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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Christmas Ladies Tea

At last Monday dawned, quite cloudy but with the sun rising through the clouds to the east of our garden. I was up at 4.30 am and preparing the final snacks. When Grant woke at six, he assured me that it would be sunny by 9.30 when my party started. Michael arrived at 6.30, looked at the sky, and  showed thumbs-up, saying "Bibi, jua nakuja leo/the sun is coming today."
The pups were enjoying the sunshine as well

No sooner had Michael and I started to carry out tables, lay the clothes and set out the chairs, than the pups tried to join in. Many a tug-of-war while I rescued my Tanzanian Christmas tablecloths

While Mary filled and boiled two kettles (I borrowed Johan's from his cottage next door), Regina, Michael and I set out the two tea-sets, cake plates, coffee, tea and sugar on one table. I brought out the eats and arranged them on the next table. 

At 9.30 Michael opened the gate and in came Louise, with her 80-year-old mother-in-law, Joey who's visiting here; Louise' daughter, Henricke who's also visiting; and young Wessie, our child on camp. Jo-Anne, also came with Louise.

Shortly after Nsia, Amanda and Debbie arrived. Then Carolyn, in whose honor I held this tea, arrived from the Guest House. Next my neighbor, Rhoda, a sister at the hospital arrived from just down the road. Then Linda drove in. Finally Margaret, headmistress of Mwadui Primary School and Gertrude, proprietress of a large store here in town, drove into the yard. 

From left: Sr Rhoda, Carolyn, Debbie, Amanda, Henricke, Jo-Anne, Nsia, Wessie, Louise and Joey
Linda third from left arrived shortly after the first guests

Stunning weather for a garden tea
Gertrude at the end of the row and others watch as Debbie describes something
Joey asked her granddaughter, Henricke to take a photo of her with me! 
The ladies help themselves 
Joey helps herself to cake. Some readers may remember my tea-set from when I had Linda's birthday party here at my home in September

The weather warmed up so considerably that the ladies moved around following the shade! They sat and chatted, later enjoying bottled water which I had on offer. 
I filled my basket with my wrapped gifts and handed them out

At 11.40,  Louise was the first to take her leave. She asked me to bring my camera as "granny Joey" had decided to go home with Wessie on the Quad Bike. 
Louise helps Joey onto the bike while Michael waits to open the gate
Then Wessie announced that he'd flooded the engine and would have to come back in an hour to collect the Quad. No problem to Louise and Henricke: they offered to push the quad around my large garden until the engine "took" and sputtered into life
Louise and Henricke's perseverance paid off; the engine spluttered once, fired and Wessie and Gran Joey was off through the gate and up the street. Great laughter followed! 

Believe it or not, just after lunch I walked outside and the weather had closed in completely. I just had to take a photo to show how blessed I was to have such beautiful weather while my ladies tea was on the go. 
Can you believe the difference? Was we blessed that morning or what?


I'm linking my post to Our World Tuesday which you can visit here









10 comments:

  1. Hello, Hope you are having a wonderful December and will have a blessed Christmas… This is such a joyful time of year for so many—but it’s also the time when others experience a deep loneliness, and struggle during the holidays for many reasons. SO—today I ask you to stop what you are doing for a few minutes and say a prayer for someone you know who might be experiencing a hard time now… OR—better still, send them a card or give them a call. It will mean the world to them.

    Looks like a wonderful tea --and the weather was PERFECT... You have a beautiful setting for a group like that...

    Merry Christmas to you and yours.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. you had a perfect, bright day! glad all had a good time, too. :)

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  3. Wonderful tea party too and how absolutely wonderful that the weather was perfect while you had your party. I love seeing Joey on the quad and the ladies pushing it to get it going. I remember my first time in Kenya riding in a vehicle that got stuck in the mud. When I offered to help push the gentlemen were all aghast. They protested but I insisted. I was wearing white capris at the time. I got splattered full of mud (and didn't have an extra change of clothing for the long day ahead).. LOL. Everywhere I visited that day, the ladies were so concerned. It made a good story. Have a wonderful rest of your week dearest Jo. xx

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  4. Looks as though you all had a great time. Lovely photos...

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  5. gosh you did have quite a gathering there, always good to catch up with friends :-)

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  6. The weather cooperated just perfectly for your tea.

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  7. A party at 9.30 in the morning ? That would be impossible here ! But of course you have to adapt you to the climate ! That's crazy that you feared bad weather ! I am used to it, but not you ! Apparently your party was a full success !

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  8. Weather timing was perfect. Now that looks like a great party and I am sure the ladies all enjoyed it. I wouldn't mind a go on the quad bike myself. Looks like fun. The post you put on a few minutes ago is not there.

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  9. The tables look laden with food. What a treat to get together and enjoy good food and company. Happy Christmas.

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  10. I'm very pleased to uncover this website. I wanted to thank you for your time for this wonderful read!!
    I definitely really liked every bit of it and I have you bookmarked to see new things on your blog.

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Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate your feedback. Jo