Archives
22:29:00 o'clock BST
Tea at the Ritz!
As many of us Brits will know, this time last year we were praying for the cooler weather. Here in Kent we had a hosepipe ban and had to water all the window boxes, pots and troughs by filling the watering can, hard to remember those days now as we read of all the poor people who have been flooded and yet more rain to come.
Also this time last year, Wednesday 26th July in fact, Peter and I got married on what was his 60th birthday, after twenty years together, we decided we were right for each other!! I had my hair cut and styled the day before but because it was so hot I had to wash it again the morning of the wedding. One of my daughters had stayed the night with me while Peter stayed at her house, the age-old tradition of the groom not seeing the bride before the actual wedding was her reasoning! I was up at 5am and made a lemon drizzle cake before it got too hot to bake, my daughter Leigh got up about 7 o'clock and we were sitting on the patio most of the morning drinking coffee and chatting, it was a lovely relaxing time for both of us. The wedding wasn't until 2pm and about 12 noon the florist delivered a beautiful bouquet to me, he told me it had taken him nearly an hour because of road works that had started that morning, guess where the roadworks were...yes, right by the Manor House where we were to be married! From then on we were trying to get hold of everyone to tell them to start out earlier because of traffic delays. Of course I completely forgot to do anything with my hair and although I had washed it when I showered, that was ALL I'd done so it lay flat against my head! My hairdresser had asked to see some of the wedding photos but I haven't been brave enough to show them to her even a year later!
Now for the title of this post! My colleagues at work had bought us some Tea at The Ritz vouchers as part of our wedding present, it was a lovely surprise and because of other things we didn't use them straight away. I then thought it might be nice to go on our first wedding anniversary, which is what we did!
Yesterday my three youngest daughters came round with cards and presents for Peter's birthday, anniversary cards for us and also a beautiful bouquet of flowers. They stayed about an hour or so and then left so we could get ready. All morning it was quite sunny and certainly dry but just as we were leaving the heavens opened! We stood in the hallway just looking at the rain, it was too heavy for us to even get to the car which was only on the drive. Eventually it eased off a bit and we made our way to the station, found a place to park and then it started again, we were beginning to think we were jinxed!
We got to the Ritz about half an hour early so we went into Fortnum & Mason's just along the road, I really needed to use the ladies room! You would not believe the prices of the food in there, I'm sure it's more expensive than Harrods, they had jars of marmalade which cost £10.95 and there were some even more expensive than that!
Well the Ritz was everything we expected... and more! It's another world! The tables were set beautifully with silver milk jug, sugar bowl and a little silver tray that held china pots, one with strawberry preserve in and the other clotted cream (for the scones). A three tiered cake stand was brought to us, the bottom plate held little sandwiches (with the crusts cut off of course!) there was about six different fillings and three or four different kinds of bread, they were delicious and as they were being eaten a waiter came round with a big silver tray and put more on the plate with silver tongs! Next came the scones, plain ones and also some with sultanas and apple in them, together with the preserve and cream they were to die for! By this time I was beginning to feel quite full but on the top tier of the cakestand was the most beautiful little cakes and pastries, some had fresh fruit in them, some were chocolatey, but all of them looked so pretty, very artistically made. Our young waiter in his black trousers, white jacket and black bow-tie was American and so nice and friendly, all the waiters know their jobs of course and they were discreet as well as attentive. There was a pianist playing in the background and the hour and three quarters that we were there just flew by. It was certainly an experience and one that I wouldn't have missed for the world, I'd love to do it again but it's quite expensive, definately for a special treat or occasion.
Well time to close I think, I just wanted to share our Tea at The Ritz with you, perhaps some of you have already been yourself, in which case you'll know exactly what I'm talking about! Have a good weekend!
Love, Pat
Written by pm71blackfen Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | 
digg this
-
Tea at the Ritz!!! What a wonderful way to commemorate your first wedding anniversary and what a thoughtful gift from your children! It sounds like such a wonderful experience! I could just picture it all from your description ... I was right there with you! Oh, I do hope that I get to experience something like this before I die! Loved hearing about your wedding day as well! so far this morning the sun is shining (finger's crossed!) I daren't hope it will last!
Have a great weekend!
love,
Marie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariealicejoan/MariesMuses/ -
How lovely Pat ,certainly something to remember ,your first wedding aniversary by ,I hope you have many more ...love Jan xx
-
Your tea at the Ritz sounds just wonderful. How nice to have a treat like that. The weather always surprizes us and so we just take what we get and make the most of it for sure. Happy Anniversary to you both. 'On Ya' - ma
04/08/07 22:48
Linda x