50th Birthday party planning

Last August, I foolishly volunteered to host my sister's 50th birthday party in my house, and to do the catering for it. As she lives in London, her options were limited as to where she could have the party without it ending up costing a fortune, and even those places she had checked out werent really what she had in mind. So I (no doubt fuelled by several glasses of wine!), found myself offering my house as the party venue. My rationale was that not only would I be doing her a favour, it would also mean that all the various jobs that I had planned to have done to 'do up' the house would have a focus and a deadline. And that is exactly what is now happening!

First, a bit about my sister. Most of her career has had a focus on organising events of one kind or another, so she knows how early you have to start the PLAN. Her attention to detail is phenomonal - she actually likes making sure the details are right! This is in direct contrast to myself, where I apply the 80-20 rule to most of my endeavours, and have to force myself to pay attention to the rest of the programme. However, the sister does trust me on the food front, she trusts Colm on the wine front, and she plans on managing the rest by remote control.

So, what needs to be done?

Guest-list - the most important element - a very eclectic guest list is being planned - people are travelling from far-flung regions of the world to attend.

Venue - the house is a typical late Victorian terraced house, which has had a conservatory added on in recent years to give much needed light into the back of the house. However, it is still a modest house, and the challenge posed by having about 70-80 people in the house is an interesting one. Given that the party is being held in August, there is a good likelihood that using the garden will be an option. On the other hand, given that we are talking Dublin, Ireland, and the recent wet weather we've had in Augusts, fall-back strategies will definitely be required. Plus, as the entertainment planned involves having a piano located somewhere in the middle of things, that adds another complication into the mix (more of that later!).

Food - menu planning for 70-80 in a domestic kitchen is definitely a major challenge to get right. An important occasion requires interesting food, and when food is your business, then it has to be right.

Wine - well, that also has to be right - The Tasting Room's reputation is at stake on that front (as it is on the food front as well!) - so no pressure.

Entertainment - the sister is handling that side of things - a pianist/entertainer friend is coming over from London for the party, so all I have to do is to provide the space for the piano. The sister is organising for it to be moved from its present location in Meath, and for it to be tuned etc on its arrival. Precise location in my house as yet undecided.

And talking of the house, many a minor decorating (and not so minor) job now have to be faced into, along with clearing the house of a substantial amount of furniture and other unnecessary accoutrements which have accumulated over the years.

Project Planning

Hmmm, not sure whose responsibility this is, which is a sure-fire way for lots of things to fall between the cracks - what happened to all the rigorous project planning skills that I honed over the years? Why do they not seem to apply to this situation. Must discuss with the sister, along the lines of:

Preplanning - Over the coming fast-dwindling number of months - what do we need to do ahead of time, working backwards along critical paths as to when the latest certain things need to be done, and in what order

For the day planning - what do we want to happen when and how (needless to say the chances of them actually working out according to plan is fairly slim, but at least we'll feel in control)

Organisation of food, wine, guests, venue, entertainment etc

Clean-up afterwards and post party entertainment for the hung-over the next day

Plan for a few days away to recover from it all