Charity shop triumph

Last week I went out on the hunt for nice tableware. I think afternoon tea deserves better than Ikea - I have nothing against mass-produced crockery, but there's a time and a place and this is not it.

So I headed out to my local town centre which, as it happens, is chock full of charity shops and, keeping my expectations fairly low, I had a bit of a mooch. I'm not a seasoned charity shop shopper but I knew I was on the look-out for the kind of stuff that you either can't buy new anymore, or it costs a fortune.

£30 later and I had the kind of haul I could only have dreamt of when I left home. I realise this stuff isn't to everyone's taste, but I like it!

Imagine the blue vase full of summer flowers - pink roses, purple freesias, lime green lady's mantle - and there's great centrepiece!

I think my favourite item is the bowl which would work equally well with roses floating in it or full of pastel-coloured macaroons (not that I've made macaroons before - clearly now is the time to learn!).

So now I just need to host an afternoon tea!