Afternoon tea with the girls

 

Oh my days, how long is it since I had visitors? Obviously too long!!!

So on Saturday afternoon, I had a belated birthday tea party.

3 of my oldest friends came and a jolly afternoon we had too.

I have spent the last few months planning this, linen, china, glassware, the food and the party bags, oh come on! you are never too old for a party bag!

I even, one boring evening, made the invitations, its amazing what you can do with a doyley and some ribbon!

Tea  was planned for 3pm and champagne was on ice.

They arrived  in a flurry of pressies, champers and non stop chatter, oh how I've missed them.

Table was set( had been since Thursday) food  was prepared and we were underway for a 5.5 hour marathon of girliness

First course sorted  sandwiches, vol au vents, sausage rolls and mini quiches. 

Now just a quick zoom in on the flowers, I had had a 6.30am walk to gather some wild flowers for the vases 

I walked down to the station and gathered up some cowslips, Rapeseed flowers  and buttercups, back home and added a couple of roses a sprig of rosemary and mint and they were ready.

For 'dessert' we had trifle ( with cherry brandy soaked sponge), scones, and a selection of cakes.

We ate a lot but we did not stop drinking

What a great way to spend Saturday afternoon.

China was a mix of Royal Doulton and Sadler with all glassware either inherited, Morrisons or  charity shop finds. Candelabra was eBay.

Table cloth was Dunelm, and napkins were a selection from my vintage linen collection

 I haven't forgotten about cocktail hour on Friday

The storms that hit us last week were brutal, but some of the cherry trees near to my house had hung onto their blossom so in honour of their strength, I dedicated cocktail hour  to them and made a

 'Cherrytini'

One part cherry brandy, one part vodka, one part rosso vermouth.

Shaken over ice and served, in my case with a macaron garnish, it fell in and became even more delicious!

This could take over from the ginger nut/red wine accident.

Don't know about that?

well that's another blog!!!

I hope you have had as good a weekend as I have.

We are slowly getting to the new normality.

Have a great week