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23/02/2008, 23:11 Just Katie Joined on 11/03/2006 Posts 3,540 Re: Evening with friends and neighbours  Tresco wrote:  Rose wrote: ...ah... thanks Tresco... perhaps I need to do a bit more research... any other tips welcome... Oh! Please don't be put off by what I've said Rose. I feel terrible now! Feeling a bit sensitive today girl?  Well I think that the advice you have given is sound.  People know me for being a bit strange.  I think they like that about me though.  I have been told it is an aquarian thing.    Report

23/02/2008, 23:14 WJT Joined on 22/09/2004 Posts 1,373 Re: Evening with friends and neighbours In our area it appears to be very common to go to a neighbours for aperos. We have been invited by our French neighbours for aperos on a number of occasions and we have reciprocated. We have done it at all times of the year including the Christmas season but I think the best is in summer, outside with anti pasta and assorted other nibbles that seem to go down well. We once were invited to neighbours for cake and champagne with some of our other neighbours at around 4pm in the afternoon. It was lovely.    Report

23/02/2008, 23:17 sweet 17 Joined on 05/08/2006 charente maritime Posts 2,048 Re: Evening with friends and neighbours Katie, you strange?  Surely not.  But you do occasionally keep strange company!  Twinks, I don't mean you are strange in a nasty way, just endearingly "strange" perhaps.  Anyway, where are you? Rose, I do know what you mean.  I was a bag of anxiety, wanting to get the first one right.  After that, the second one was a cinch and it was just so nice to have people round and it made me feel so happy to be surrounded by my friends and neighbours.  Definitely go for it!    Report

23/02/2008, 23:25 Tresco Joined on 23/08/2004 Charente Maritime. Posts 4,635 Re: Evening with friends and neighbours  Just Katie wrote: Feeling a bit sensitive today girl?  Well I think that the advice you have given is sound.  People know me for being a bit strange.  I think they like that about me though.  I have been told it is an aquarian thing. I think I am feeling a bit odd and I'm sorry I brought it into this thread! I'm very wary of putting someone off doing a good/kind/sociable thing just vecause of my own  freaky anxieties. I would freak out if I thought people even might be uncomfortable/confused in my house, but my guess is that other people (who aren't weird hermits like me) pull these things off even if they break all the 'rules'.    Report

23/02/2008, 23:32 Just Katie Joined on 11/03/2006 Posts 3,540 Re: Evening with friends and neighbours When I am in France, I love it when Twinks shows me all things French and, I have learned loads about their culture and food.  However, Twinks always insists that I make a roast lamb dinner.  She was so young moving over there that she hasnt a clue how to make gravy, mint sauce or yorkshires although the French cooking she has learned from her mother in law is wonderful. Anyway, to cut a long story short, she likes to invite her French friends around for the occassion and proudly tells them it is a traditional Welsh dinner and it goes down a storm.  They commented on the lovely array of flavours between the gravy, cauliflower cheese and mint sauce.  It's different!!    Report

23/02/2008, 23:38 Rose Joined on 06/02/2007 Dordogne (24) Posts 651 Re: Evening with friends and neighbours  Just Katie wrote: When I am in France, I love it when Twinks shows me all things French and, I have learned loads about their culture and food.  However, Twinks always insists that I make a roast lamb dinner.  She was so young moving over there that she hasnt a clue how to make gravy, mint sauce or yorkshires although the French cooking she has learned from her mother in law is wonderful. Anyway, to cut a long story short, she likes to invite her French friends around for the occassion and proudly tells them it is a traditional Welsh dinner and it goes down a storm.  They commented on the lovely array of flavours between the gravy, cauliflower cheese and mint sauce.  It's different!! ahhh ... that's sounds so sweet... Tresco... I'm not worried or put off by anything you've said... honest... I'm very pleased you posted... forwarned is forearmed... or something like that!     Report

23/02/2008, 23:39 Russethouse Joined on 23/08/2004 Forum Moderator Posts 9,508 Re: Evening with friends and neighbours Yep - Lamb with yorkshire pudding is very different...... How about going 'retro' and doing one of those cheese & pineapple porcupines........   www.quimperclub.org 99    Report

23/02/2008, 23:51 Just Katie Joined on 11/03/2006 Posts 3,540 Re: Evening with friends and neighbours I know it is RH but I know people who have mint sauce with chicken.  Now that is too much!!    Report

24/02/2008, 8:27 Cendrillon Joined on 19/10/2007 S.E. England & S.W.France Posts 363 Re: Evening with friends and neighbours Rose I would play safe and start with an invite for Aperos, drinks, nibbles and time to chat is a fairly easy way to begin, you can graduate to something more exotic (meals etc) once you get to know them better.   Good luck whatever you choose. Cendrillon    Report

24/02/2008, 9:47 Gemonimo Joined on 25/09/2007 lost in the vines in the 33 Posts 170 Re: Evening with friends and neighbours The first time I invited neighbours and friends for 'aperos', there was no problem about what was served, more about where it was served.  I had set up the drinks in the sitting room and my guest stood around looking a bit lost.  Here, the aperos are taken sitting around the kitchen table.  I'm used to it now and find it a lot easier but it took a while to understand having 'porto' as an aperitif.  But as everyone has said, Rose, do what makes you feel most comfortable and I'm sure it will be a wow. Jen    Report

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France Forum » French Culture » French Culture » Evening with friends and neighbours

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