbecue with Finger Buffet.
CHAPTER NINE: PICNICS. A “special needs” event planned with one’s Daddy in mind. The Waterside Supper with Riparian Entertainments.
CHAPTER TEN. MOMENTS MISCELLANEOUS AND MUSICAL. The Little Musical Soiree. The impromptu ‘Midnight Tea’. Ordering fish and chips in an emergency. When it’s all right to substitute the sherry decanter for the Tea pot.
A FINAL WORD ON ENTERTAINING (For the Socially Unfortunate)