Country House Weekends
n this new century, I look forward to improving upon the grand tradition of the country-house weekend. Here are some principles which, I believe, will augment chances for such weekends to be brilliant:
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The more, the merrier...
...limited however by the need for commodious private quarters for guests. No one should feel obligated to be "social" all weekend; there should be ample space to hide away and be on one's own for awhile.
Those private quarters should contain certain sensual delights- fine bed-linens, fluffy towels, soft lighting, scented soaps- to cosset a body frazzled after a week's work in the big city. Sleeping-in on Saturday morning is encouraged.
The House must have a good library, replete with delicious books to absorb one's interest...
...and there should be window-seats and outdoor lounge chairs and other spots to relax with a fascinating book.
There should be music at all hours of the day, generally from the House's excellent sound system, but perhaps occasionally from the voices or instruments of hosts or guests.
The weekend company should come together for meals- especially dinner, to which much time and shared effort can be given. Wonderful aromas- especially of baking- should fill the House. Only good wines and liquors should be served. This is a good time to sample the bounty of nearby garden, orchard, vineyard, lake, or mushroom-patch.
There should be one great hike during the weekend, to which all able-bodied souls are invited "to visit the remoter scenes of the neighborhood". A fine picnic lunch should be brought, with guests encouraged to contribute. This is the time to get to know the animal life of the estate, especially the birds and dogs.
Also, the host should provide spoken or written descriptions of shorter hikes that guests can take on their own. There might be gentle outdoor diversions to be found nearby- a swing, a canoe, a treehouse, a badminton set, flowers to pick, aromatic plants...
Guests should feel welcome to participate, or not, in the maintenance of the estate: the garden, the trees, the wines, even the housework. A guest who washes the windows automatically goes to the top of the "invite back soon" list.
Among monogamous couples, a little harmless flirtation is just fine. Seating at dinner should reflect this.
In the late evening, there might be time for the DVD of one truly worthwhile movie, preferably an American and European classic of the 1930s or 1940s. Or perhaps a game such as Scrabble. But maybe it's time just to relax by fireside while someone reads aloud some choice selections.
Most of all, these country-house weekends are about friendship. Here at last is the leisure time, not available in the hurry of the urban workweek, to deepen human connections. Hosts and guests alike should push themselves to a higher level, heeding E.M. Forster's advice, "only connect!" If there are sincere thanks to be rendered, render them; if a great idea is to be limned, do it; if love or esteem are to be expressed, go for it.
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