After attending a delightful dinner the other night, I was struck by a social dilemma that I wasn’t sure quite how to attend.
In a nutshell, when is it polite to clear the dishes if you are a guest for dinner?
I knew the people in question, I wanted to be polite and attentive but I was also aware that I was being treated as a guest and that thus far, I had not been expected to raise a finger. Was it presumptuous of me to start cleaning and offend the host? Or was it rude if I sat there like the Queen of Sheba and expected to be waited upon?
In the end I cleared the plates and helped with the washing up which I wanted to do, and felt it was comfortable for the host. When I entertain I like to do all the clearing and washing up myself but it is lovely when someone offers to help.
What would you do?