I’ve been glued to the TV (or as the Brits would say “the telly”) these days watching the London 2012 Olympics.
While it’s all fun and games watching it on the tube, I so wish that I could be in London partaking in all the action and enjoying the atmosphere. But most of us American’s are too busy feeding the stereotype of not traveling or enjoying life because we’re too damn busy working (or if you are like me, you used up your two weeks of vacation already.) So, I have decided, I’m having my own little delightful English affair by enjoying all things British.
Sidenote: My mother is from England, I have a twin sister who lives there, and I lived there for about a year and a half when I was 7 years-old.
So to start my little tea party off right I am going to first put on my fascinator hat and channel my inner Royal, perhaps the lovely Kate Middleton or Princess Beatrice of York?
Next up, is my accent which has been perfected already having lived in England and of course a mum (that’s what the Brit’s call “mom'”) who speaks the Queen’s English.
Then of course I will drink a cup of tea. First you must boil the kettle, then transfer hot water into a teapot and let it brew. Then one must add milk. I take mine with two cubes of sugar. Now, to extend the pinkie or not to that is the question? Yes you may.
Fun Fact: Originally, all porcelain teacups were made in China, starting around 620 A.D. These small cups had no handles. In order for one not to spill the hot liquid onto oneself, the proper way to hold the vessel was to place one’s thumb at the six o’clock position and one’s index and middle fingers at the twelve o’clock position, while gently raising one’s pinkie up for balance.
Lastly, I have a NEW discovery. As I tune into the games, I grab a delicious box of the most amazing cookies/biscuits you have ever had in your life! They are the all-natural Duchy Originals from Waitrose cookies from the brand founded by HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, that have now been introduced to the U.S. market.
Sold in four different flavors: Original Oaten Biscuits, Highland All Butter Shortbread, Stem Ginger All Butter Shortbread, and my personal fave Lemon All Butter Shortbread.
The shortbread and biscuits are made using wheat and stone-ground oats from U.K. organic farms, including from The Duchy Home Farm, The Prince’s estate in the beautiful Cotswolds region of southwestern England. And you can feel like you are eating for a cause since a donation from the sale of Duchy Originals products is given to The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation.
More than $1 million is raised annually in this way for distribution to charitable causes all over the world. Well it doesn’t get much classier then that does it?
I highly recommend them with a nice cup of tea, accent is optional.
Cheerio love, xoxoxo
Vanessa
