Last week was Afternoon Tea week. Pretty badly timed really, as today marks 2 years since my Mum passed away. She will always be known as The Greatest afternoon tea fan.
So I am renaming today ‘Afternoon Tea for Mum day’.
Afternoon Tea
There is something really special about an afternoon tea. Miniature cakes, crust-less sandwiches, warm scones and bottom-less tea?? YES PLEASE!
It is a lovely way to spend an afternoon with someone who maybe you don’t get to spend a lot of one on one time with. Although I saw Mum all the time, it was rare for us to be child or husband free.
It quickly became a Mother’s day gift to each other. OK so sometimes it would take months to actually use the gift voucher but that just made it all the more special.
The Greatest afternoon tea fan
How did my Mum gain this title? Well all you have to do is scroll through her facebook to see why!
Not only was my Mum the BEST cake maker in the world, she was also blooming amazing host. She knew how to throw a party and her delightful food was always the highlight!
Not only did she know how to throw a party she was also a connoisseur of the Afternoon tea.
For the last 10 years of her life, she had tried many many places. Both locally and further afield. It became the focus of their weekends away.
Mum would scour the internet for great places to have Afternoon tea. She’d somehow always find one that was in a hotel, so why not book a cheeky long weekend?
I loved her little Facebook updates and pictures of my Dad enjoying his afternoon tea. Sadly he didn’t take control of the camera a little more which means that there are very few pictures of her enjoying it.
Palmer Garden Centre Dad enjoying his tea Harrogate
I often tried to convince her to start a blog reviewing them but she sadly didn’t take up my offer of help.
My cherished memories
Some of my fondest memories are of the time we spent together as adults. Of course my childhood and her parenting have made me the person I am today. But this time spent together where it was based on friendship is so important to me.
It feels cliche to say this but she truly was my best friend. It is one of the things I miss most. Of course I have my best friends but the connection between Mum and daughter is like nothing else.
Warwick Birmingham Brandon Hall
When we were out enjoying afternoon tea, we could talk in a way that you can’t always talk in front of small ears. I loved hearing about her work, her latest projects or their holiday plans.
It was a time when I could share about the trials and tribulations of being a single parent, dating and life in general.
It felt like the world around us stopped for those few hours. Talking, drinking tea, eating cake and laughing like school girls. Even in amongst the sadness I feel right now, I can’t help but smile at all the memories made together over cake.
Celebrating Mum
Since Mum passed away, we have marked her birthday and anniversary with afternoon tea. It seemed like the most fitting tribute for her.
Last year for her birthday, we held a charity afternoon tea for all her friends and family. We had a monster tea and raised £350 for the hospice that cared for Mum by doing a raffle.
It was a really special day and I hope that Mum would have been proud of our efforts.
On the first anniversary, we marked the day by going to her favourite venue for afternoon tea. The day, even now I look back, was an odd one but it some how makes me feel close to her. Knowing that she would be in her element if she was with us.
For her birthday this year, we ordered in cake. CAKE DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR! Amazing! Her favourite sandwich fillings and delicious cake, she’d of loved celebrating her birthday like that.
Today
Gosh this year has been tough! As the day got closer and closer I found I was struggling more and more. I think I foolishly thought the second year would be easier but it just becomes more and more surreal.
I find myself wondering how on earth it can be 2 years since I lost saw her. Since I last held her hand, since I said goodbye.
Not entirely sure how I will make it through the day, but I will raise a cup of tea and a slice of cake to my dear Mum. We will no doubt reminisce about all the tea’s that came before, talk about her smile and all the reasons that we love her and miss her.
Tea is coming from a local Rugby business this year, The two of us. When a leaflet dropped through Dad’s letterbox last week, we took it as a sign and got ordering.
Queen of Tea
And that is why my Mum was The Greatest afternoon tea fan. She will always be the reason I enjoy them now. It will forever be ‘our thing’ even if she isn’t here to share it with me.
She is in my heart with every cup of tea I drink, every slice of cake and of course every scone I smother in jam! Life will never quite be the same again but it’s the memories that we have together which means she is never far from my mind.
