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VE Day Celebrations across the country will no doubt be very different to what was anticipated earlier this year, I for one should have been working – decorating a marquee for a client’s big birthday party on Saturday but sadly all that has changed.
However, we must put all that aside, it is forecast to be a beautiful day so let’s have some fun!
If you have the room, set up your VE Day Tea Party in your front garden so you can celebrate with your neighbours and feel part of the community, so important right now!
Decorations – Table Styling
As you have probably guessed by now, my big love when planning an event is the decoration; here is how I created a very simple VE Day theme for a Tea Party in the garden.
2 wooden pallets (left over from a recent compost delivery), place one on top of the other, certainly not essential you could set everything up on a table or lay out a blanket on the grass.
White Tablecloth
Blue Table Runner – again you could improvise here if you don’t have a table runner; a couple of pretty tea towels folded lengthways or maybe a scarf?
Flowers (red/white/blue) – I picked some flowers from the garden and some cow parsley from the hedgerow, you don’t need many to look effective just 2 or 3 stems in a selection of bud vases or old jam jars ideally of different heights (I used iris, bluebells, tulips, forget-me-nots, cow parsley).
Download Union Jack Flags to colour-in (I love a bit of colouring in!) I printed off two different sizes, a smaller one for the napkins rings and larger for the banner.
Napkin rings – simple cut out the Union Jack Flags and stick them onto luggage labels, I finished them off with some red & white string.
Banner – again cut out larger Union Jack Flags and fold the tab over whatever string you have handy, glue into place. I tied the ends of the string to wooden skewers (normally used for kebabs) and then popped the skewers into a couple of the flower vases to hold up the banner.
Food
What a perfect excuse to eat lots of cake, my choice would be go traditional; Victoria Sponge, Scones with Cream & Jam (has to be jam on first!), Jelly / Trifle, Strawberries and Sandwiches.
If you feel like doing a bit of cooking with the kids, check out @daylesfordfarm on Instagram they have a lovely “Children’s Cook Along” video showing you how to make Jammy Dodgers on IGTV.
Drinks
Why not raise a glass alongside your cuppa. If we are keeping it traditional Pimms would be an obvious suggestion, how about a glass of Rosé, or go all out and crack open a bottle of fizzy stuff. If you fancy something pink check out my Rhubarb Cordial recipe in my “Friday Night In” blog – perfect to add to a glass of fizz!
Games
Why not turn the clock back and teach the kids a few “olden day” games, I’ve done a bit of research to find a few that were popular in the 1940’s / 50’s;
Hopscotch – you must know this one, all you need is some chalk and a stone
Hide & Seek
Statues
French Skipping (a bit later, probably from the 1960’s, but if you have some elastic, something fun to teach the kids)
Jump Rope – various rhymes to sing with added actions, does anyone remember; (or am I just showing my age?)
“Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, show your shoe, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do! Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the lights, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say goodnight!”
Music
Don’t forget some authentic music; Vera Lynn / Glen Miller / Doris Day – choose a playlist to get the party going, search “VE Day Celebration” on Spotify for a good selection.
At 9pm the Nation will join together to sing Dame Vera Lynn’s “We’ll Meet Again”– what could be more appropriate right now!
Have a lovely day & Stay Safe x