The doors and windows were thrown open wide, and two fans brought from Rosanne's quarters, and it wasn't long before people started drifting back into the pub. For me it was the longest night ever, as I was feeling so bad, and also a bit cross at Anna, who was a strange person when it came to taking responsibility. She had so far refused to do the puds, too scared to make a mistake, so, as also happened in Windsor, it now looked as if she would depend on me to carry her. She had suggested that once she was more at ease, she would start doing puds, but now after my mishap, and me so stressed up and the old confidence low, she refused to help me out. I was really angry, as it was not only my job, and I expected her to bring her side!
The next night was Friday and Emma told me that as they were very busy, I had to also take the puds into the bar, and to the tables. I bally shaked like a blamange as in my minds eye I saw how I drop a plate of hot sticky toffee, or butterscotch into someones lap, and I told Emma that no, after the previous night, I had no confidence. She just laughed, and told me to get on with it, so I did, and miraculously deposited the first lot neatly in front of the diners! After that my confidence grew, and by the end of the night I was oh so, blasè, balancing plates on my arm, just like a real pro!
There was a lot of nice men in the bar, and I got the bright notion as how to get Anna to also take some of the responsibility, and as I got a few stares from a table with five single men to who I had to take  puds, I told Anna in colour how they ogled me, and that I was sure that by the end of the night I would have a man to entertain me.That was like putting a match to a bundle of dried brush, as she perked up on the instant, suddenly smiling her toothy smile, and told me that I can do the puds, and she will take them in! Fat hope! I told her to go fly away, as we can take it in turns like we should have done from the start, and then and there the toothy smile disappeared, and her face became hard and unfriendly, just like a bally spoiled teenager!
We were all done by about eleven, meals only being served till nine, but as we had to clear up after Alex and Rosanne, who I must say, packed away most of the stuff, we were really tired. Anna looked like something from another planet with her wild hair and streaky make-up, and she was ready to head for the room, where she had a bottle of red that she bought from the village shop, but when Joe came in and invited us for a wine, she became very animated, and seeing Joe's amused look when his eyes alighted on her head and face, she bolted for the room where hasty repairs were made. I don't think she could imagine how strange she looked, and almost cried when she saw herself in the mirror! But within fifteen minutes we were on our way down, her make-up redone, and two false nails hastily stuck on. Her hair she tamed with half a cannister of hairspray! We had a lovely time, as the people were so nice, and of course typical Scottish, plyed us with glass upon glass of drinks. Anna, who could not afford whiskey, replied to any enquiry about what she wanted to drink, that she would love another whiskey! The top photo shows the grumpy chef, Alex, and the bottom one me and Jane, a lady who made the most beautiful leather  sporrans, the little purse worn with a kilt.