I always know when Summer’s over - not because I have to dig out the jumpers or the days are getting shorter, but by the number of settings around the dinner table. The heady days of average table settings of 14 are becoming a distant memory. Our maximum this summer hit 50 catering for our Gardening Club barbecue, a one off yes, but we never had less than 9 for dinner.
Now family have gone back to England, the gites are empty, my eldest is back at Uni, 2nd eldest is back to weekly boarding and our au pair’s gone back to her studies in Romania. Today, for the first time since June, there were only 5 settings to lay at the dinner table. How normal - it doesn’t feel right. I can’t wait till next Summer.
What signifies the end of Summer for you?