- 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?

that is a lovely idea, Marmaduke.

Tea at 3 is not being run on a a national basis now, but some hospices are doing it on an individual basis. The old Tea at 3 website for 2006 here is a link so you can find your nearest hospice, if you don't already know it.

I read this thread on my b-berry on the train last night and it really cheered me up - YANBU JandJ - I have a lovely cream cake stand that I got in the sale at Laura Ashley and I get it out to put fairy cakes on when my friends come over for coffee - am on the hunt for girly oversized teacups now as i need large quantities of tea but am bored with mugs - I also inhertied my mum's silver tea set (teapote, sugar bowl etc) so am now inspired to get it out and clean it up! Thanks for this thread - just the job on a rainy day

Message withdrawn

Is a teapote a posh teapot I wonder

Marmaduke - thanks for the link about Tea at Three. LOVE that idea and am going to do it, just not on the 8th as it's my wedding anniversary and given DH thinks I'm barking to want a tea set he probably won't want to celebrate being married with scones and cream (although personally I think it would be a marvellous thing).

Am going to go check out all the suggestions for tea pots. I feel this is a special purchase and cannot be rushed.

Also found this - Stop for Tea for NSPCC.

This has become my new mission. I will force feed my friends tea and cake and raise money at the same time.

Now I really, really need to buy a tea set.

Just thought I'd update you on my tea set saga:

I have now purchased floral bunting (it was the easiest thing to get).

I have put in a bid on a tea set on eBay but it doesn't have a teapot. So am now hunting around for something close to matching. There's also a gorgeous cake stand that I have my eye on plus another very similar tea set with even more things on eBay which I might bid on too. It's becoming a bit of an obsession and I am starting to fear for my sanity (and my bank balance).

Re the Tea at 3 thing - I contacted our local hospice which happens to provide care for terminally ill children and support for their families. So I am only too pleased to help them. I've been sent the invitations and now I just need to get them out to my friends, but am slightly reluctant too until I get my tea set.

But hopefully that will happen imminently. Will keep you posted as I'm sure you're all riveted.

Great progress JandJ - inspired by all this tea chit chat I have arranged to have a tea party with friends in the next few weeks and we're going to do a full on tea table with cakes and scones etc etc - can't wait!!!

I want to 'take tea' on the Orient Express in a proper victorian carriage, at the Ritz and waltz around in the dining room at the Hilton Waldorf Hotel in London, ahhh...Iv'e got noone to go with-my mates are like navviies, beer swiggin hooligans, not their thing.

What have you done to me??? Been on e-bay since reading this and won a cake stand (only 2 tier so know i will also have to go for a very pretty 3 tier one in couple of days!. Am also watching a couple of tea sets but they have starting price of £50 so out of my price range . Where else can i get pretty tea set from?

Unfortunately i shall be having this tea party alone as my friends will just laugh at me - never mind the champagne, open the cider!!!!

tootired, you're welcome to mine if you live anywhere near Berkshire

I just got a lovely three tiered Gisela Graham cake stand with lattice edge off eBay.

Am about to win my tea set but now don't love it as much as others I've seen. And still don't know what to do about a teapot. Have seen one that sort of matches but not exactly. Otherwise some lovely silver plated ones - very elegant. God I can see me spending a fortune on this. DH is going to get seriously unless I hide it all

I have tea set, floral bunting and a variety of cake stands (some 2 and one 3 tiered and a large single stand for a large birthday type cake).

For birthday tea for me/Dh/garndparents I make cakes and scone and we have present opening and 'tea'.

Me and my Mum love this, men and chidren pretty oblivious but go along with it.

Oh and at all childrens parties the sandwiches, cakes and jellies are all set out on the cake stands across the table, makes it look very partyish and pretty..

Oh and I have two boys!!

I am in Birmingham.

Enjoy your tea party . Don't worry about little old me, all alone with my cake stand

Oh no - what is floral bunting? Am i going to have to get that too?

FLoral bunting (and try charity shops for tea sets)

You'll have to get some tootired. It sets the whole thing off. Little floral flags on a string.

Oh, and if you have your cake stand all to yourself, it means you can load it up with cakes and guzzle the lot. Nothing wrong with that.

well i just won the tea set. 31 piece Shelley set with tiny pink roses on it (cost me £39 including postage).

Sadly, I have seen another Shelley set that I like more but it's bigger and I think will go for much more and the bid only ends ages away.

But it's a start. And who says I have to stop at one tea set?? I'm going to have many people here at my tea party (after all it's for a good cause).

The rest of the month we'll be eating beans on toast while I pay off the tea accessories.

Oh thats so true [big fat greedy emoticion].

And as i don't even like tea i can fill the tea pot with lemonage and no-one can laugh at me

Have you won yours yet? Just stop looking at the others!

Have you tablecloths?

And napkins/serviettes (can't remember which is the posh version).

Yes. won mine. But there are only 6 cups. And I mean, that's all well and good for a NORMAL tea party, but I'm having the tea party to end all tea parties. So I definitely need another. Where I store is another thing.

steleger, I do have a table cloth (plain white and smart) and then I have others that could work if one wasn't enough. Not sure what I do about seating arrangements?? I have an outside table that seats 8 (assuming sunny weather) and french doors that can open from the outside table area to the sitting room so that could work.

Ooh - am so excited about this.

yes to napkins/serviettes too. Don't have enough tiny little lovely teaspoons but I'll make a plan.

And you lot have got to stop trying to get even further in tea debt.

Actually, come to think of it, I probably need at least two teapots. One won't be enough and besides, I like rooibos tea not ordinary.

ooh I'd love a cake stand....

Nothing I like more than afternoon tea. DH has been asking what I want to do for my birthday - I think I might have an idea now.... thanks !

JandJ I just love that you are so getting into this!

Has really cheered me up, after my 50 hours of broken and blocked soil pipe, leaking toilet, clearing up leaked poo experiences of the last few days.