an etiquette question for the Australians

Please only answer if you're Australian - thanks.


I'm suppposed to go to an afternoon tea tomorrow. High CofE - lots of lovely and gracious older ladies. Bring a plate. I'm fond of the ladies and don't want them to be upset with me or offended by a breach of etiquette, *but*


I don't even have energy to cook for myself at the moment, let alone bake a plate of something for an afternoon tea.


Do you think it would be really, really awful if I just turned up with a plate of Tim Tams or bought lamingtons? After all, it's me being there that's most important, not the plate of food, right?

My concern is that if I turn up with a plate of bought stuff, people will ask why, and some of the people who will be at this gathering have made a hobby this year of denigrating my illness and constantly telling me that I'm not doing enough / trying hard enough / have a bad attitude. I worry that if I say I've been too sick & tired to bake anything, they'll just have an excuse to start lecturing (and upsetting) me. Again.

I have a few cucumbers and can make some cucumber sandwiches if I have to, but I'm losing energy rather than gaining it and don't even know if I'll be able to muster the energy to make sandwiches tomorrow.

So, what do you think I should do? Does anyone have any ideas for something that's even easier than cucumber sandwiches? (e.g. Fairy bread, even if it is a grown-ups gathering???)

Would bought biscuits be totally offensive? Or should I just save myself a lot of physical and emotional hassle and just avoid the event completely?

Ivy.

just had a thought....

If you do get store stuff you could always say something like... I got this cake/bikkies whatever from ___ store/bakery.. they do the best cakes I just had to get one for you guys... i can't make anything half as good as this you must try it....

sell it!

Bunks

ps. Welcome! It's great to meet you