Friday 14 July 2017

Tea for... Sixty!

Last Sunday I hosted afternoon tea for sixty of my female friends. The idea was to invite as many people from various walks of my life over the years as I could. Invariably there were several friends or groups of friends I had to leave out - not because I wanted too - but simply from a practical point of view. It would have been wonderful to invite everyone I know. How lovely it would have been to invite all the people I've met through blogging too, but that might have required another whole party of its own! But perhaps you would like to join me here for a virtual tea party...


I have been filling the freezer with cakes over the past four weeks and on Sunday morning whilst I finished off making sandwiches, the men in my family got busy laying tables with vintage china, pretty cloths and flowers and blowing up ballons etc to decorate our village hall.


There were scones with clotted cream and homemade apricot conserve.


As well as cakes of all descriptions... brownies, sponge cakes, bakewells and macarons... there were biscuits...


I spotted these "tea bag cookies" on Pinterest the week of the party and knew that they just had to be made. Fiddly bits of nonsense that were probably not the best idea when I was catering for so many but worth every second. They were just the sort of detail I wanted on the afternoon.


As the guests arrived, my team of gorgeous helpers sprung into action pouring glasses of Prosecco and cups of tea, handing round cakes and sandwiches... my four sons above and my stepson and grandson below...


As well as my brother and his stepson, and my soon to be stepson-in-law and not forgetting Stewart of course.  All the special men in our family in fact!


And then the guests arrived...


And here they all are... some ladies I've known for over thirty five years and others who are recent friends or members of the family. But it was such a lovely gathering and a brilliant atmosphere. I wish I could let you hear it, so much laughter, chat and catching up.. as one guest said "As you approached the hall it sounded like a children's playground"!


There was an impromptu speech...


And it wouldn't  be a party without cake. Of course I made my own... I got what I wanted that way! Several layers of a gin and tonic sponge and buttercream 'naked' cake with fruit and flowers.


It all added up to one very happy sixty year old who had just the sort of party she wanted...
Tea, cake, lots of fabulous friends... and the odd glass of Prosecco too!


I couldn't have asked for anything more!


Although we are still eating left over cake!

26 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. It was fabulous in every way. I am very fortunate xx

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  2. Wonderful, what a day to remember. 🎈🎈🎈

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  3. What a fantastic party Gina...wonderful cake and the hired hands looked very handsome indeed. :)

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  4. I am blown away by your fabulousness Gina! Such a great idea and to know 60 women important to you in many ways, that is amazing. x

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  5. Happy Happy Birthday to you once again!! So glad that it was such a great celebration and that you had such a good time. All of the cakes look and I am sure tasted fabulous! Lovely that the men in your life played waiters for you!

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  6. Absolutely the best party ever. What a great idea.

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  7. Looks so lovely Gina- great cake and looks as if you were surrounded by so much love and admiration. Have a great weekend and hope it's a little less full on! Liz x

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  8. Looks like you all had a fabulous time, and your cake is amazing.

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  9. Sounds like your party played out exactly as you'd hoped. Well done on all that preparation (love the birthday cake) and thank goodness for working freezers!

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  10. Belated Happy sixtieth - your party sounded just perfect! Happy days! xx Jo

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  11. The ultimate birthday party - lovely birthday girl, gorgeous cake and other eats, great guests and dishy waiters and Master of Ceremonies! Perfect.

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  12. Happy birthday Gina. What a fabulous party that looks 😊

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  13. Just wonderful - and what a team of helpers you had! Glad you had such a lovely time.

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  14. Just wonderful - and what a team of helpers you had! Glad you had such a lovely time.

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  15. Many, many congratulations on such a fabulous celebration - I wouldn't have expected anything less! and may just have to steal the idea for my 65th in a couple of years. Welcome to the next decade. Terry x

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  16. Happy birthday lovely Gina! X

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  17. I don't know how you did it all Gina but it looks a perfect celebration. What a wonderfully way to share your birthday with all your special friends and supported by your gorgeous family. Lasting memories for sure. Happy Birthday again. xx

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  18. I hope you received my card? I couldn't work out what day your actual birthday was on but I think this post is evidence that you are going to make it last for the whole of 2017!!! I don't think I could even round up 60 people so I'd dead impressed with your social networking skills and so glad you had such an amazing party. What next I wonder?

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  19. I am so glad that it worked out well for you, there was a lot of effort in that party. It is good to know so many people.

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  20. What an absolutely fab party!

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  21. It was a perfect tea party - so glad you enjoyed it, and thank you!

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  22. It was a perfect tea party - so glad you enjoyed it, and thank you!

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  23. Wow Gina -- What a great end to your Sixty by Sixty year! It looks like you (and your guests!) all had a wonderful time!!!

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