The invite said, 'we're missing Italy, bring us a touch of Italian class'. And the bow ties and summer dresses did just that.

Maybe it was the 'shaken and well stirred' martini in the plastic glass, that raised the tone (or maybe not).

The group were all locals other than Jan and I. Friends from the local Country Fire brigade, parents from the schools that the Snaith's children attend, and of course, neighbours.