Opening remarks[]
I always find those official printed invitations to functions pretty baffling. For one thing why do those gilt-edged cards always say that Mr and Mrs dot dot dot request the pleasure of Mr and Mrs blank blank blank's company, when Mr and Mrs blank blank blank know full well that Mr and Mrs dot dot dot hate the flaming sight of them. Why? At present three members of the Troutbridge crew are stuck with an invitation of this sort and there doesn't seem to be any way out.