Afternoon Tea

A Scandalously Lovely Afternoon Tea

It was an afternoon to remember when ten former WI ladies gathered for tea at the home of Betty Minns--a vital young lady of just 90 years. As always, Betty welcomed us with grace, humour, and a twinkle in her eye.

No alcohol was involved (though you'd never guess from the volume of laughter), but the conversation flowed freely. It all began innocently enough when one lady mentioned her "tubes." Ears pricked up around the room until she clarified she meant her ear drums. Cue mild disappointment.

Next, a rather poignant, though unintentionally funny, update: one dear husband--currently living with dementia--now believes he has three wives. "To date," his wife added wryly, which left us wondering whether a fourth might be in the pipeline?

From there, we launched into a passionate debate on the increasing difficulty of doing up bras--a topic that united us all. No men were present but I guess they can't be ruled out nowadays! But the show was well and truly stolen by myself and another attendee, singing the praises of the modern miracle: the step-into, pull-up bra. This revelation prompted one curious soul to ask, "Can you pull them over your head?" There was a moment's silence as the implications sank in. Let's just say the mind truly boggles.

Before long, a small show-and-tell session took place, during which one lady's pristine white bra was revealed--prompting immediate envy, especially from those of us whose undergarments had faded into what could only be described as "vintage grey."

Talk turned to memories of Audlem, where several of our number were born and bred. Village tales were told--none of which can be published here for legal reasons, or at the very least, to avoid stern glances in the Co-op.

After a delicious tea prepared by the wonderful team at The Tearoom at No. 11, our hostess Betty made one last surprise appearance. She re-entered the room proudly carrying a basket of her home-grown cucumbers, innocently asking:

"Now then, who would prefer a large one--or a small one?"

What followed has been deliberately omitted, to protect reputations (ours and yours).

Suffice to say, a splendid time was had by all. Laughter was shared, stories were told, and once again, we were reminded of the joy found in good company, a safe space--and just the right dash of mischief.