Smart waitresses in white blouses and aprons led me swiftly to a wooden table with a tall, white candle.

The gravy dripped on to the wooden table and on to my lap, the hot grease sinking into the blue cloth of my kirtle.

The centrepiece of this stifling glasshouse was a large wooden table, inset in the fashion of marquetry with map-like designs.

Mine has a chunky wooden table sliced from a tree and handmade muslin curtains on bamboo rails.

The two opposing sides had unconsciously arranged themselves on either side of the long wooden table near the fireplace.