Thanks for the encouragement- I got my bike out

[Julie2233]

And I feel so much better! I went the backlanes to the nearest town which is 3 miles away as the crow flies. Once there I broke the rules and had a takeaway cup of tea and a slice of cake from a lady I know who runs a cafe. Just take out at the moment. I then took it and sat in the park and it was just lovely. Then I cycled back along the main road which is flatter.

Without your encouragement it would have just have stayed on the list of things to do 😊 Thank you!

By the way for my friends in America, many of us have been horrified over here in the U.K. by the film on the internet of American lady giving instructions on making a cup of tea using a microwave! If it's doing the rounds as there as well please do not think that that is the way to make tea! It's been shown on our national news and has horrified the country 😁

[Hidden]

Hi Julie,

I'm glad you feel better after your bike ride. It sounds like just what you needed to blow away the cobwebs!

I just watched the video you mentioned about the lady who made a cup of tea in the microwave. I have heard of it, but haven't had a chance to actually watch it! It must be a joke, surely?! The accompanying article mentioned that she lives in the UK, but didn't say where exactly. She might be one of my neighbours, as I live near a sizeable American community.

Sophie

[nstonerocks in reply to Hidden]

Don’t count on it being a joke. It’s just sad when you can’t boil water. If it helps, I never make tea in the microwave. I even have a tea ball for loose tea. But then my grandmother was English-Irish, so maybe some “culture” trickled down to us.

[Hidden in reply to nstonerocks]

Hi Nancy,

It does sound like you kept your family's culture, which is great. I think that is so important. I feel the same way. I am British Greek-Cypriot, and I was raised to have an appreciation and respect for both of my cultures. I speak Greek with my family and do what I can to maintain my identity. It doesn't take long for an electric kettle to boil. But I wouldn't go so far as to say I was offended by the video. I just thought it was funny! When my husband first moved to the UK, he saw a sign for "free range eggs" and he thought they were free to take. It's a good job he didn't. I explained to him that it means they are from chickens that are able to roam freely, and are not caged!

Sophie

[Julie2233 in reply to Hidden]

It certainly did 😊 I feel so much better.

I thought the film was funny too. The best comment I've heard was 'if they make it like that no wonder they tipped the last consignment into the Boston harbour' 😊 And I apologise if that causes any offence, I just thought it was amusing.

[Hidden in reply to Julie2233]

That is funny! For what it's worth, I have always had my tea black. The rest of my family has milk in their tea, but I have been drinking black tea since I was a tot.

[Julie2233 in reply to Hidden]

My first cup of tea with milk and 3 sugars(!) was made for me by my granddad. It was quite a ritual and a sign that I was a big girl! I was 7 years old and once I knew how to make it I was allowed to make it for my grandparents! It was a special honour 😊 I used to sit on the garden bench with them drinking tea, they are now long departed but I still sit and drink tea on the bench which is now in my garden.

[Hidden in reply to Julie2233]

What a lovely memory. It must take you back to those times when you sit on the bench drinking a cup of tea. I remember my first "tea memory" when I was probably about four or five. I felt so grown up drinking tea with my parents and two older brothers. But I spilt it all over my lap!

[Julie2233 in reply to Hidden]

😁 with your brother's assistance ? I have a brother too. My brother is only 11 months younger than me but wasn't considered old enough to drink tea which made it even more special 😁

[Hidden in reply to Julie2233]

I don't think so! My middle brother may well have done something like that, as we had a love-hate relationship as children, but I don't think I can blame him for the spilt tea! I would have remembered something like that.

[Julie2233 in reply to Hidden]

😁 my brother always got the blame, but it was usually well deserved!

[Hidden in reply to Julie2233]

Well, my brother often got me into trouble for things I had not done. He once screamed while we were playing with our toys. Our mum came running into the living room and he said "Sophie hit me!" She believed him and I got smacked.

