Date with the Test

This week is all about the ‘Test.’ Noo…not the kids sitting their finals…

The Test cricket match that is! Yes, the event that is played every year between countries of the Commonwealth, each vying for the title of ‘winner’ declared at the end of the five matches (each of five days,) played in various capital cities around the country over Spring and Summer.

And, just an aside, in Australia, summer wouldn’t be summer without the cricket! All of us have grown up with the constant drone of the cricket playing on the telly in the background over Christmas, New Years and beach holidays. Maybe an occasional switch of the channel to watch the beginning of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race – and back if there are spectacular storms that the boats must struggle through – but as a rule, the lucid tones of Richie Benaud (although this legend has sadly, just recently passed away) and the likes of Shane Warne, have always joined us wherever we are during the frivolity of the heady heated months.

So this week Australia is playing South Africa here in Adelaide and AP is almost beside himself with excitement. Who would have ever thought a Yank would get so worked up about a game that when talked about amongst his peers, they often think he is referring to a bug, not a sport. (Absolutely no disrespect to cricket intended; I completely admire the game!)

Anyhoo, having lived in Australia, AP has honoured the national traditional obsession of all things sport (especially the institution of this historic game) and is now a ‘cricket tragic’ with a man-crush on the only sporting event (I believe) in the world that actually pauses to take tea! I know…How deliciously civilised But, wait, there’s more…Not just once, but twice! Morning tea and Afternoon tea! Complete with cucumber sandwiches sans crusts! (Mmm, don’t actually know about that one but I’d like to think that is how elegant it is for the players when they retire from the field for those few minutes of refreshment Does anyone know what is on the menu??? Anyone???…)

But it is not just at the oval that celebrations are taking place, there are gatherings all over town to be had and I wanted to share some of the brilliant tablescapes in keeping with the theme…