The Gift

When my 21st birthday was approaching, many years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, my husband wanted to buy me a gift that I could keep for always.

I wasn't bothered about jewellery, I had a bright, shiny new wedding ring, which
 represented all the happiness in my heart.

After some thought and a little shopping, I decided I would like a Royal Doulton bone china cup and saucer, to start a tea set that could grow over the years.  The design I chose was called 'Flirtation', and it was commissioned in 1976.  My lovely husband bought me TWO cups and saucers, which I loved.

For every birthday and Christmas after that year, for several years, family members always knew what I wanted, another addition to my tea set.  By 1988, I had eight cups, saucers and tea-plates, a large sandwich plate and a milk jug.

By this time, we were living in Paris.  The tea set had been lovingly wrapped in tissue paper and was residing in a friend's attic, awaiting a future time when it would be used.  However, I wanted to complete the set

I really wanted the sweet little lidded sugar bowl to complete my tea set!  It wasn't available in Paris, so when my birthday approached, my husband rang family in England and asked them to buy the sugar bowl and keep it for me.

It was quite a while before we were back in the UK again and I was able to enjoy my gift.  As I unwrapped it with trembling fingers, my heart took a deep lurch - this was NOT what I had asked for. 

Instead of getting the sugar bowl, somewhere along the line the wires had got crossed, and I ended up with another milk jug  :(

By the time we were living back in the UK for good, we had two lively children, with no respect for fine china!  So the uncompleted tea set was placed in a cupboard and hardly ever used, only on high days and holidays.  Whenever I brought it out, I always explained to friends why we had the two jugs, and I had a story to tell at my husband's expense!

We have contacted several china search companies over the years, but they seemed very expensive.  But THIS YEAR, thanks to the wonders of eBay, my wonderful husband has finally, 23 years after buying that second jug, managed to track down my long-awaited sugar bowl, and I love it!  Here is the full tea-set, still with two jugs!

And for pure eye candy, here is a delicious close up of my new sugar bowl...

Do you think it was worth waiting 23 years for?  I do, and I love it.  Also, those children - and the third one who followed later! - are all grown up now, so I can get the tea set out and use it as often as I like, and I fully intend to!

My husband is happy, because I can't use this story against him any more, in fact he comes out of this story very well, doesn't he?!

Thank you for rising to my challenge, and thank you for all your kind comments.  I hope my story was worth the wait. 

Brenda has a lot more lovely china eye candy here.

Today I am savouring the last few hours with youngest son before he goes back to university, so we will be out and about, just enjoying each other's company, as well as making sure all his clothes etc. are packed.  I'm ironing his clothes the best I can, knowing they will probably not see an iron again until the next time he comes home!

Enjoy your day, and enjoy the company of any family and friends you have the privilege of spending time with today.