Eating question

So let me get this straight. Is this how we're sitting? I'm picturing it as:



I think I've got my side of the table right... Right? (And/or a mirror image of that.)

Not that it matters terribly much, but just people exchanging glances and sitting next to each other and looking across at each other, etc., I wanted to make sure I wasn't imagining EVERYONE on my side of the table, with Edrington all alone on the opposite side (backed by Thompson.)

Don't forget Mister De Guarde. Not quite sure where he's sitting, though. Otherwise I think that's about right...

Wibble. Can I sit next to Mr Leat, please. I have difficulties with Mr Bush, although we share a friendship with Horatio Hornblower. If I swap with Bush, then he can at least be relied on to keep the midshipmen under control. I don't think that I can do that. I'd have them all beaten to a pulp. The others are presumably sitting beyond Yates and de Guarde.

We can I assume talk across our neighbours and over the table. This is not that formal an occasion.

Edit: I think that Mr de Guarde cannot see me, since he is so impressed with George's uniform. Mine is even sparklier, I assume. Which would work if our side is Leat/Edrington/Bush/de Guarde

Thank you for asking about the seating, doctor. I was wondering about that myself.

So...Bush and Brandeson are the two next to me? Or is it Leat and Brandeson? Just so I know to whom I should be talking.

It's all right with Brandeson, whoever he sits by. Just as long as the wine doesn't stop flowing until the dinner is over.

Oh help. He's goin' to need carryin' back to his cabin at this rate... As usual.

I've suggested Leat next to you, then me. But we must be able to chat with everyone (or anyone who's actually there, I mean.) Or we're back to pea-pushing. So, Captain, how long have you commanded Terpsichore?

No idea, but gentlemen, you may do whatever you please! Switcheroo all around! I kind of assumed the 1st lt. would sit next to the captain, but if you'd rather have him separate Edrington and De Guarde, like a parent sitting between his mischievous children at church, then by all means put him down there across from me.

ps - Brandeson, come on. Just get yourself a REAL log in identity already. Won't you please? (For a while I got Brandeson and Branning mixed up, thinking they were one and the same because of the Bran- names and because I think I'd first encountered Brandeson being played under the Branning flag.)

Edit: Take a look at the seating chart now.

Alright, so it's Leat and Brandeson.

Your Lordship, of course I will be chatting with as many of you as possible. I merely wanted to know who was next to me so I could properly describe them. I didn't want to say someone was next to me when in fact they were halfway down the table.

And in answer to your question, I have been in command of the Terpsichore technicially for several weeks, since I received my orders from the Admiralty. But in actuality, it's only been one week.

Yes, I expect you might have been lonely up there with Bush and Brandeson, neither of whom is known for his conversational skills.

Quite right, doctor. I wouldn't want to end up talking to myself...

At our big family dinners, we often seem to do a switcheroo of seats at dessert time. Or course, that's partly because the little ones eat their dessert and run away to play so quickly, and the grownups suddenly find themselves able to sit next to each other without having to cut up someone's food or tell them to drink their milk slowly or beg them to eat one more mouthful of peas (and not to push them around the plate.)

I had to move at the last naval dinner, being surrounded by absent PCs (much less conversible than NPCs). Eventually I found Leat a congenial companion, told him about my long friendship with Hornblower, and the french attacked. Shall I drop it into the conversation earlier this time. For good or ill?

I've never known Edrington to be my big brother now ;D! Or for that matter that mr. Bush is me father... wait.. O_O EEK *is laughing at the comments, about Bush's seating really* Highly amused XD about the example!

So, the seating is now confirmed aye? . And shouldn't see mr. Edrington's shiny, sparkly uniform, else would be starting that way too.. for a while... Edrington and mr. Findlay seated together would be an overkill ;P.

Who sits after De Guarde and Yates?

Not Mr. It might be better if you were to address me as 'my lord'; I am in fact the Earl of Edrington... But I am happy to accept 'Colonel'. Or Sir.

The other midshipmen are beyond you. But do not feel constrained not to talk across the table to young Peter, or Dr Crozier.

Aye, sir..m'lord.. sir! The other midshipmen are in whichever order then? And deepest apologies too!

Say - Kinsella (2nd senior) next to you, then Fletcher; and next to Peter is Dunnock (who claims to have been round the Horn twice, once aged eight) and then Chandos (who is senior) .

Allright! Is there anything more to be known about the other (npc) middies or where to look for it. Otherwise, ofcourse in time one learns, so no problem there! Thank you! M'lord :3!

That was about as far as Peter got in describing them - though he did say there was a tussle between Kinsella and Chandos, but no ill-will. Or, at least, Peter, who thinks in terms of a loving family, does not see any lasting ill-will. Your view on this may vary.

Thank you! I'll know to try n' learn more. But thanks so far for the information!

A bit off topic, but still about the food... I've read that Wellington rarely ate between breakfast and dinner, but what about the rest of the army? Would they eat lunch? Or at least something?

The men would carry rations with them, which they would eat on one of their breaks during the day's march. The officers would doubtless have their servants prepare something cold that they could eat during the day - alon the lines of cold meat and bread, maybe some fruit if they were lucky; nothing too fancy. Some officers had a bag of nuts, most commonly almonds, tucked away in their saddle bags if they wanted a snack on the move. Lunch was by no means formal, on the move.

So Wellesley is being weird about not eating?

Possibly. What he said on the matter was (rough quote) "I do not like to give the stomach too much to think on." He wasn't very fussed about food at all - which is why he put up with such a rubbish cook. His favourite was mutton (a rather plain meat), and hardly ever ate at breakfast either. Later in life it was reported that he once collapsed due to his not eating enough. He didn't drink much by the standards of the day either.