Another Busy Day At The Office. .

. . except I'm not at the office. As you will know (if you are on the Birthday A List) we're having a bit of a do on Saturday. Way back last year I rashly offered to have a party for Henry and Arthur's 60th Birthday. As I'm better at catering for large numbers rather than intimate dinners for two I thought it might be not exactly a doddle, but not much of a leap up. As The Day gets nearer I'm spending longer awake in the middle of the night, trying to calculate (guess) how much food 75 people (from 9 months to 80) will eat.

How many are vegetarians? Are they complete out and out vegetarians or do they eat fish? We haven't asked, but should I be considering any other "dietary requirements". Will everyone want a bit of everything on the table or just a selection? And I know what the Birthday Boys' answer will be - if it's there, have a bit - especially the puddings.

The Aga is large and can hold enormous joints of meat - but not all at once. And as it's nearly as old as Henry and powered by dusty old coke it takes a while to turn up the heat. So I've got a list (well several lists actually).

Guest List - marked off with numbers accepted
Menu
Shopping List - broken down into sub-lists (can buy in advance, a few days before, day before etc)
Thawing List - when to take the large joints and stock for soup out of the freezer.
Cooking List - when to cook everything. The wonderful thing about the Aga is overnight cooking. Stick a huge piece of ham in the bottom oven before you go to bed and take it out the next morning. Foolproof (so far).

There's also a cleaning list - but my heart isn't really in it. Maybe with so many people they won't be able to see the dusty surfacea and straw on the floor.

And don't forget the Bedroom List - there will be twelve of us here on Saturday night. (Maybe I should have a Bathroom List - book your time now!)

75 people = 75 plates + 75 soup bowls (cups) + 75 pudding dishes + 75 knives + 75 forks + 75 spoons + 75 glasses.
Now we probably could find all of that in the cupbords round the house (did you know I was a bit of a hoarder?). But thinking of the washing up we've opted for paper plates (very posh ones!), cups and dishes. But I refuse to drink out of anything but glass.

But now the game's afoot and the clock is ticking. The fridges are filling up with chilled food and half-prepped dishes. The Back Kitchen is stacked high with bottles and cans. The Aga's raring to go. The first pudding is done, another batch is half done, the first roast is ready to roast tonight.

If you don't hear from me for a day or two I'm stuck in the pantry or collapsed in a heap.

As ever, watch this space.

PS - and many thanks to Jean for all her help.