A friend gave me this cup to me last Saturday. It is to go in my new china cabinet, which the same friend introduced me to, you might say. This friend and I have known each other for a few years but we keep finding new common interests we can delight in or participate in as “partners in crime”.

A month ago my parents returned to Australia after a wonderful two month stay. As a diversion the day they left, my friend invited me to accompany her to a house which had recently been vacated. The owners wanted to sell anything that was still there. I was after furniture for my living room, which has been a furniture free zone for six years. (except when two Lazy Boy recliners visited for a couple of months..). My friend was after china, linens and vintage Christmas tree ornaments. I spied a sideboard and a couple of other pieces I thought might work. She found some beautiful china, and as I looked over her shoulder I commented on the lovely little black cup, thinking that it was unusual to see black in a delicate piece of china. I was not after china, as I have inherited some from both my grandmothers. We made our mental lists and left to talk to our husbands about how and when to pick up our finds.

When we did go back the sideboard was even nicer than I had remembered and while watching my friend carefully chose her cups and saucers I looked at the cabinet they were sitting in. It would be perfect, only one place for it, it was the same colour as the sideboard, could I have it? Yes. How had I missed it last time? I was quite excited and my friend was just as excited as I was. My living room would be devoid of furniture no longer.

So as I wait for the cabinet to be put in its place and made level I am so grateful for my friend who wished to cheer me up, encouraged me to buy the pieces I’d become smitten with and then rejoiced with me over the thought of filling them and using them in my home.