Solace

A perfectly brewed cup of tea can’t fix everything. Even after those smooth, sweet, creamy sips have calmed your nerves, the underlying misfortune will still be there. Angie found this out when whe went to tell her mum about her break-up with David.

“And I tought we were soulmates,” she sobbed. “All the while he was playing around behind my back.”

“Tisk tisk, Sweetie,” her mother said. “How about me putting the kettle on?” Which of course was the appropriate English response in such situations.

As Mum poured the tea, Angie spilled-out her heart.

Mum listened patiently, and occasionally gave knowing “hmms” or “tisks.”

“How about another?” Mum asked, and puffy-eyed, runny-nosed Angie sniffed and nodded.

This time Mum had brought out some chocolate digestives as well, and they dunked and sipped, as Angie seemed to finally have unloaded all that she was capable of.

“How are you feeling Sweetie?” Mum at last asked.

“Shattered, but a bit better,” Angie said honestly.

“It will take time, Love,” Mum said passing Angie a tissue and the last biscuit.

Angie nodded, and then gave a feeble smile.

A perfectly brewed cup of tea can’t fix everything, but along with a couple of biscuits, it sure does help.

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Padre

First Line Friday

Infusion

Nathan Dumlao at Unsplash

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A simple infusion

Just some leaves and herbs

But it is a thing relaxing

Calming beyond what I can express in words

When steeped to perfection

Its aroma fills the air

And you can just unwind and sip it

And for a moment forget your cares

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Padre

Café Diem

Pixabay

Some drink coffee

And some drink tea

Others like rooibos –

Though it tastes like pee

Whatever your cuppa

I think you now know

When lock-down is over

To the Café, I’ll go

 

Padre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tea Spirit

Daniel Fehr

The Tea Spirit embodied

In a drink invigorating and clean

Her very essence captured

In the beverage of which she is queen

 

Some swear by burned beans

For the making of brews

But it is in the simple leaf

That I find my muse

 

The Tea Spirit’s gift

A drink invigorating and clean

Her very essence in it captured

The elixir which among drinks – is queen

 

Padre

 

Photo Challenge #303

D’Verse

See also: Tea Song

 

 

 

 

 

Warming Interludes

A simple brew of red-bush

Sometimes of chamomile

Rounding out an outing

Or warming winter chill

There’s comfort in a tea pot

Steeped and piping hot

The worries of the moment

Can briefly be forgot

 

The most prolific images of my wife, Dianne are of her with a cup of tea.  It may be that it is because a hot drink together while on an outing provided a great chance to take a photo.  But, I think there is more to it than that.  The warm comfort of a cuppa really helped her in her illness.  It was a bit of normality in the uncertain life we were then living.

 

Padre

 

 

 

 

 

The Tea Party

 

The table was set for our guests for tea

They were supposed to arrive for a quarter to three

But the traffic was heavy so we had to wait

It wasn’t their fault they were two hours late

Any fair person would surely agree

 

Padre

Quadrille #89–Are you Set? written for d’Verse in the quadrille form.  It’s simply a poem of 44 words.

 

 

 

The Gesture

 

PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

The English couple settled at a table in the American diner.   The $2.99 combo seemed just the thing.  What was that? About £4.75 for the two of them. Not bad at all, Lauren mused.

The score was tied, as the soccer semi-final unfolded on the television screen.  Then Morgan scored, and USA was in the lead.  She went to the side-line and made a tea drinking gesture to the crowd.

The gesture stirred Lauren’s heart. “Ah, the food is great here and the prices are good,” Lauren observed.  “But I can’t wait to get back home for some real tea.”

(100 words)

Padre

Friday Fictioneers – Genre: Patriotic Fiction

I originally titled this “An Empty Gesture?” in reference to Morgan’s empty cup. But that smacked a little too confrontational to me so I have changed the title to merely “The Gesture.” By the way, American tea might as well be in an empty cup, give me Tetley’s over Lipton any day.

The Elixir

Photo Credit: Reena Saxena

It was the same every day.  It was the way it had been done for generations.  Boil the water, then let the kettle stand for exactly two minutes.  Place one measured tablespoon of loose tea into the pot.  Add the water, and let steep for exactly four minutes.  In a glass mug, add the juice of half a lime.  Then strain the tea into the cup.  Finally take the special bottle from the spice-rack and place exactly one drop into the cup.

“Momma, do we have to be so exact?” Margery asked. “Isn’t tea, well, just tea?”

“No, it needs to be exactly this way.  It’s the way she likes it.”

“Okay, but how’d she know?” Margery asked.

“I thought that too,” Momma replied.”  “I was thirteen, like you, and didn’t see why we made all the fuss.  So one morning I used a teabag instead.  Do you know, the first thing she said?”

“No, what?”

“She said, ‘It smells wrong,’ before she even got to the table,” Momma explained. “Then she said, ‘are you trying to kill me?’”

“Weird,” Margery muttered under her breath.

Just then her great-great-grandmother, aged-one-hundred-and-twelve, spryly came down the stairs. “Is my tea ready yet?”

(200 words)

Padre

Sunday Photo Fiction – April 28, 2019

A Song in the Key of Tea (The Tea Song)

 

One day whilst out walking, I met with a witch –

Brewing darkish liquid o’er a fire in a ditch.

She said, “Good Mister, what is it that you seek?”

Says I, “I am after a wee spot to drink.”

 

She said to me, “Come on over and have a wee taste,”

Of the brew she was making, and to do so with all haste;

Far different from the whiskey, the bitters, or the wine –

This drink was a hot one – the first of its kind.

 

She drew me up a cup of it which I put to my lips –

And through its steaming billows I took mighty sips.

It was smoother than whiskey,  and sweeter than any wine –

A drink more pleasing  – than any can ever find.

 

She’d stirred in some fine cream and the honey of the bee –

Its flavour it was truly a pleasure to me –

I forgot all my troubles, and all of my woe,

Until I asked for more of it; and her answer it was, “No.”

 

So off to the eastward, I did adjourn –

In search of the beverage for which my heart did yearn.

I battled with the Frenchman, the Spaniard, and the Turk,

All who would deny it me, I slew with my dirk.

 

I traversed the continents, and compassed the seas –

In search of the illusive – leaf of the tea,

Until at last I made it to India’s hot climes –

Now it’s tea every morning – that’s the end of my rhyme.

 

Padre

 

 

High Tea at The Cliff Hotel

Cliff Hotel

To celebrate my wife’s birthday, we booked high tea at The Cliff Hotel in Gorleston-on-Sea in Norfolk.  We have stayed at this hotel before, and it is a favoured venue for us, so it was a perfect place to have a little indulgent luxury.

We arrived a bit early, but the staff were very accommodating, and moved our reservation up.  We ate on the terrace overlooking the sea, and it made a pleasant back drop with a clear sunny sky, and the beach and sea below us.

View from Patio Terrace

The tea was well brewed, and came in a generous sized pot.  It was accompanied by finger sandwiches (salmon and cream cheese, ham and cheese, prawn with mayonnaise,  and cheese and pickle).  A portion of sharp cress was provided that could be used to enhance the sandwiches as well.  Two warm scones, with clotted cream and jam were next.  This was followed by an assortment of macaroons, mini cream cakes, and a chocolate and an apple tart. The portions were sufficient to leave us both satisfied.

Tea Service

The service was very friendly and attentive, and it made for a lovely afternoon together.

For those considering a high tea on the Norfolk coast, this is an excellent choice. It does require an advanced booking, and a £10 deposit but it is well worth it.

Padre