Different cover to that shown.

1930's tips on how to entertain guests.

Somewhat dated, but still amusing little book. Now all I need is a big house, a charlady, a cook and a couple of parlourmaids...

For my NSS partner.
Enjoy!

Thank you! This looks such an interesting book.

This was actually quite funny little book. =) And it took me only one day to finish this.

Taking this to a meetup and if no one wants this then it goes to the recycle shelf in Library 10.

Picked this up from a meet-up. Being a lousy hostess I just had to take this.

Came back just to quickly say that I went to see a theatre play tonight (Komisaario Palmun erehdys) and had this with me for travel read in the tram. Very witty poetry and some good sayings to steal when one is supposed to write in a guest book. This might stay in my permanent collection for the time being.

This piece about family gatherings is SO true about me and mi brothers at the moment:
"This is a most difficult form of entertaining, 'with home truths flying about like angry wasps.' If at the end of the meal everyone is still speaking civilly to everyone else, the hostess may congratulate herself on a successful party."

She has a poem for Early Morning Tea:
"I thank thee, Fortune, for my daily bread,
My books, my friends, the roof above my head,
But most off all I render thanks to thee
For this - my cup of Early Morning Tea."

First of all, no relatives to be thankful for! Secondly, I would change the last line:
"For this - my cup of Late Night Tea."
Like the one I'm having now.

Finished. Here are some more favourites:

"The first day man is a Guest.
The second day a Burden.
The third day a Pest."

"The only law of hospitality she understood was that of speeding the parting guest."

"Sell the rest of your family jewels and buy comfortable beds."

"Never economise over brains, beds or butter."

"I know the difference between Heaven and Hell - Heaven is when I am in bed, and Hell is when I'm up."

"She was a good cook, as cooks go - and as cooks go she went."

"Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones FAR away!"

In some recipe she mentioned Seville oranges. I've been to Seville once and they said the small oranges they have look pretty, but they taste so bitter that they sell them to Brits who make marmalade out of them. And apparently drinks, as I recoll this was a drink recipe.

My taste of quatations show that I am not a hostess of any sort. I do have a guest book somewhere and I think the last entry was in 2012 - by a dog!

I had thought of sending this to my cousin once removed who moved to Spain for six months yesterday as I am sure she will have a long line of guests outside her door, once she finds a door to call her own (they hadn't found a suitable flat before they left). My brother lived a couple of years on the outskirts of Paris in 1980'ies with his family and according to their guest book during that time they had only 14 days when they didn't have any guests - quelle nightmare!

On the other hand, if I send this and do decide to visit them, I can't stay for more than two days!

Edit: Here she is, my second cousin, a happy hostess!

Goes to my above mentioned second cousin who is back in Finland and whose door is always open to friends - relatives by appointment only, says her wall sign.

Enjoy the book, you can either keep it or pass it on to some other perfect hostess. As long as she is not my sister-in-law...

Edit: Picture from her last mulled wine -party for the Giggling Cousins' Gathering. The more wine, the more giggling.