[Julie2233 in reply to Hidden]

That sounds very familiar, though I always made sure I was the one furthest from the door because my mother had a habit of not asking who had done what just smacking the nearest 😁

[Hidden in reply to Julie2233]

Smart move!

[nstonerocks]

I think a lot of what happens here horrifies the rest of the world 😩

[Julie2233 in reply to nstonerocks]

We horrify the rest of Europe by having milk in our tea and for some parts of the uk the evening meal is call 'tea! as well. I remember horrifying a Dutch friend when I told him that I needed to go and eat my tea, he thought it was some strange British ritual where we ate the contents of tea bags! 😊

[nstonerocks in reply to Julie2233]

Don’t tell them I often put milk in my tea. Especially if it’s really a hearty tea.

[Julie2233 in reply to nstonerocks]

Your secret is a safe with me 😁

[MacroMom in reply to nstonerocks]

I'm with you! Boil the water, preheat the cup, let it steep long enough, add milk. If only we could find proper British scones and clotted cream to have alongside!

Hope you are doing well Nancy!

Patty

[Hidden]

That's awesome, Julie! I just got back from my morning ride, too...Not as lovely as yours, and no tea or cake (!), but I feel better, too! it's amazing how after just a few days, I can feel the difference from the exercise...

And you made me laugh re: the tea in the microwave! I'm sort of new to tea but I make a pot/carafe (?) full each morning that I chill for iced tea throughout the day. I use green tea, for cancer, and it keeps me from drinking too much diet coke.

I use a slightly over-engineered electric kettle for this - it varies temperature/brew time by type of tea and the thing that holds the tea sort of descends into the water at the right time and then ascends when it's done? Don't know if you Brits would approve, but it was a gift and it certainly makes it easier for me to improve my choice of beverage!

[Julie2233 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I like iced tea too .

My mother gave me one of those tea making devices about 10 yrs ago, she couldn't get on with it and I ended up donating it to a raffle 😁 And it couldn't keep up with my demand.

I really enjoyed my ride and it really helped to clear my head. Thank you for the encouragement!

[Teddielottie]

Happy Cycling ! 🚵‍♀️ And a lovely day for it here ! Can’t wait till the farm shop cafes reopen , even for takeouts ! x 🍰

[Julie2233]

When I was out I saw our local land lady feeding her horses and asked her about when the village pub would be reopening and she's hoping it will be early July. Thankfully our farm shop stayed open and continued to sell richard's mother's home made pies and sausage rolls and a decent selection of cake 😊

[Hidden in reply to Julie2233]

My local health food shop opened recently and it's been great. I ordered a takeaway lunch box and am planning to try their chocolate afternoon tea too. A lot of cafes and restaurants have adapted during lockdown with collection/takeaways, and some are allowing customers to eat outdoors if there is outside seating. So it's a step in the right direction.

[Teddielottie in reply to Julie2233]

Fingers crossed ! Can’t wait for outdoor cafes to reopen ...we can go to the zoo from Monday!!! 😂 We have a lovely small farm shop locally (which I cycle past every day now ) and the shop stayed open , but they closed the attached cafe , but used it as a base , to send out deliveries , with priority to the local elderly / vulnerable . But they have lovely homemade meals / puds etc . x 😋

[mariootsi]

Happy you feel better! Sounds like you cleared your head. Cake and tea sound wonderful, especially outside in a park!

[SeattleMom]

Hi Julie!

Haven’t seen that video in Seattle. But your post made me laugh! Did the tea bag bust when it was being nuked?? 😂😂

Linda

💗💗🙏🏻🙏🏻

[Julie2233 in reply to SeattleMom]

😁 no that was part of the problem, she nuked a mug of water, then added the milk then put the tea bag in and took it out immediately and then her daughter poured the sugar in so it would have been sweet diluted milk with a hint of tea! It was hilarious but not how we usually make tea even in a mug (which I do all the time much to my mother's disgust) 😊 It's actually made a lovely change to be mildly outraged at something so silly 😊

Julie

[SeattleMom]

Too funny!! 😂😂😂