Saving the best till last

Years ago my sister started a catalogue book, selling stuff to her friends to make a few bob. I ordered a matching tea and dinner service with all the additions, to get her started, place mats, condiment set, large teapot, gravy bowl etc. All very lovely, I had enough crockery to hold a banquet.

It was put away in the cupboard for special occasions, too nice to use every day, I was saving it for best. Every time I moved it was all packed away again, then unpacked in the new house and put away in the new cupboard. There were very few special occasions, I have never been one for entertaining guests.

The crockery I used every day was a mish mash of anything which was given to me, or I picked up cheap at a market. Nothing matched, everything was odd but functional. Did it matter that I ate off a plain white plate which was donkeys years old and passed down from relatives? I got some of my crockery, pots and pans from jumble sales, it was good enough for me, and I kept my posh stuff for best.

I remember we always saved things for best, it was normal, best clothes, best underwear, best tablecloth, best glasses, best shoes. Remember the glass fronted display cabinets we had in the best room, the front parlour which was kept to entertain visitors, with tea from the best china.

When I was younger it was nice to have best things, but now I am older and time is running out, what is the point of saving things for best? Before you know it you find you have loads of things you have never used. When I last moved house, I chucked all my crockery oddments and started using the best stuff. And now my best china has loads of chips and cracks, it is no longer stored in a cupboard, I am using it every day. I am finally getting to use all my best stuff. Have you got something hidden away that you ought to be getting out and using it? What are you waiting for?