Dinner with friends

We had been waiting for this annual rendezvous for weeks, practically since the previous get-together last August. The exact date was marked on my calendar months ago. It was last Sunday, as far as we are concerned the big day in our summer season, an Event interrupting the more or less monotonous existence in our little corner of the world.

As we live so conveniently close to the southern ferry ports of the country, our place has become the traditional ‘assembly point’ for our friends living a bit further away to meet their friends returning from their lengthy summer holiday in northern Finland. The appointment always takes place on the last night before their departure back home to Germany. My friends took care of the catering so, in addition to providing B&B for six or actually not even that as we drove with the overnighters to have brunch at yet other friends the next morning, what I had to do was to set the table for 12.

In my attempt to adopt a new kind of philosophy – that is not to save all the best things for a rainy day or a more eligible occasion (that would probably never come) – I finally took my dedicated ‘B&B china’ into use. He never noticed the Rosenthal set, the fabulous flea market find I made several years ago, on the top self of the cupboard. On Sunday, it certainly got the attention it deserves.

Instead of rainbows, we might have seen a Perseid meteor shower this time had we remembered to observe the night sky. Everyone was too busy enjoying the great company, the great Riojan meal, the great wines the German connaisseur pampered us with, and the great movie we settled down to relish in the end. I just couldn’t have imagined a better way to spend the August evening. We are looking forward to a repeat again next year.