Farewell Fred

Oh my Goody Goodness!!!

If you ever want an Afternoon Tea EXPERIENCE go to the Mirror Room at the Rosewood Hotel, Holborn, London.

I have to thank Julie of Balzer Designs for discovering this place.

Fred and I went there for our last date. With my sister, we met my son and granddaughter, Big Sis. We entered the imposingly huge and very grand Hotel and went into the Mirror Room. Have you ever seen such tall lilies!

the tea started with a variety of dainty sandwiches

The green bread has taragon in it and makes a chicken sandwich – I can’t describe how delicious that was, then beef and horseradish and the third delicate salmon pate, there were others as well.

The tea –  Oolong.

My only disappointment was that there was only one type of  Japanese tea, the rest were China teas.

But the cakes! That is what you go to the Mirror Room for!

They are all in the style of famous artists: Pollock, Koonsberg, Banksi ……

My photos are hopeless as the room was so dimly lit. I have had to lighten these on the computer, but go to the website to see them beautifully photographed.

Fred had his eye on the Banksi

the walls of the cake were made of solid chocolate and inside was a heavenly mix of deliciousness with salted caramel

Sugar Rush!!!!!!!!

Each cake took ages eat so as to savour the flavours. We were able to send a doggy bag home to my d-i-l and Twig and Twiglet

Amazing. The hotel is full of sculpture and art – I will be back!

All too soon the weekend was at an end and I had to say a fond farewell to Fred

Bye bye!

Until the next time…..

A Silly Saturday with Fred

Let me introduce you to Fred, my perfect date for my Birthday Weekend.

The photo above shows him getting ready for the Frida Kahlo party.

Do you all remember or know about Homepride Fred?

My sister has a thing for Fred! She has been collecting Homepride Freds in all their many and various forms for years. Earlier in the year she started photographing him at events she went to – I just loved the silliness of this, it obviously runs in the family. She took him to Chelsea Flower Show, The Dorchester Hotel, Royal Ascot …. and others – they had a fun summer together! But Fred had been back on the shelf for far too long, so I invited him to join me as we pranced around London in flowery headdresses.

Our first date: dinner on Friday night …

Then the next morning  … looking to me like the Milk Tray ad ….. “and all because the lady loves ……..” (another one) arriving on his horse, he presented me with a birthday cake.

The gorgeous horse was made by ceramicist Jane Muir.

Then off we went to the Battersea Arts Centre to meet up with my daughter and niece.

My daughter had made me this fab card with a perfect quote she had found, written inside

After an afternoon nap, whilst we had fun spreading smiles and sunshine meandering along the Northcote Road, Fred was ready for a bit of drum practice before hitting London’s Jazz Scene

Each November London holds a Jazz Festival right across the city. 

We were off to the 606 Club, what a place – it is like stepping back in time. As you let yourself in through the black metal grill and scaled the steep bare wooden steps down to the tunnel corridor below, you could be entering an illicit 1950’s/60’s crime den, it felt like being in a film.

After a fabulous meal and an evening of virtuoso jazz performances Fred met Trisha Clowes, acclaimed saxophonist, at the bar.I don’t think she had a clue who Fred was but she played along and joined in the fun!

Fred had a great night

 

and as you can see the partying continued as we danced to old 60s and 70s cool and groovy hits playing on the Juke Box.

 

 

Fred was a bit the worse for wear the next morning

But after a couple of Paracetemol he was ready to go to Covent Garden where they seem to be taking inspiration from the Tate Modern and suspending large shiny spheres overhead

and then time for a walk in the park before meeting up with friends for tea

more of Fred’s deliciously arty tea on another Silly Saturday …….

Are you doing anything silly this weekend?