How to Have a Really Brilliant Picnic
Imagine you’ve been tasked to plan an event.
Christmas, a Wedding, a Birthday Party or some other special occasion. What would you need to organise?
Where did your mind go first?
I bet it was the food.
Much as I am a food enthusiast (I cannot stress that hard enough), that isn’t ever where I start.
The food is a given.
You’re not going to bring horrible food.
Everyone wants nice food.
No debate necessary.
Now, think about the 3 most memorable times in your life.
When you were happiest, had the most fun, and were moved to tears or laughter. Where you felt something intensely. Perhaps togetherness, relief, camaraderie, a shared moment.
The things you’ll remember in your old age.
I’m going to take a punt on the fact, that – lovely as it might have been – those memories were probably not based on food.
Unless you went to Heston’s restaurant, where he creates an immersive experience for all your senses.
Yet when we start planning a day out – or even an enormous event – we tend to start with the food, even though it is not the most important element when it comes to creating a wonderful memory.
It’s definitely one of the elements, but I don’t think it even makes the top three. I’m happy to be wrong about that.
Quick example:
The other day, I was with an incredible mum with 3 small, glorious children.
She was hosting an at-home birthday party, and it went brilliantly. Children happily toddled around, playing in the garden.
Bigger ones were building dens, doing jigsaws, playing with the adults, and munching away on the food.
Everything was everywhere.
You couldn’t see much of the floor anymore. Everyone was throwing foam snowballs (and stealing them).
There was much hilarity.
The adults interacted beautifully with all the children, and honestly, I don’t think there was a single way it could have been better.
Perfect.
A few hours in, the mum desperately tried to decorate the cake she’d spent hours making. As well as the scones and cakes, she’d also baked.
In my professional opinion, she had utterly nailed the party.
Everyone was happy, laughing, playing, and chatting.
That’s it.
Success right there.
And she was in the kitchen, a teary meltdown about the cake.
Which was a great cake, as it happens.
But at that point, it would have been no more enjoyed than a Colin the Caterpillar one (non-UK people can Google this).
I finished decorating the cake, Amy read the children’s stories, and we both babysat and cleaned up whilst Mum and Dad went to the pub for a quiz night.
It all ended well, although the mum was embarrassed about the meltdown, which was a shame because it detracted from her great job.
The point of all this is:
While food is one of my top 3 obsessions, it is not the be-all and end-all of a great event.
Could I encourage you to place your and your guests’ emotions at the centre of your event and work outwards from there?
Do you want fun, laughter, surprises, tranquillity, friendship, excitement, wonder, happiness, or reflection – to be the emotional theme of the day?
Or something else. And when you’ve decided on that – how will you lead everyone there?
- Will there be photos to look through and remember?
- Games to play?
- Surprise guests?
- Props for photos?
- Sports equipment?
- Decks of cards?
- A scavenger hunt you’ve made in advance?
- Books to read quietly in the shade of a tree?
- Music to dance to?
- Crosswords and books?
- A chess set?
- Scarves and bunting to hang from branches?
- Speeches to give?
- Will it be a singalong around the bonfire in the forest, toasting marshmallows and leaving the world behind?
- A Coronation picnic with hundreds of others waving flags and belting out the National Anthem, patriotic and proud.
Food is important but also a little bit incidental.
The magic is who you eat it with and how you feel when you do.
Upgrading your life isn’t about caviar and smoked salmon.
It’s about squeezing every last drop of enjoyment from the moments you have.
Living life in a way that makes you proud and happy.
At the end of this ‘ life ‘ business, making memories is ultimately all we’re left with.
And of course – I can’t leave you without my favourite:
Picnic Tips:
- Use a shower curtain for a tablecloth – usually much bigger and with cooler designs.
- A great spot to choose is one with a view. I’d opt for the top of a hill so you can see for miles and feel on top of the world. It also means you burn off energy on the way up (and the way home is downhill).
- Avoid places that are too crowded, noisy, or touristy. You want to enjoy nature, not be irritated by excessive humans. Work out where everyone goes and head along the coast or the treeline. The scenery is the same, but there are fewer people.
You only need a bit of foliage for a private wild wee, so take a loo roll. - Lamps and head torches for when it gets darker, if you stay that long.
- Muffin tins are great for snacks and sauces.
- Freeze water bottles to keep things cool (you can drink them later)
- Where possible, use brown bags rather than Tupperware, so it’s easy to put rubbish in and bring it home and bin.
- Get some blankets from charity shops for a couple of pounds each for sitting on or wrapping up later. Or get everyone to bring one and a cushion to sit on – the more, the better.
Now THAT’S what I call luxury.
Enjoy.