"Peter H.M. Brooks" > wrote in message
...
>
> "mUs1Ka" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Peter H.M. Brooks" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >
> > > "mUs1Ka" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > >
> > > > I have always considered 8.00 for 8.30 to mean aperitifs served at
> 8.00,
> > > > dinner served at 8.30.
> > > > Is this not the case?
> > > >
> > > Yes, but that is time for a small sherry only, and then only if it is
a
> > tiny
> > > dinner party, eight people or fewer - any more and it takes longer
even
> > for
> > > sherry.
> > >
> > You must be a very slow drinker.
> >
> I may well be...
>
> However the issue isn't the speed of drinking. It is the exponential
> increase in the time conversations take as you increase the number of
> people. It takes much longer to serve, chat to, and move through to the
> dining room, ten people, than it does six - much, much longer.
>
> Try it some day.
>
Already have, not a problem. Conversations are in small groups. In my
experience, the exponential effect you described just doesn't take place.
Conversations continue en route to the dining room and thereafter. The
secret is to invite the right people.
m.