When I was cheffing at the Manor, once or twice a month my boss would entertain all of her friends from her internation women's club to lunch. They were actually supposed to take turns, but she ended up doing it most of the time. First of all I think she was probably the wealthiest of them all and secondly I think she liked to show off to the others and get her money's worth out of me. I didn't mind as they were wonderful opportunities to stretch and exercise my skills. All of the ladies would enter at the back entry way where I would greet them with a cold drink, usually an option of a glass of wine or an ice cold elderflower drink, which I would have gotten ready prior to their arriving. It was my job to greet them because the Mrs, despite having had all morning to get ready would probably only just be getting in the shower, having spent several hours faffing about with flowers in the laundry room. She spent an inordinate amount of money on...