New China

Oh yes, we don't just splurge on new roofs, we buy china too. Here's the latest purchase.

This is Royal Doulton china in the pattern Rosedale. When my parents got married they were given a tea set in this pattern ( six cups and saucers, six tea plates, milk jug, sugar bowl and bread and butter plate) along with the stern admonition that it was for 'better days than Sundays'. Partly as a result of that I grew up with the tea set kept in the cupboard and very rarely seeing the light of day.

I loved it, all my life. It's a funny thing because if I came to it now, cold, I probably wouldn't even like it, but I am so used to the habit of loving it that I have never shaken it off. It was always understood that it would come to me eventually, and became a bit of a family joke. In latter years my parents used it more than they had earlier, and I'll never forget the day  we went to see my parents and my Dad told me he had dropped and broken one of the tea plates. he hadn't, but apparently my face was a picture. I'm a bit sorry about that because I don't like to think that I am attached to particular material things in a big way, but there again, this is as much about my family, my home and my childhood as it is about the actual china.

 

The OH has an alert for if any of it ever comes up on e-bay, not that it does very often, but this popped up recently. Three coffee cups, six saucers and a 'coffee service' type milk jug. It was a tenner plus carriage and an absolute bargain.

Of course we may never find another three coffee cups for the extra saucers, and I had a bit of trouble finding space in the kitchen cupboards for them. But I don't care. I love them regardless. And if any of you out there ever spot any at auction or in a local shop, please let me know!