Inspiration for a non crafter please!

Flaxseed.
Walk village pub. Perfect.

Flaxseed. As an experienced host “twinner” myself to French and German guests, and as a guest myself, please don’t worry about the language aspect. A glass of wine over lunch will help no end and I’m sure your guests will be delighted to walk through your village and to the local pub to see something of your local area. It’s the hospitality that counts and especially having someone to your home which is valued, not the quality of the conversation.

I love a craft but if I was going for lunch with someone I didn’t know very well to be expected to paint a plant pot or crochet a square would seem weird. A walk round your village is a much nicer idea. I did visit someone once who expected us to decorate a candle for Christmas. I thought it odd then .

Fingers crossed for good weather! Walk and pub for me too.
The French love our quirky public houses…

I think unless you know your visitor likes this kind of thing that you should be careful and not suggest crafts.

I don't know it this is a fashionable way of entertaining visitors in the UK, but I have never heard of it anywhere, except for children in kindergarten and by the worst kind of occupational therapists working with the elderly in care homes.

Frankly, I would be offended if my hostess suggested any such thing. Of course, good manners would compel me to try and join in, unless it was small fiddly things where I could use my less-than-perfect eyesight and my stiff fingers as an excuse.

No to crafting.

I do loads of different handicrafts as hobbies but I wouldn’t want to waste time crafting when there grandchildren and great grandchildren to catch up with!

I think you’re worrying unnecessarily and you need to chill out and go with the flow.

Get some old cards to cut up with pinking shears and a hole punch and some thin ribbon to thread through. Can make tags for resents, Christmas, Easter, birthdays... whatever you've got. Small and easy to carry home.

If only there for a few hours and having lunch why not just chat? Crafting? I find that a bit odd,sorry??? I personally would hate thatas I'm not into crafting in any way shape or form. Different if she and allof you are crafters and they are there fir the day,not a few hours.

Borrow a jigsaw from the library, or buy one from your local charity shop, and have it started, so you can invite her to contribute if she wishes. If you get it finished, you can offer her to take it home?
As to pot, that would depend on how she is travelling, because you have to factor in transport.
If you have a computer printer, then the Works sell keyring photo holders, you could take and print a picture of them/something local to clip in, if you have any yarn then you could plait a red/white/blue tail to add (their flag has the same colours)

Arrange something that you will enjoy doing later on, by yourself. I suspect it won't be needed!

Flaxseed - I love plants with a passion but if I turned up as a lunch guest I'd be blind-sided by a craft activity; I really wouldn't like it. Different if you know in advance maybe.
Your own idea of the "cute village pub" is excellent. We take them for granted but visitors adore them. Please try to learn a few words of French. No matter how mangled, she's sure to appreciate the effort - yes you'll make mistakes but imagine how she feels.

I'd have the craft on one side as a Plan B. If a walk is being organised, check they're mobile beforehand! She's older than the last time you met. If alcohol is involved, the French may be quite particular or not drink at all.

Personally if I were your visitor, I'd be a bit taken aback to be asked to do some crafr work, and would much prefer to walk through the village, as you suggest in a later post. Could be ideal if everyone can walk ok. 2 hours is not long for eating and chatting really. Someone suggested looking at photographs of interest to you all - that might work well, and for me is a better option than craft.

I agree, no crafts! I think perhaps you’re just getting unnecessarily nervous. I have a similar thing happening next weekend but I know from past experience, the time will just fly by. If you do feel you need to pass the time, the option of a village walk sounds great and I’m sure everyone would enjoy that…and the pub! Good luck!

I would not like to do crafts on a brief visit either. I hate the idea of it just as I hate it on the rare occasions I have been invited to someone’s home for a meal and then they say “let’s have a game of ….. “ 🥺

I would take them for a walk. Best idea

Flaxseed

All good points! Thank you
French lady is late 50s and very fit and healthy is as my Mum who is early 80’s.
She is staying with my Mum as part of the annual village twinning trip.
I plan to do a ‘picky’ lunch. More of an afternoon tea thing really.
All I really know about her is that she loves her plants - hence the pot painting idea!
Maybe I’ll forget the soil and seed bit tho due to transportation.
I might paint some pots in advance so that we can just design them with the posca pens.

Or I might just abandon the idea and take a walk through the village and have a drink at our cute village pub!

Plenty to think about. Thanks everyone

Take a while eating
Go outside (weather permitting!) and admire your plants - swap the names of them in French and English
Look at old photos
Have a wander through the village

Et voilà - two hours have gone!

Pub or a jigsaw already started would be my suggestions!
And Google translate.
Have a good time, don't over think it! The more relaxed you are, the more she will be.

Why not have lunch at a garden centre. Two birds with one stone. Bin the crafting idea 🤦🏼‍♀️

Most comments have completely put me off of my craft idea
I would never make anyone do what they wouldn’t want to do, so there would be no pressure! Hope it didn’t come across like it would be compulsory!
It was just a thought to fill any silences - but maybe that’s me just feeling nervous
I haven’t seen her for some time but know through Mum that she’s still very fit and active (as is Mum who is 82) so a walk would be no problem.
I will just pray for good weather so that we can have lunch in the garden then a walk to the pub with some ‘quintessentially English’ photo opportunities along the way

Local garden centre might be nice

Get them drunk. They won’t be able to speak and won’t need to craft

I think you have come up with a perfect solution. My experience of lovely French people and especially of town twinnings suggests that they like to spend time relaxing over a meal. That could take a full two hours and the eating is a bit of a distraction and eases the conversation anyway. The boys will get bored by this so an activity (or football) will be needed for them.
As to soil, plants and seeds… steer well clear. There are very strict regulations about taking such things into the EU (and other countries for that matter) soils and plants, even one small plant, can carry diseases, contaminate natural rootstock or damage the environmental balance (Japanese Knotweed anyone?). You don’t want to be the cause of an embarrassing situation at customs control.

Crafting yikes. I would run for the hills. Nice walk and visit to a typical local British pub - perfect.

eddiecat78

To be honest if I went to visit someone and they tried to make me do a craft I would run for the door.
A nice stroll around the village ending in the pub sounds a hundred times preferable

I 100% agree. How could you possibly fit a craft in to 2 hours when you are also having something to eat and drink, the poor lady would feel terribly organised and not relaxed. Take it as it comes go with the flow, remember you mother is 80. if they are fit and willing to go for a small walk that sounds good if not sit in the garden and talk plants and flowers. No need for the visitor to say much, you can sign and tell her the various names in English, even give her one or two cuttings, although she is not suppose to take them home, but she could enjoy them whilst staying at your mother's. You are overthinking this very short visit.

Allira

Flaxseed

All good points! Thank you
French lady is late 50s and very fit and healthy is as my Mum who is early 80’s.
She is staying with my Mum as part of the annual village twinning trip.
I plan to do a ‘picky’ lunch. More of an afternoon tea thing really.
All I really know about her is that she loves her plants - hence the pot painting idea!
Maybe I’ll forget the soil and seed bit tho due to transportation.
I might paint some pots in advance so that we can just design them with the posca pens.

Or I might just abandon the idea and take a walk through the village and have a drink at our cute village pub!

Plenty to think about. Thanks everyone

Take a while eating
Go outside (weather permitting!) and admire your plants - swap the names of them in French and English
Look at old photos
Have a wander through the village

Et voilà - two hours have gone!

This like my suggestion above I should have read the full thread sorry.