The beautiful china side plate is trying to tempt me.

 It was a present long ago, the beautiful bone china plate. The pattern is called Haddon Hall and it is made by Minton. Could there be a prettier plate, a prettier pattern? - I doubt it.

 

I took it from the cupboard some weeks ago, thinking to have its beauty out and about and not hiding in a cupboard, thinking to sweeten the days with its flower heads and leaves and curly whirly stems and sober elegant green rim trapped in Merry-Go-Round under the smooth, tactile glaze. - But it is taking revenge for its long imprisonment.

 

Whenever it catches my eye it sends its message: "I suggest - nay - I demand a scone or two! Some jam, milady! Some clotted cream! A pretty butter knife! - A Haddon Hall plate needs to be fed and cosseted."

 

Poor plate! I am resisting your blandishments...