I thought over the summer I’d take a break for tea.
The most observant will note the blog tagline: Fuelled by tea and biscuits… If there is anything that helps me get my writing done it has to be the regular mugs of tea that give the day structure, and often motivate the writing to actually take place. That and the accompanying biscuit, of course. Ideally chocolate, but shortbread or custard creams will do…
You will learn I’m not fussy.
Let me start my tea tour with a mug and a link. Here’s the mug:

As an homage to the Tour de France coming to God’s Own Country this weekend I thought I’d share my frog mug. Purloined when in Zambia (by accident, but nevertheless not yet returned to its rightful owner, sorry!) the mug is an education on the wide variety of frogs and toads that inhabit the world. I’ve never checked how accurate the pictures are! Then it adds the light relief: can you spot Jean-Paul?
And here’s the link: Chai – the drink India can’t live without
This article on the BBC website records photos of tea making and drinking in India. Over there it is all part of the culture, in a similar manner to the English ‘Afternoon Tea’: a china cup of tea from a teapot, with a buttered raisin scone.
As an aside, I was given a box of Chai teabags for Christmas. I drank one in my usual fashion (black, no sugar) and wasn’t very keen. Having read the article I think
(a) I should try it with milk; and
(b) I wonder if it is something that is loved in situ more than here. Is its appeal partly linked to the whole Indian culture, atmosphere and presence?
And as a consequence of that, I think…
I should go to India!
I live in hope!