A Gathering for Fine Ladies

... self-proclaimed, but 'fine' (to different extents) nevertheless. The post-festive-season Sunday lunch for the girls happened again - one cannot but repeat a success. Last year's six gathered around the same table to a mish-mash of cutlery, coloured glass and flowing wine. This time round we all brought a dish or two to the table, thus making my life as 'hostess' so much easier! 

Alex brought fresh bunches of flowers for all, I replaced a couple of lightbulbs in the chandelier for the occasion, brought out the latest flea market finds as tableware, laid the table with gifts, chocolate mice and place-'initials' and tried (in vain) to keep the cat off the table until the guests arrived.

 This is Sarah being cute (aka Sassy Bo-jangles/KOKO-najs/The Secret Rose)

And this is the array of food we consumed .. or at least tried to .. including Rachel's dips, Carla's shakshuka and freekeh & meatball soup, mah chicken and onion curry and Alex's mushrooms in wine and potatoes from mayo-heaven. We tried very hard not to flop forward for dead at the table .. and we're all big eaters! 

Sassy's lovely personalized gifts for us represent a Roman numeral for our combined weight after the meal and made our gathering at the table look a bit more sect-like.

When we meet for food, we mean business .. posing for photos is rare, far-between and generally discouraged .. in fact Ness (aka Festive-pompom/condom) strikes a 'WARNING' pose!

 

And here's dessert .. lime and poppy-seed cake by Sass and imqaret by Vaness

I love this fuzzy photo of myself (aka notorious-non-poser) and Alex (wearing her pendant with pride) by Sarah ..

 

and this one of myself looking a bit like a 50s houswife showing off Gustav's pillow-tummy. He be chillin' on my lap!

Why doesn't this happen more often, eh!? Documenting it feels essential now that we girls have grown into ladies and find fewer occasions to meet and make a day of it .. I'm sitting on the sofa with the cat, he's looking up at me wistfully, happy that it happened yet somewhat saddened that it's over - BOTH eyeing the last piece of  leftover cake on the counter top!

until the next time!