A Sunday soup lunch at the long table
The friends of the house met at the long table for the monthly soup lunch, and this time they brought neighbours. The pot was empty by three.
Soup, damper and an unhurried afternoon
The monthly lunch is the quietest, kindest part of our calendar. The doors open at two, the upstairs room stays shut and the long table in the dining room is laid with plain white cloth and mismatched teapots. Trevor makes pea and ham soup in the biggest pot in the kitchen, and by half past two the room smells like somebody's grandmother's house.
This time around, about thirty people came. Several friends had brought a neighbour or a cousin, and two travellers who'd been in the dining room the night before turned up out of curiosity and were swiftly seated and fed. The conversation ran from rainfall to the local cricket club to a long and cheerful debate about the best way to eat a lamington.
Nobody was in a rush to leave. The soup pot went round twice, the damper ran out, and Olivia had to fetch a second tray of lamingtons from the kitchen. A man who had arrived as a stranger left holding the address of a good fishing spot, a recipe for pumpkin scones and an invitation to the next lunch.
The teaching table
Learning at a slow pace
At the far end of the room Megan set up a small teaching table with a pack of cards and a pile of plain chips. Four newcomers sat down to learn how a hand of poker works, with one of the friends, a retired teacher, guiding them. She was so patient that, by the end, one of them could name every hand from a pair to a flush without looking at the sheet.
No prizes, no pressure
Nothing at the lunch is played for anything. The chips were put away at the end and the cards were left in a neat stack. People were free to try the game or just watch, and several simply sat with a cup of tea, listening to the stories at the long table.
Joining in next time
The friends of the house is free, and anyone aged 18 or over can join. Ask Olivia when you next visit, or tick the box on the booking form. You'll hear from us when the next lunch is on, and the soup will be hot.