It really is.
We now have had a procession of people staying for the last three weeks and another on their way for the next three so this life is rapidly changing and Le Presbytere is becoming a workplace.

Having had experience of a restaurant downstairs for many years this is not really a huge shock to our systems, what has taken us both by surprise is how much we are enjoying it.

We have divided up the tasks- more or less- into me doing the cooking and Sile the chambermaiding and waiting but what makes it completely different from running the restaurant is that once the meals are served we sit down with the guests and enjoy it with them.
This business of everyone eating together around a large table is when some sort of magic sets in.
No matter what the mix, and we have had all ages, all backgrounds,all nationalities, the conversation soon flows and people just start to enjoy each other.
I know that you will assume that this is alcohol fuelled but strangely this also happens at breakfast-time.
Sometimes it is difficult to get people to shift from the remains of their 9.00 coffee before 11.30- often with one or the other of us with them.

I have always held that civilization started when men started to hunt together and then had time to eat together at leisure.

The proof of that particular pudding is demonstrated daily on the terrace of Le Presbytere .