Freesias and happiness, cheesy scones and honey baklava …….

After the gnomes had finished singing, they sat quietly waiting for Mrs Partridge to wake up. 'Doesn't she look peaceful' muttered Aunt Mildred loudly to Hortensia 'never have met a human who can stay awake once they hear us sing!' Hortensia smiled and then burst out laughing as Mrs Partridge suddenly woke up, 'I heard that Mildred, I could still hear the lovely singing, I was just shutting my eyes for a minute!'

The gnomes were awestruck at the amazing feast that was laid out on the tea table. 'Such a relief that she hasn't made any more of that jelly' Archibold was very relieved indeed, 'horribly rubbery and very hard on the digestion!' He had never forgotten the jelly that Mrs Partridge had brought to the midsummer revels picnic.

Today however Mrs Partridge had excelled herself. Not only had she prepared Aunt Mildred's special requests, but she had also included some of her own. There in the middle of the bower of freesias was the little dining table that she had taken from the dolls house. She had used one of her best handkerchiefs as a table cloth and an upturned egg cups as a cake stands. 'How about some tea my Dears? I'll be right back'.

Mrs Partridge rushed to the kitchen to make a pot of nettle tea, 'even the smallest pot is still enormous for them - never mind it will have to do!' She placed the tea pot on the tray with a plate of warm mini cheese tarts and tiny scones and rushed back to her guests.

The gnomes were having a wonderful time admiring all the exotic treats on display. A bowl of peanut butter nestled next to a little glass dish full of the most beautiful and shiny ruby red seeds. 'They're pomegranate seeds!' Aunt Mildred was beside herself with excitement, 'it's my menu, what I requested! Look at the honey!' The gnomes fell silent at the sight and smell of the glistening Baklava 'look at the pastry, so fine and delicate', Hortensia had to sit down, 'what kindness, its all so very lovely'.

'Never mind lovely to look at, lets tuck in!' shouted Uncle Humperdinck, very excited indeed. For as long as he could remember he had heard Aunt Mildred describe the wonderful dishes she had read about in Mrs Partridge's cookbooks, and now at last the moment had come to taste some of them. 'Lets start with peanut butter spread on a scone and then some houmous with pomegranate seeds on top!'

Well I am sorry to say that there was rather a lot of enthusiastic tasting and talking with mouths full and all manner of wild gestures about how, ' simple the best, so tasty, perhaps a little more?' from the very happy and excited gnomes. Eventually they began to feel more than usually full and soon found themselves settling into the little chairs and seating areas that Mrs Partridge had made in-between the flowers. 'Stop snoring Dear!' Aunt Mildred shouted into Uncle Humperdinck's ear at close range 'its not polite at a tea party!'

However, gnomes are used to having a restorative nap after a feast and despite their very best intentions, they soon found themselves fast asleep as they breathed in the sweet air of fragrant freesias and honey, baklava, plum cake and cheesy scones.

Mrs Partridge smiled contentedly, 'well what a success! They seemed to have liked everything, perhaps this a moment for me to have a little rest too?' So that was that, Mrs partridge's house was soon filled with the sound of gentle snoring, golden sunlight and happiness - as everyone - human and gnome, enjoyed a little nap!