Disneyland and Tea

Disneyland was SO much fun – there were hardly any queues, too, so we did loads of things! I'll update some pictures into my galleries now, so take a look!

Found this in the book I've been reading by Kate Fox ('Watching the English' – highly recommend it) and thought it would be of interest to some (as tea is a staple for many students…), particularly Andy Inglis!!

Tea is still believed, by English people of all classes, to have miraculous properties. A cup of tea can cure, or at least significantly alleviate, almost all minor physical ailments and indispositions, from a headache to a scraped knee. Tea is also an essential remedy for all social and psychological ills, from a bruised ego to the trauma of a divorce or bereavement. This magical drink can be used equally effectively as a sedative or stimulant, to calm and soothe or to revive and invigorate. Whatever your mental or physical state, what you need is ‘a nice cup of tea’. Perhaps most importantly, tea-making is the perfect displacement activity: whenever the English feel awkward or uncomfortable in a social situation (that is, almost all of the time), they make tea. It’s a universal rule: when in doubt, put the kettle on. Visitors arrive; we have our usual difficulties over greeting protocol. We say, ‘I’ll just put the kettle on’. There is one of those uneasy lulls in the conversation, and we’ve run out of weather-speak. We say, ‘Now, who’d like more tea? I’ll just go and put the kettle on.’ A business meeting might involve having to talk about money. We postpone the uncomfortable bit by making sure everyone has tea. A bad accident – people are injured and in shock: tea is needed. ‘I’ll put the kettle on.’ World War Three breaks out – a nuclear attack is imminent. ‘I’ll put the kettle on.’ You get the idea. We are rather fond of tea. We are also very partial to toast. Toast is a breakfast staple, and an all-purpose, anytime comfort food. What tea alone does not cure, tea and toast surely will.

Today I have not gone out because I have a rotten cold – v sore throat and bunged-up head, yuck – but am hopefully going to the christmas market with various Germans later (!) Maybe mulled wine will cure my cold…
Having brunch with all the assistants tomorrow at Anna's place, so will update on Monday :)
Lia xx

: 03 Dec 2005 14:24 |  Comments (2) |  Report a problem