Light Up Your Life: The Best Dinner Candles & Matchboxes For The Hosts With The Most (Or Even Better, Yourself)
It’s difficult to recall what normal socialising was like before Covid. Yes, I can hear the tiny violins playing in the background to herald the first world problems, but I have to admit that I do miss a dinner party or get together with friends. Mixing with other people is FUN. There are pros and cons to being either the host or the guest. Being invited to someone else’s house for a meal is always excellent, primarily because you have absolutely no responsibilities (unless you have accidentally opened the WhatsApp message group first when the host has asked for someone to bring a pudding and they know you’ve read it. Rookie error). No rushing around trying to get the canapés prepped whilst simultaneously waving the hoover and mascara stick and kicking the dog out of the way - going elsewhere as a guest means a relaxed hour or so getting ready, a mini pamper and perhaps even time to iron your clothes. Another huge benefit is that you also return home to a house that is as neat as you left it; not a dirty plate, half a bowl of dried out houmus or discarded wine bottle to be seen. You can pop yourself straight up to bed with no worries that you’ve left the candles lit or the doors unlocked. Bliss.
Indoor full family get togethers. It’s been a while, Covid. Please bugger off.
On the other hand, I do also like inviting people over. I really enjoy cooking, whether it be a few nibbles, a one pot meal or a full three course blow out. The planning and preparation is almost like ‘me’ time (not even a joke). I can kick everyone out of the kitchen, turn up the music and concentrate on something that isn’t either a) house tidying, b) sorting out washing (my own personal Job From Hell) or b) focused on my phone for at least a few hours. In fact, sometimes I think that I like the therapeutic planning of having guests over better than the actual guests coming over themselves. Ha. The other benefit of having people over is that you simply have to walk up the stairs to go to bed, instead of having to embark on a journey home that is often dependent on whether a taxi will actually arrive. This is a particular problem in York, where we have what appears to be one half hearted and part time Uber driver for the entire City. In addition to this, my last local Uber incident involved an accidental bag call on a girls night out at the wine bar that resulted in me being charged £146 for an alleged trip to Sheffield despite the fact I had not even got into the car. It took a full five hours of phone calls to resolve and more stress than should be necessary with a hangover. Never again.
Anyway, I’ve missed visiting my friends and although I’d like to say that I’m sure that there will be lots of get togethers in the garden over the next few months, the fact that it’s bollock freezing and almost snowing will almost certainly hinder these plans. However, over the next week I’m going to finish off my outdoor space with some extra willow screens and heaters and I know that my friends are doing the same. The anticipation that we might be able to sit around the garden table with a festive mulled wine or two, albeit with seven layers and a balaclava on, is real and we have dates in the diary in preparation for scheduled festive outdoor meet ups in the absence of being able to don the sparkles and heels and sit at the home bar with a plate of sticky sausages. Christmas jumpers are more than at the ready, let me assure you (strictly within our tiers, of course).
So on to the main crux of my blog post - host gifts. For many years, I visited friends with a nice bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates. It's a lot of work having people over to socialise and it’s nice to show your appreciation for the hours spent planning for your arrival. This doesn’t just apply to friends - if we’re visiting family for lunch or to stay, I always like to take a gift. About ten years ago, I realised that the flowers and chocolates, although nice to receive, don’t last for long so I started buying little presents instead. For the £10-£20 that I was spending on the former, I could buy something a bit more personal; something pretty and nice to receive that I could wrap up and hand over in return for their hospitality. This could be a little decorated bowl with jar of nice olives to empty into it, or a cool tea towel or a decent hand lotion, these little gifts were always targeted towards the host and always well received.
With the news that we are able to form small bubbles this Christmas, the chances are you might be popping to visit family or friends, whether it be near or far away, indoors or outdoors, across the fence or even just via the internet. So what to give them to show your appreciation? IMO, there is something very decadent about a matchbox that isn’t a Swan Vesta - it always feels like a bit of a mini luxury. Plus, they are the perfect price to be able to pop in your trolley without feeling as if you’re pushing the boat out financially - after all, they’re an essential (everyone needs to light candles ffs) and therefore a shopping staple. I’ve compiled ten pretty packages of my favourite type of gift and one that I always like to receive myself (the majority of which are from small businesses) that are as nice to look at as they are practical and perfect to hand over with a bottle of wine. Plus, they’re equally good to gift to a friend whom you haven’t seen almost NEARLY enough over the last nine months. And finally, extremely good to gift to yourself. Because you’re worth it, obvs. PS: I apologise in advance for any matchbox addiction fuelling (no pun intended, ha).
True Grace dinner candles - Heals, £3 each; Zuiver candle holder - Houseology, £12; Out West square matchbox - Archivist Gallery, £6.
Polkra X Fee Greening Collective Noun matchbox - Polkra, £10; Short dinner candle (six) - Hyde & Seek, £5.95; Oval candle platter in Brick Dust - British Colour Standard, £37.
Winter Comforts matchbox - Heals, £6; Arctic candlestick - Nordic Nest £18; Ester & Erik black tapered candles (four) - Nordic Nest, £13.
Arkitaip X Laetitia Rouget matchboxes (two) - Arkitaip, £27; LeBon shell candle - Etsy, £10; Lime Lace terrazzo oblong tray - NOTHS, £50.
Rainbow mix dinner candles (12) - The Hambledon, £18; Rainbow tip matches - Berrylune, £12.50; Small round candle platter - British Colour Standard, £20.
Hibi Cedar Wood scented matches - Osmology, £10; Lex Pott twist tapered candle - Earl Of East, £25; Black concrete candle tray - Etsy, £27.60.
Cire Trudon scented matches - Trouva, £15; Knot soy wax candle - Cissy Wears, £39; Ernst candle tray - Nordic Nest, £13.
Vitra Eyes matchbox - Wallpaper Store, £6; Anna & Nina twisted candle - Liberty, £25; Emko Aye Aye candle holder - Bombinate, £19.
Cirkel terrazzo tray - Etsy, £17.99; Circe candle - Siren Store, £28; Siren matchbox - Siren Store, £2.
Hay pillar candle - Article, £44; Le Bicycle extra long matches - Rex, £2; Long candle tray - Native Fragrance, £13.
So there are my top finds, all of which are gift perfect and guaranteed to boost the spirits. A pretty matchbox and a nice candle is always a recipe for success in my book. And perfect for those cosy nights outdoors to distract you from the fact that you’re freezing your nuts off. Happy socially distancing socialising, everyone. And don’t forget your Christmas jumpers. Plural.