My Cup of Tea

There's always something comforting about a cup of tea – not necessarily a cup, a mug will do just as well. Perhaps it's the hiss of the kettle, the chink of the china, or the glimpsing of a tea-pot, but tea on the brew seems to have a calming effect. Sometimes it comes as a welcome break from work or study, sometimes as an aid to recovery or following a nasty shock, something to be shared with friends and family, but most memorably as a really special occasion.

My very first book (unpublished) is called 'My Cup of Tea' and it tells the story of the part which teatime has played in my life and in the early years of our young family's growing up. It has always held an important and significant position for me – whether considering life as a whole, a year or a day, a sort of focal point and an anchor.

Since marriage I have been spoilt with Early Morning Tea (E.M.T.) - about 14,200 of them to date! Then after lunch is often time for a sit down and a relaxing cuppa, maybe to accompany a book or nodding off whilst reading... Later in the afternoon comes teatime proper – either just accompanied by a biscuit or a full English tea with scones and cakes when entertaining. Another pot of tea is sometimes brewed to round off the day before bed and I have been known to ask for a cup of tea around 3am when sleep eludes me!

I mention teapots, and have a special regard and fondness for these – probably tempted and aided by all the marvellous antique shops that have surrounded us over the years...

To accompany this Blog, I have selected 3 very contrasting tea trays – so get a cup ready! The first is the E.M.T. basic set of stainless steel pot, mugs and the always present digestive biscuit tin (only a quarter of a biscuit allowed each now!), then a summer afternoon in the garden tray, and to finish – a top quality 'posh' tea set suitable for Royalty! This last one would obviously be accompanied by a Victoria Sandwich cake!

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