'Do I look like a mobile bar?

While Tessa Waugh can never predict whether she'll turn into a misanthrope or hostess with the mostest at her home meet, the day is a roaring success – with sausage rolls, sunshine and smiles

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IT was our meet on Saturday – an occasion when the hosts should walk with hands aloft, bearing drinks and snacks with the joyous largesse of hail-fellow-well-met and hostess with the mostest. There is much smiling to be done and pleasure to be taken in repaying everyone else’s hospitality on the other days of the season.

Before the big day, one of Adam’s joint-masters, a superb caterer and supplier of food of all kinds, interviewed me closely about the menu.

“I’m getting sausage rolls from the butcher and I might buy some cake,” I explained.

There was a pause. I could tell that this was not quite hitting the mark. No home baking. No egg sandwiches. If meets were marked, I’d be getting a low C for effort.