Some days feel totally different to others. It amazing how often we say "It feels just like a Sunday", simply because Sundays feel special.
In our house 'Sunday' means relaxation. The Sunday paper gets spread all over the floor, we occasionally watch Andrew Marr on TV, and we tend to stay indoors (other than dog-walking), doing as little as possible.
This last Sunday we went out for lunch (as I mentioned yesterday), otherwise a roast would come from the oven; the only occasion of the week on which the oven gets used. Usually a Chicken or some Lamb.
We have also decided that our afternoon cup of Lapsang will be served in a pretty old-fashioned Tea Service that hasn't seen the light of day for decades. There is little point owning such things unless they're used. This one below is a particular favourite; very 'refined', and definitely requiring the use of one's pinky pointing outwards. A slice of Battenberg completed the picture.
Sundays should be special. In previous times it would have meant a tedious hour or so dressed-up and spent in Church, but these days such practices have given way to a comfortable sofa, and conversation about what's in the paper.
Long Live Sundays.
I remember my mum having several pretty cup and saucer sets, but they were never used, just kept in a glass front cupboard, for show. When she gave me her crystal bowls, I didn't put them in a cupboard for show, I used them to serve desserts, that way they were kept clean and sparkling by the many dishwashings, instead of gathering dust behind glass.
ReplyDeleteI think we have three 'Tea Sets'; all complete with small plates, etc. The one above we will keep, but the others can go to someone else. It's silly keeping them tucked away in a cupboard for years. They're not worth anything anyway.
DeleteThis sounds very like our Sundays! Sometimes, over the washing-up, I think about having just a kind of brunch, but when the next Sunday comes around, there will be a nice roast in the oven. No dog-walking for us,but a short walk in the morning to prevent going moldy.
ReplyDeleteHilde in Germany
A roast, and a cobweb-removing walk, are important elements of every Sunday. Traditions must be respected.
DeleteEven if only used occasionally, things do need to be used. It is sad if something broken in spite of being careful but that is what happens when you use things. They break.
ReplyDeleteThe Tea Service is made of Bone China, a very hard material. One can drop the cups, and 99.9% of the time they bounce, even though they look easily breakable.
DeleteVery posh. I wonder if vegetarians can use them?
ReplyDeleteI would hope not... they'd be consuming tiny particles of B O N E.
DeleteThose would not do for the microwave nor the dishwasher. I am a great fan of both.
ReplyDeleteSo am I. Somehow they always get washed by hand; they have that look about them.
DeleteYou might as well use everything you've got and stop putting stuff back in the attic. Get it out while you can and use it and sort it.
ReplyDeleteThat is our aim; whether we will achieve it or not remains to be seen.
DeleteI still regard Sunday as the Sabbath and a day of rest.
DeleteI still feel that Sundays should be special even though I have never been a church goer. Generally a long walk then a lazy afternoon for me.
ReplyDeleteMost of my pretty things that lived permanently in cupboards were despatched to the charity shop when we moved. We only have the bare necessities at the moment, well, until we move into our permanent home then who knows.
We aim to de-clutter, but when it will begin is another question. I suppose Charity Shops are a good starting point.
DeleteNow I do like that tea set Cro! Good that you've got it out and are enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteNice isn't it; it makes the Tea taste so much better.
DeleteHaving grown up in the motherland, therefore bred in my bone, life slows at two in the afternoon, Saturday. When the shops (used to) close. Sunday shopping? You've got to be joking. I have lived most my adult life so far in England. I still can't bring myself to ever shop on a Sunday. It's so uncivilized.
ReplyDeleteSo, yes, that was a roundabout way of saying I agree with you and Lady M. Actually come to think of it, I would venture up the road to our newsagent on a Sunday morning and buy all the broadsheets. But that wasn't really shopping. It was a ritual. Now, of course, I largely read them on line. No more cats either, plonking themselves on my reading matter wondering what's more important than them. Those were the days.
Atmospheric photo, Cro. Black and white still does have its place or, I suppose, has never left it.
U
Photo thanks to my son Kimbo!
DeleteYes, that visit to the Newsagent on Sunday Morning is very much a ritual. I was extremely pleased to see that the same man was still there too!
