Afternoon tea at Masse's

After her violin lesson, Sophie and I often like to walk down the street to Masse's Pastries for a spot of tea.

We've been stopping in here for years and always enjoy ourselves. When Sophie was younger, they used to serve her hot cocoa in a tiny pitcher and what looked like a doll's tea cup—and at a temperature suitable for children instead of scalding hot. And they thoughtfully included a little saucer of freshly whipped cream. Their pastries look almost too good to eat, but they are every bit as good as they look.

Today we were heartbroken that they had sold out of their heavenly French macarons.

But we rallied and settled for this chocolate raspberry torte. That's it there on the right.


We shared one, along with a pot of peppermint tea.


It was time to celebrate the fact that Sophie had progressed in violin from the Twinkle, Twinkle variations to Lightly Row. And time to just enjoy ourselves.


I hope this lovely place is here when Sophie is a grown lady, guiding me and my walker to a seat for a cuppa.