One reason invitations were so coveted was that people expected it to be a genuinely pleasant occasion, perhaps even interesting.

Which means you are trying to spoil this pleasant occasion, I think, and for no clear reason.

Dinner with the American ambassador turned out to be another pleasant occasion.

It can become a pleasant social occasion rather than a chore.

And if you two boys were to land here on that pleasant occasion we would make you right royally welcome.

As Lance Percival tells the story, it was not a pleasant occasion.

'This time was a much more pleasant occasion,' said John, 45, who has been running for the last seven years.

They were pleasant occasions, at which the Home Secretary was present.

"This is not only a pleasant occasion," said Aillas.

But it really was a very pleasant occasion.