Afternoon Tea

Hi all, happy Monday! Today I AM happy even though it's Monday again - I have had my third cold since January, and after spending the weekend feeling crappy and ill, today I am back in work but feeling much better! So that's worth a smile!

It gets me down that I constantly seem to be ill, so I am going to go to the doctor next time I'm in Wales (it's free there - here in NZ it costs a LOT) and get checked out.

Yesterday the bf and I hosted an 'afternoon tea' for our landlords and our new neighbours. As I had a cold, the bf did all of the cooking and culinary preparation - I just made things look pretty and tidied up before and afterwards (something I had to remind him about when he laughed at my suggestion that I'd helped! How rude!!) :)

The bf made mini spinach quiches

And these 'triple decker' (his words!) finger sandwiches. I added the skewers - they were actually very useful!

My contributions were shop bought Red Velvet cupcakes. No one ate them and opted for the bf's handmade lemon cupcakes instead!! LOL.

 

I used the fancy dessert forks my mum bought me for Christmas..."you're the only person I know who would use dessert forks" she said. True that! :)

I also used my fun napkins. Does anyone else hate using fancy napkins as they don't want to waste them!? Well I do. But I used them anyway.

And I was very happy to bring out part of my teacup collection for the occasion - these were all bought here in NZ, mainly from one particular antique shop which I LOVE.

This one isn't actually antique, but it looks the part anyway :)

This is the first teacup I bought in NZ - and I think it's Japanese.

The bf bought me this one for Christmas two years ago. I smashed the plate on the return trip from Christchurch (where we'd spent Christmas) but found a matching one at my trusty antique shop!

I think I bought this one because I was having an afternoon tea party a year or so ago, and needed extra cups.

Same with this one.

This is one of my favourites as it's unusual. Even though it's cracked slightly and the plate doesn't match the saucer.

And this one was gifted to me yesterday by my landlord! SO thoughtful! And I absolutely love it :)

 

Do you ever use a teacup and saucer?
Lady Gaga style!?

Mid week wining and dining

Buenos dias amigos!

Last week the bf and I used a voucher I'd received for a three course lunch with matched wine at the Hippopotamus restaurant. We'd had the voucher for almost six months and could never find a time to use it (the bf is ever-so-important(!!) and never takes a work lunch break!!) so last week he managed to find a slot in his diary and we went to lunch. UNFORTUNATELY, that morning I woke up feeling crappy with a cold! Typical.

We did have a lovely lunch though, despite snotty noses and congested heads.

Hippopotamus is within the Museum Hotel in Wellington

The outside (and inside actually) of the building is fabulous!

Look closely and you'll see a hippo in my glass ;)

A view of the harbour - and my house on the far right in the distance!

 

I ordered the veggie option - roast carrot risotto with beetroot foam for my main. I loved how pink it was (SUCH a girl, huh!)

And my dessert was raspberry panacotta. I'm not much of a dessert person, but I loved the presentation.

 

The bf scoffed his lemon and pine nut tart

As an art hotel, there are fabulous exhibits and pieces everywhere - including chairs

And motorbikes in the lobby!

And this little fella greeting you from the elevator!