- well more ridiculous rather than unreasonable - to really want a girly tea set?

[JoshandJamie]

I have secret yearnings for a girly tea set. Something pretty, dainty, probably floral but possibly not. Along with the tea set I want a tiered cake stand - probably white/cream. I also want pretty floral bunting. And I want to combine all three and have a lovely, girly tea party with lots of little cakes or tiered cream-filled big cakes and dainty sandwiches. All of this will take place on a sunny morning or afternoon, with no husbands or children in sight.

The tea might possibly give way to champagne at some point...

But in reality a) I don't really think any of my friends would go for this type of thing (they'd all just want to move swiftly onto the champagne) and b) it's only likely to happen about once a year - if that, so doesn't justify the cost of getting a lovely girly tea set, does it?

Maybe it's because I'm surrounded by boys, but my inner girly-girl is dying to get out. My husband thinks I'm barking. Am I?

YANBU, my friends took me (at my request) out for afternoon tea to a local small country hotel for my 40th birthday, it was much better value than a lunch or evening out in town and much more fun than another friends birthday spa trip. I have a teaset that my Granny bought me for my bottom drawer but as I have three boisterous boys it does not get used much!

That sounds lovely. I have to go round charity shops in the UK as my dh likes his tea from pretty china cups. Nothing wrong with being in touch with your inner laydee!

YANBU
I have a lovely bone china tea set, Royal Stafford I think, white with pink roses and trimmed with gold leaf. It was a wedding present to my mum and dad so is over 30 years old.
It is just sat gathering dust in a display cabinet, would love to get it out and use it!

i got a lovely 1920's tea set of ebay, very dainty , came with a sandwich plate too!

I really want a proper tea set with a cake stand too...YANBU...My DH thinks its a total waste of money too!! But I think its so nice when people visit to be able do it properly....

Oooh, that sounds like the same one I have, bouncing! (I don't know why I'm excited by this news...)

Of course you're not being unreasonable, I do love a pretty tea set, I love charity shops for matching proper cups and saucers, what a great idea for a wedding MS.

Mildly barking, but quite endearingly so.

Cake is never unreasonable. Cake and champagne together are the epitome of Time Well Spent.

I by contrast am surrounded by children of the female persuasion so am less tempted by the accoutrements.

OOh lovely, if I bring cupcakes can I come?

Ooh - love those too LL. And TWO cake stands. That's just plain greedy. But I agree. I need a tiered one to hold cupcakes and fancies, while a larger one will hold my triple tier cream cake.

My DH is going to lose the plot entirely...

have put some cupcakes on my profile (made for birthday party)
if I bring similar pleeease can I come

nice cakes jj

jingleyjen, bring those cakes and the cake stand and you're in.

done I do love a cuppa.

YANBU. It was a happy day when I found a white, French antiquey-looking, three-tiered cake stand at my local garden centre (Webbs of Wychbold) I got it for £12 because it was a bit wobbly and had been on display.

It's been a great buy - I've done Mother's Day cream teas for my Mum and MIL, DDs birthday (loads of iced fairy cakes, all very sparkly and girly). A couple of friends have borrowed it and it has brought Great Joy to all concerned. Well, that's what I tell DH anyway when he has to keep moving it to get at the shoepolish

Meant to say, if you're anywhere near me (Birmingham-ish) you can borrow it if you like.

We have a pretty teaset inherited from DHs aunt. I like a good big mugful of tea, but sometimes DH wistfully asks for a nice cup of tea. Darjeeling out of china it is then.

He is totally un-gay incidentally.

Such a lovely idea that I'm inspired to go ebaying RIGHT NOW...I already have a cake stand but no lovely china to go with it.

A lot of friends have told me they're coming to visit with cakes when this baby is born...how much more of a treat it'll seem if the cakes are on lovely plates instead of scoffed from the box

I was in Dunelm Mill on Sunday & they have tiered cake stands!! They also have pink & white tea sets, also pale blue with wee pink flowers on them!!

I told dh if I was still single & lived alone I would have kitchen full of that stuff!!

I say go for it

Charity shops are brilliant - I got a complete 1920s Royal Doulton tea set for 10 quid from one in Cambridge. I had to carry it back to London so I donated the clothes in my bag on the spot (never liked them anyway) to make room for the tea set.

jandj I have a great idea how about you do this tea at three I think all hospices are doing it on June 8th.

Then you could have a fab excuse for a tea party and raise some money, no one would bat an eye at your desire for pretty girly tea set and cake stand if it was for such a good cause.

I've got this www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/product.jsp?productId=15518&categoryCode=ET (partly as do PC myself) - I really like it as you can use the plates off it on their own so you've got a 3 tiered cake stand but you've also got things to serve things on at other times as well - and two different sizes of plates and the medium bowls all fit on the same stand so that you can choose what to put on it. Let me know if you're interested - can do a special mn offer!