Time for tea?

Maybe it's because it's a lazy Sunday and I've been sipping tea on my balcony that I've decided I am in need of a tea set (after all, doesn't every lady need one to grace her kitchen?).  Now, I've already got my eye on the Blaue Blume set (milk jug below...) by Undergrowth Design, which I've blogged about before...

...but I'm looking around for other sets too...

This has caught my fancy at Love Your Home For Less (incidentally, check that site out if you haven't already for some original things as well as a beautiful soft grey Chesterfield sofa on the home page). Technically it's billed as a a coffee set but I like the colours and "vintage look" - and the pot is only £27

Then I spied this on Of Cabbages and Kings for £37; I like the black bird silhouette, but unfortunately it's a "pot for one" so not enough tea-space for me, but a pretty design nevertheless.

If I had £245 to spend, there's always this ridiculous tea pot from the home of English Breakfast tea bags Fortnum & Mason

But perhaps second on my list (after the Blaue Blume set) is the Sophie Conran set. I already have one of her Portmeiron pieces - and what I like is the simplicity and the curve design, and the fact that it's probably more timeless than Blaue Blume and hence a little bit more grown up, perhaps. What you can't tell from the picture is that you can feel each of the curves when you hold the china, so it feels expensive and well made. The tea pot alone is £32 which is maybe a little more than average, but surely a classic piece that will survive?