Every one should have down time. Our Sundays are usually spent with Tim watching some sporting event. I usually write a letter to my daughter and her husband to be dropped in the mail the next day on my way to work. I usually wind up folding the weeks laundry and putting it away. My favorite thing to do is put myself to bed early to read for an hour.
ReplyDeleteThese days people tend not to see Sundays as being any different to all the other days of the week, which is a shame. When I lived in London, Sundays were very special. I would ride my bike all around central London, when there was hardly any traffic; a wonderful way to see places anew.
Delete...Sunday is a day for sofa slumming...paper reading..snoozing by the fire from now on...maybe a quick pop out to the field to see how autumn is moving along...yes!
ReplyDeleteSadly we no longer have the wood fire or the open fields, but we compensate.
DeleteNow retired Sundays are often no different than other days, but that makes us lucky to have a relaxed peaceful life.
ReplyDeleteMake every day a Sunday. What could be better!
DeleteWhat a pretty tea set! Sunday is a lazy day around here--time to linger over coffee, a late breakfast, possibly a nap in the afternoon, and a nice meal. It's a great way to begin (or end) the week.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to dedicate one day of the week to decadence. We deserve it.
DeleteLapsang, Battenberg and best china? Are you blogging from the nineteen fifties? I wonder how that nice Mr Eden will handle the Suez Crisis.
ReplyDeleteAnd Tea was taken in 'The Front Room'; unlocked specially for the occasion.
DeleteThe Parlour as it was known.
DeleteYes; in our case a Pretend Parlour.
DeleteSunday for me means church at least a couple of times a month - not tedious - meditative & with wonderful music - and an occasion to socialize with friends afterwards (even if, at the moment it is outdoors in the courtyard).
ReplyDeleteI do try to avoid shopping and such and once home will make a lovely lunch and then probably read and putter - catching up on phone calls etc.
On days when I don't go to church I will most likely head off with a friend for a drive in the country or for a long hike by the lake. Prior to Covid this would have been followed by lunch out (a treat to not be doing the cooking) but now might be a picnic or just a lovely coffee and a treat eaten on a patio or even in the car.
I find it important to have some sort of break from my regular routine.
I do like the tea set and heartily support using the "nice" things that were always kept for "good" and rarely got an airing!
I think my cup of Tea on Sunday was the first time the cups had been used for decades!
DeletePinky pointing outward?
ReplyDeleteIt's 'de rigueur' with fine Tea Cups.
DeleteGreat photo - Billy looks very happy in his new surroundings.
ReplyDeleteHe's loving his new life, it's just a pity he can't meet up with Rick!
DeleteTea served in bone china is always perfect. Add the matching teapot for a second cup and it is sublime. The Wall Street Journal and NY Times are enjoyed on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThe Sunday Times lasts all week! Too much of it.
DeleteA very civilised Sunday. The beautiful China makes it even more enjoyable a cup of tea or coffee always tastes best in good China, or just a favourite cup.
ReplyDeleteUse them and enjoy them
Did Lady M make the battenburg?
DeleteNo it was from M & S; a bit too sweet for me.
DeleteI wrote about Sunday’s the other day
ReplyDeleteThey can be lonely days
And yet you get about more than anyone I know.
DeleteAnd long live Battenberg too - my favourite.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that my memory of Battenberg was a little fanciful; far too sweet for me, but beautifully decorative.
DeleteWhat a fine photo of the relaxed paper chaos of your Sundays! It's good to use your stuff; beautiful things need to be used. A bit like pearls needing to be worn to stay lustrous :)
ReplyDeleteThe Sunday papers are always far too big, so they get spread all over the floor. The best bits keep us happy for the whole week.
DeleteWhen we quit the daily newspaper delivery at first, we did keep up the Sunday paper for a time, then we quit that and bought a Sunday paper ever so often at the local drugstore. It does get to be a tradition... one that eventually disappeared here. As for the afternoon tea/coffee with good China for me and a mug for DH - that will stay forever! I love pretty teacups, and love using them! I agree it makes your tea so much better. Most of our good China and Crystal has been broken or lost over the years - but I was a true believer in "using what you have"... even the grandkids would have a small crystal goblet on the holidays.
ReplyDelete