So, I turn the big 3 0 tomorrow, I am actually feeling ok about it; surprisingly, but I wanted to make my birthday month really special, to mark the occasion.
To kick things off in style Tan suggested going to Sketch for Afternoon tea, this is something we had wanted to do for a while but just never got around to it, but the lure of its glorious pink dining room was calling for us. I suggested to make a proper day of it and go see a show afterwards. Secretly I really wanted to see Aladdin, but didn't want to open with this as I wasn't sure it was Tan's thing, so suggested Kinky Boots, but when I did suggest Aladdin Tan was just as excited as me. The perfect day out was organised.
Now onto the important decision, what to wear. It had to be something that would work in the amazing setting of Sketch but would also not be too warm. I bought this Pin Up Girl Birdie dress off Nancy (well I almost bit her hand off when she posted it) as I love the Birdie dress and this colour way is one of my favourites (now to get my hands on the other colour ways). I think the outfit was a success as all day people stopped us for pictures, I almost felt famous.
We had some time before our afternoon tea so went to Blackout2, a vintage shop in Covent Garden, the Logo store (yes, we are big kids and had an amazing time cooing at all the amazing master pieces they had built in the store and getting our pictures with them) and Carnaby street where we looked in Irregular choice, Urban Decay and MAC.
Then we arrived at Sketch, as you enter the building you are greeted by hopscotch on the floor, quirky art and peculiar sculptures. It is a bit like falling down the rabbit hole.
Every room seems to have a theme and we walked through an amazing forest room through the double doors into the pink room....and just WOW.
Pink velvet chairs, art deco accessories, cartoon sketches on every wall and people walking around in some interesting outfits.
And that was just the start of the amazing experience! Our Cork Popper came and explained the Tea Master would be over shortly. I don't drink tea, so went for a fruit tea that was delightful and I finished my whole tea pot. I also don't drink, so went for a Rose grape juice. The pouring of this was an art form in itself.
The first course was brought by the man in grey, and it wasn't your normal egg and soldiers, it was the most delicious egg and soldiers I've ever had. It was filled with a Comté cheese mornay and a quail egg yolk and I could have just eaten this all day.
Soon a man in a pink suit and white trilby arrived carrying a large silver dish filled with caviar, he introduced himself as Matt the Caviar man and proceeded to tell us all about the caviar itself. I passed on this, but Tan's face was priceless.
Next a lady in dots brought over a tower of sandwiches, pastries and mini desserts. I got the vegetarian option, which was totally different to Tan's, so it was nice to try bits of each other's and everything was amazing, the sandwiches even had little flowers made out of cress on them!
Next the scones arrived, still warm. Raspberry and fig jam was on offer with a sizable pit of clotted cream. This was heaven.
We decided at this point we needed a breather and went to visit a room almost as famous as the pink room, the bathrooms, with their little egg pods and glass square ceiling, it was most certainly the most unique bathroom I have ever been to.
Just when I thought I couldn't eat anymore, the cake trolley arrived offering Victoria Sponge and a Fudge Banana Loaf, we got one of each and tried really hard to finish, but were defeated.
It really was like entering a different world, you are treated like royalty and the food is wonderful. Yes, it is pricey, but for a special occasion totally worth it.
We headed over to the theatre and got a drink on the balcony overlooking the street below and just took it all in before taking our seats and enjoying the show. The genie is just fantastic and you will be singing along and dancing in your seat within minutes.
We ended the day walking to Leicester square to get Cinnabon's (I love those things) and heading home (it was while on the train I heard about the awful attack that took place on London Bridge). The first birthday outing completed....Rome and Disneyland Paris awaited.