Afternoon Tea Demonstration at Lytham Hall

This was a superb event booked in it's entirety by the lovely ladies of "Arnold School Ladies Luncheon Club" many, many months ago.

At the time of booking none of us knew that it would fall on such an important day in England's bid to win the World Cup.

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But as many of you wonderful blog readers and afternoon tea attenders will know we usually have a spectacular team of highly trained, super talented, Chefs, Entertainers & Photographers namely; Paul Rowley, Howard Wing & Jonny Draper amongst our number, amazingly for a Wednesday afternoon they all had last minute wedding bookings to attend to, I was assured on all three counts that it had nothing what so ever to do with the football!

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But every fairy story has to have it's "Villains" (Aformentioned) and its "Heroes" now my wonderful and completely brilliant heroes of the day were Jason & Ben, these two are always totally reliable, they have never ever let me down and moreover they always exceed my expectations, and they were both prepared to miss the England match for the greater good of Arnold School Ladies Luncheon, and for that I am immensley grateful! However I'm not completely convinced by their efforts at singing! I'd also like to mention how wonderful it was of Chris Astbury from the Astbury Studio in Poulton to send a representative!

Ben just before he burst into song and the lovely Lisa Drazen & I

One of my all time favourite ladies Tricia Allen The event was a total sell out and as you can see the tables were dressed with Red & White football shaped posies and the most incredible "Barber Shop" Style "a la Ben" napkins in support of our English Football Team

So many gorgeous ladies, so much Champagne and a plethora of fabulous fresh flowers

The gorgeous Joan StottSpectacular Heliconias and luscious English Garden Flowers

So my very first design, a delicious confection in lemon and ivory of Hydrangeas, English Garden Roses, Dill, Phlox, Astilbe, Honesty, Hosta, Peonies and Aconitum.

And just how gorgeous are these lovely lemon Peonies

The menu looked fabulous

Red Heliconia

The savouries were delicious

Then onto an Orchid fountain

I'd used Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium and Vanda Orchids

Then Aqua Roses and Antirhinnums in a Martini Vase Alliums & Venus Fly Traps

The delicious cakes and pastries were served by the equally lovely Jonny

The finale completed to coincide with England's Goal!

This is my brand new friend Kitty Astbury the very glamarous mum of photographer Chris Astbury

This lovely lady won the moss football boots and floral football

Mrs Benson

The flowers were all raffled complete with their containers with all proceeds being split between Trinity Hospice and Elizabeth Gomm's "Happy House" Charity.

Elaine Matthews

Sue Jukhoop

Lisa Drazen

All too soon it was all over and it was time to say goodbye

I love ladies carrying bouquets of flowers

Until next time my friends!

Another look at the glorious lemon Peony

Isn't she beautiful!

Many thanks to Ben Glover, Lucy, George, Jonny & Deck for not watching football and doing a magnificent job of our afternoon tea!