BY INVITATION ..... UNITY ..........

This month, our By Invitation subject is Unity .....

For me, the first thought that came to mind was unifying around the table .....

I am lucky that our children and grandchildren live close enough for regular gatherings and, even though other members of my family are a little further afield, we do meet up and food is a major part of the proceedings !

Sitting around the table with the people you love the most has many physical and emotional benefits and, the added bonus is that it involves delicious food and drink !!

Unity around the table brings all ages together where we can share our news and emotions, catch up, relieve stress and keep our friendships strong. 

Sharing a meal is universal, allowing us to discuss how our day has been, sharing a bit of gossip over pasta and a glass of wine with friends ..... to break bread suggests communication and dialogue.

I admit that I am guilty of being lazy and not inviting our friends over enough so, let 2018 be the year of more dinner parties, get togethers and lunches with friends and family and to unite more with those closest to us.

Unity chez moi !!!

For more on our By Invitation January theme on Unity, pop over to Wolfie's blog Daily Plate of Crazy 

XXXX

image 1: via gottman, image 2: via jillcookshere, image 3: via bread and olives

BY INVITATION ...... THE FANTASY HOLIDAY COCKTAIL or DINNER PARTY ..........

Our By Invitation subject this month is The Fantasy Holiday Cocktail or Dinner Party  ... just right for this festive time of year .....

Our delightful hosts are waiting to greet you .....

... and to welcome you to their humble abode ... please make your way round to the rear of the house ...

... where you will see that the family have gone to great lengths to decorate with a delightful Christmas wreath.

As you enter the cosy hall ...

you will be greeted by the magnificent Christmas tree ...

... please make your way up to ...

... the welcoming salon ...

... where you will be able to partake in a variety of cocktails ...

... there will be dancing in the ballroom ...

... and drinks and canapes. 

... should you partake in one or two drinks too many, there are bedrooms available where you can sleep it off ! 

... and a luxurious bathroom where you can freshen up. As you can see, there is a bottle of wine provided for your refreshment whilst you are powdering your noses !!

All of your favourite, fun-loving friends will be here to make this party a night to remember, AND ...

... there will be a special gift for each and every one of you, expertly wrapped, no expense spared !!

Finally, here is a sneak preview of my outfit for the evening. Stunning, isn't it ?

I shall feel like a Christmas snowball ! 

Your outfit shall never reach the dizzy heights of fashion perfection that mine will but, try your hardest !!!

For more exciting and entertaining Cocktail Party fun, please visit Daily Plate of Crazy where you will find all of the links to the other Cocktail Parties { none of which will be anywhere near as sophisticated and classy as mine !!! } Hahahaha !!!

XXXX

image 1: via borene, image 2: via jessica jewett, images 3, 10 & 11: via pinterest, images 4, 7, 12 & 13: via niki feijen, image 5: via huffington post, image 6: via informative pictures, image 8: via xaxor, image 9: via the gifts of love, image 14: via the telegraph, image 15: via city limit, image 16: via testa motor club, image 17: via wedding services

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BY INVITATION ..... CONNECTIONS ........

Our By Invitation subject this month is ' Connections ". The subject stumped me a bit for a while .....

But then I thought of the connections we make with people  that we come across throughout our life. Blindingly obvious, I know, but something we all do in various ways. What makes us connect to some and not others ? Obviously to have things in common, but, for me, a sense of humour is paramount. When I was 11, I started Senior School and met Lesley. We were in the same class .....

Here we are, aged about 15, on holiday in Cornwall ..... I remember one evening, we went out and met some guys, got in their car { yes, got in their car !!! } only to be turfed out in the middle of nowhere !!! Where was Ross Poldark when we needed him ?!!

We are about 16 here ..... we were always going in the photo booth ..... no mobile phones to do selfies then !!! Before mobile phones and the art of texting, Lesley and I had been known to talk on the phone for six hours !!!!! Yes, six hours ..... we could have flown to New York in that time !!! Texting has really saved us a lot of money on our phone bills !!

..... and, here we are last weekend, 55 years later, on a weekend trip to London at the Charles Dickens Museum ...... you could dress up like Victorians so Lesley wore the bonnet and I look pretty silly in a chimney sweeps cap and Victorian glasses. I look more like Bob Dylan or John Lennon than a Victorian chimney sweep !!!

..... mind you, not a lot has changed ..... me around 1966 !!!

Our connection has lasted for 55 years ..... we have laughed our way through those 55 years and, hopefully, we will share much more laughter together for many more years to come. 

What makes you connect with people ? Do you have a long term connection with anyone ? Have you made a connection with many bloggers ?

Pop over to Daily Plate of Crazy to see what others have written about ' Connections "

all images via me

By Invitation Only is back on Monday. Old readers of my blog { if there are any left !!! } will remember it well.

For those who haven't a clue what I'm talking about, By Invitation was a group of women from around the world who wrote on a given subject once a month. 

Our subject on Monday is Halloween or Welcoming the Autumn season  ... I suspect I shall be frivolous !!!

See you on Monday.

XXXX

BY INVITATION ..... GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER !! ..........

Our By Invitation subject is that old chestnut ' The Fantasy Dinner Party ' !!

I think that I've done this about three times now but, onwards and upwards ..... here's my fourth go at it !!!

Ten people, living or dead, fictional or not, but not Jesus or family !!!!

She's coming ..... she seems to know where to get the good drinks .....

We will need music .....

Marilyn is an obvious choice but, I would really like to know what happened to her ...... was it suicide or what ?

I don't know who she is but she seems like fun .....

Self explanatory !!!!! .....

She's definitely not coming !!!!! .....

He can bring the flowers .....

Pete and Dud can come ..... laughter is the most important 

ingredient of a dinner party .....

My husband's family tree has been traced back to Simon de Montford so, I'd like him to be there ..... Simon is the one on the right and that's a 30 ' ish ' year old photograph of Mr. Home on the left ..... can you see the similarities ?

..... and finally, Marie ..... she can bring the cake !!!!

Who would you have as dinner party guests ?  ..... any new, original ideas ?

To see who others in our group would invite, go over to Marsha's where she has all of the links.

image 1: via gilmore guide to books, image 2: via tylr powesey, image 3: via design scene/pinterest/flckrhivemind, image 4: via make me stfu, image 5: via la bonne vie, image 6: via happy ramping dance, image 7: via Facebook, image 8: via umla, image 9: via north magnetic pole, image 10: via google, image 11: collage by me, image 12: via margadirube