Do you enjoy afternoon tea? Where would you recommend?
How do you choose to mark a loved one’s passing?
Oh I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like afternoon tea is the only way to celebrate an amazing lady and I am sure she is having afternoon tea with you.
You definitely can’t beat a bit of sandwich and cake, especially if it is delivered to your door! Do you prefer the more traditional afternoon tea, or would you give the quirky ones a go too?
Aimsy xoxo
Awe I am so sorry for your loss. Your mom sounds like such a wonderful person. And she was so talented with all the cakes she made!
This is such a lovely way of celebrating your mums life. Its great that you have so many fond memories that you can look back on.
I’m so sorry for your loss. What a wonderful way to celebrate your mom!
I was so hoping there’d be a snap of you mom enjoying her tea, but I feel like I can picture her anyway. She sounds like a grand woman, and carrying on with afternoon tea is a special way to remember her.
Awh Claire what a lovely post. And afternoon tea is a lovely thing to always remember your mum with. I love an afternoon tea, they can be such great occasions to spend some quality time with loved ones. I took my mum (and dad) out for afternoon tea this Mother’s Day – just before lockdown started actually. It was so empty – we were a bit confused haha! Here’s to your wonderful Mum – I’ll raise a tea cup for her! xxx
I’m so sorry for your loss. I love afternoon teas too. They are a great little treat whether you go to one or have one at home x
I can relate. I lost my mom last year. I miss having a lively conversation with her. We’d talk about the latest soap opera we both watch, or about politics and government, or just about anything. My mom would always have a cup of fresh brewed coffee for me and a slice of cake or a piece of pie. I miss her so much. Hugs to you and to our great moms looking down at us from heaven.
This is a great way of celebrating your mum’s life! I am sure she would have loved this
A fantastic idea to help cope with everything that’s happened, my family loves afternoon teas and it always brings a smile to our faces, especially my girls, great post.
Oh my goodness, what a wonderful way to celebrate your mum – we really love afternoon tea – it’s such a special treat.
Firstly sorry for the loss of your mum, I am sure it is not easy even after 2 years. Secondly she is definitely the Queen of Afternoon Tea. It is so wonderful to see all her photos and great that you celebrate her by eating cakes
I think your mum my mum would have got on well. Mine was also a big afternoon tea fan, and loved all the prep, fuss and making an effort to enjoy it and she loved being taken out for fancy teas and also hosting people. I am sorry your mum isn’t here any more but those photos and memories are lovely. Thank you for sharing
What a fantastic way to honour your mum’s memory. I love afternoon tea but it’s pretty rare in Canada. For my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday in April, we decided the girls would take her to an afternoon tea at an upscale hotel not far from here. Sadly, COVID happened and we didn’t get to go. I hope we can rebook because it would have been such a treat for her (and us).
Sorry for your loss, she sounds like an amazing woman and I love that you mark her birthday and anniversary with afternoon tea. I love my local tearooms in Hertfordshire, The Enchanted Tearooms.
I’m so sorry for your loss. This year must have been especially hard.
Afternoon tea is always a lovely idea isn’t it?
What a lovely post. Sorry for your loss and what a great way to honor her.
Thank you so much x
This is such a lovely post! I’m so sorry for your loss, but the way you mark the anniversaries is brilliant. It’s a great tribute that you can mark the day doing something nice for you that she would have loved too. All of the photos featured look incredible!! x
Sophie
Thank you for sharing, it’s a great idea to have an afternoon tea day to raise money for the hospice that your mum was at.
It sounds like your mum did enjoy an afternoon tea, I should treat mine more 🙂
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
You definitely should, it’s a lovely way to spend time together x
What a lovely post this is Claire, I love how you have these afternoon teas to mark the anniversary. I’m so sorry for the loss of your Mum, I can’t imagine how difficult a time this must be for you and your family x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Thank you so much Lucy. It hit me so hard this year. I just wanted to curl up and hide the following day, honestly broke me x
So sorry to hear about your mother passing, but I love the way that you have celebrated her memory…such a nice thought x