I have to admit to the fact that January is not exactly my favourite month….
After weeks of over excited preparation and planning for Christmas – covering precise details from everything to how the decorations will look, and carefully co-ordinating the wrapping paper so that it looks beautiful under the tree, to the most giddy project of all – deciding how the Christmas lunch table should be presented…. (Including making sure that the turkey has an all over tan, is dressed beautifully, and complete with enviable, albeit edible, accessories – I used to work at a fashion magazine – I look at everything in this way!) All of which brings with it such a euphoric sense of urgency and purpose, that when the season has passed, I’m often left longing for another event or sense of occasion to plan for.
And so…Bring on the post Christmas Great British Sunday lunch!
Now, call me obsessed, but apart from the fact that I absolutely love a delicious and traditional Sunday roast – be it chicken, beef, pork or lamb – I’m not picky – I also love the whole pomp and ceremony surrounding setting the table for this very British of Sunday traditions…
I love knowing that the children see it as more than a grab and run meal…after all, who can grab and run with three courses, unless of course the plan is to run to the nearest sofa for a snooze…
…The weather may be miserable and freezing cold outside, and the sun hardly hits the sky before it starts to set again, but whilst everyone feels the need to snuggle up and make the most of staying indoors, these slow and leisurely Sunday lunches will be celebrated and enjoyed with friends and family at the end of each Wintery week.
We’ll sit at the less formal family room table (where we can seat more people) and we’ll chatter away, have a laugh, and tell bad jokes, and basically, catch up with each others lives in a way that doesn’t often happen during the rather more hectic mid week…
The New Year is also an opportunity to use my cheerful and colourful china from places such as Susie Watson and Emma Bridgewater. Less grand than my formal settings at Christmas, in pretty, fresh, pastel shades that hint at the promise of Spring…
Of course in my opinion, no table is complete without candles being included somewhere – regardless of the time of day. Hence, I am a serial candlestick buyer, and this time I used my clear glass column ones, which apart from looking elegant, also give the illusion of semi transparency, so that we don’t feel the need to dip, dive or look around them in order to speak to each all of the time…
I also love to add some flowers or greenery as a centrepiece if possible…
…And although, these will usually leave the table when the hot dishes are placed down, it still makes everyone happy to see the dressed table before being seated and while we’re enjoying our pre-lunch drinks and nibbles…
These images were taken just before we sat down to eat…I’m afraid that once the food appears, my stomach takes over and the camera gets put down in favour of wielding a knife and fork.
And for those of you who might be wondering, roast beef was the order of the day – dressed in a seductively flavoursome gravy and accessorised by some frivolously puffy yorkshire puddings!
Until Next Time…
Thanks to www.arhaus.com for inviting me to show a post Christmas tablescape. This is NOT a sponsored post.
