Join In The Fun! Join In The December 2019 Tea Party!

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What better way to suggest friendliness – and to create it – than with a cup of tea?

-J. Grayson Luttrell

I’m taking part in The Little Mermaid’s tenth monthly tea party. Who doesn’t love afternoon tea? Exactly! Sadly I have to be rather more careful since most afternoon teas are chock full of dairy which is now strictly verboten. However, I have found that many hotels can pull off a vegan afternoon tea with a bit of notice. Alternatively, I can DIY (do it myself – pictured below).

When I first moved into my current apartment, I used to hold physical tea parties for some of the very elderly residents who’d befriended me. They used to love coming round but it wasn’t for the food, it was for the company and a chance to have a chat. I much enjoyed these as the ladies  – sadly none of whom are still with us – had all lived such interesting lives.

Consequently, I’m re-joining The Little Mermaid’s monthly tea party. This one unfortunately doesn’t include scones with strawberry jam and cream unless, of course, you provide your own. No, the whole point is to encourage an affable exchange of dialogue among the invitees because blogging is more enjoyable when done interactively.

The Little Mermaid’s tea party is the ideal occasion for socialising and making, as well as maintaining the acquaintance of those in the blogosphere. It’s a chance to truly relax and to take some time to recharge one’s batteries by engaging in light-hearted conversation, to be with friends and simply delight in one another’s company.

While her first tea party was open-ended, subsequent ones have been topical and this month’s theme is PAINTING/ART – hurrah! Nothing nicer for a dedicated art museum attendee like moi?

Here’s The Little Mermaid’s Questions and my Responses

1. Do you like paintings?

In general yes though there are paintings I might not be willing to hang on my wall but these are few and far between.

2. Do you visit art museums?

Whenever I can and you’ll find plenty of posts about my visits on the blog. For example:

Picasso Museum, Paris

Goya Museum, Castres

Fondation Maeght, Saint Paul de Vence

Fabre Museum, Monpellier

The Louvre, Abu Dhabi

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris

The Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane

This is just a small selection of visits from recent years!

3. What art form do you like best?

I like all art forms even though I’ve only shown paintings above.

4. Why and how do you enjoy art?

We always had art on the walls at home, some sculptures in the garden and some ceramics in the house too. So I’m used to having it around. One of the downsides to having floor to ceiling length windows in our apartment is that there’s less space to hang works and I have now run out of space. 

5. If you could buy a great work of art, what would it be?

I’d like a small work by one of my favourite impressionists.

6. What is the value of paintings among millennials in today’s fast-paced digitalised world?

I have no idea, I’m a childless baby boomer

The December 2019 tea party closes on the 31st. If you want to join in – and why wouldn’t you?  – make sure that you share a blog post round around the subject, This is a golden opportunity for newcomers to share with a huge gathering. Aren’t you excited?

But before you do, don’t forget to check out The Little Mermaid’s tea party etiquette:

Etiquette Number 1- Introduce yourself.

Introduce yourself, your blog or even your latest post to the community in such a way that it encourages others to converse with you. Avoid posting just a link as a comment which looks rude and spammy. Be polite.

Etiquette Number 2- Mix and mingle.

Tea is a communal experience and there it requires that you meet and greet at least some of the other wonderful people in attendance. Participate by actively reading others’ comments and visiting their links/sites.

Etiquette Number 3- Share the most recent tea party on your blog.

The purpose of the event is to create a platform where everyone benefits from real diversity of thought; and for that we need to find people who genuinely hold different views and invite them into the conversation. So, please spread the word in the blogosphere through reblogs.

That’s not too difficult is it?

So, drag up a chair, pour yourself a cuppa, help yourself to some cake and introduce yourself. There, what could be nicer?

 

41 thoughts on “Join In The Fun! Join In The December 2019 Tea Party!”

  3. I’ve always liked afternoon tea, it’s probably an age thing and part of my cultured north of England background 😂. When we had one of those big static caravan things in Cumbria we used to invite neighbours from the site around for afternoon tea every Sunday. Victoria sponge is my favourite to this day, though Dr C goes for the eclairs. Proper tea too, with choice always offered of Darjeeling, Nepal Golden Tips, Assam, and UVA. Scones were always on offer too with gentle arguments about Cornish or Devon! A couple of years back we “took tea” at Betty’s Tea Rooms in Harrogate, delightful 👍

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    1. I used to love afternoon tea. My parents took me every week to The Queen’s Hotel in Birmingham where I used to go into the kitchen to choose my cakes with the chef. I also used to do the rounds chatting to everyone else there, many of whom were regulars. I can’t tell you how upset I was when they knocked down the hotel to build New Street Station! Happy days!

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      1. I’d forgotten tea at hotels. When our daughter was 16 (now 42) we asked her what would she like as a special present. Her answer? Afternoon tea at The Ritz! It’s still an abiding memory.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Oh, how lovely! I’ll have one biscuit, and one sugar and some milk in my tea,please!

    I do like Alfred Sisley too! I love his landscapes, and the light he captures in his works too.
    If I could own one painting from a famous artist it would be Van Gogh’s Harvest at La Crau. I just love the French countryside and the golden light of Autumn. I have loved this work since I first saw it in a book back in the ’80s.

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  8. Pingback: Come join in the fun over at sherrys! Its a tea party! – Therapy Bits

  9. I am clueless about art, as I’m blind and never saw well enough to really understand what paintings look like. However, I do enjoy ceramics and sculptures.

    May I ask, why is there lots of dairy in afternoon teas? I’m confused, since here in the Netherlands most people just drink tea and only children usually add milk to their teas.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. The phrase « afternoon tea » refers to the meal which usually comprises dainty sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream and a selection of cakes. You’ll appreciate that there’s plenty of dairy there!

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  10. I´m not invited then,I only drink whiskey…….
    Great art pictures I have to say. Hopefully one day afer I master the art of writing (so that will take a short time) I do like a lot photography(specially black and white) and painting and always get some ideas for my own crazy writing when I get to those bloggers.

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  12. I love it. You’re an inspiration. I grew up with afternoon coffee and cake. Sweet get-togethers between neighbors, friends, and family, similar to the British Afternoon Tea. Since moving to the United States I’ve gotten away from this sweet afternoon mingling of minds and tastebuds. A year ago my introverted self made a promise to my inner child to reach out, make friends, get to know others and come out of my shell. I think being more social is exactly what most of us crave. You’ve inspired me to revive the afternoon delight. Afternoon Tea (or coffee for those who prefer) with culinary surprises in the afternoons. It will be fun. Thank you for this wonderful inspiration in a real as well as virtual way.

    Liked by 1 person

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      1. As the entire family was ill over the holidays, the afternoon tea had to wait for a little while but I will be certain to write about it when it happens. I hope your holidays were lovely.

        Liked by 1 person

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