Ira

Hi Mina,<BR>Lovely story.<BR>You were quite right to add a bit of hot water to the tea that the waitress had brewed. It showed that your highly refined taste found it a bit too strong.

Mina

I have to say, all your responses gave me a few chuckles this morning. I was hoping the fodorites would be kind about my first Europe forum report posting, but I had no idea how magnanimous you would all be. Had I known that I was quite fashionable in my high water pants, and very refined to dump hot water into my tea, I daresay that I would not have produced a single sweat bead!<BR><BR>aj: Yes, I did make it to the ladies room. I had made a mental note to mention it in my story, but forgot. It was so grand, that had the host taken one look at my silly pants and seated me in the ladies room to serve me tea there, I would not have known the difference, and would have been quite content!<BR><BR>Sonia, thanks for your email before I left. I did get to some restaurants, but most of my time in London was spent people watching and generally just hanging out. The weather was fabulous! I didn't know what to do with myself...<BR><BR>As far as Autumn vs. Afternoon tea, I still don't know the difference. Perhaps you get different things to eat with one? I'm tempted to email the hotel and ask.....<BR><BR>Thanks all again for your kind words. I feel a little better about posting an Ireland report as well. Hopefully sometime later today. <BR><BR>Oh, one last thing. I was so angry at the pants that I threw them away in Ireland.

BD

Thank you Mina, for making me laugh on a gloomy NY day! <BR>

topperfortea

topping for laughs

Jane

Maybe next time you go to England you could take a trip to York and have tea at Betty's tearooms.I think you would enjoy it and you would probably feel a little more comfortable.Don't worry about making mistakes when in England if people notice they will be to polite to say anything.Hope you visit Great Britain again there many beautiful,friendly places to see.

Butch

<BR><BR>Mina, How did you do it? You seem to have fun wherever you go. Did you use the 'underwear' line to get upgrade this time? I am off to P.D 'Hibiscus Garden'next week, I shall log on Fodors in Australia just to read your trip report to Ireland.

Mina

Butch!<BR><BR>I had read on the Oz forum you were going soon...have a wonderful trip. I hope you and all your friends don't get into too much trouble...or maybe I do!<BR><BR>No, I did not use the underwear line to get an upgrade this time. The flight from London to Ireland was so short, wasn't worth it. I flew business from LA to London, so I was OK there.<BR><BR>As for the Ireland report, don't worry my dear. For you, the unabridged version (after the Oz adventure, I don't think I have to worry about offending you). Let me know when you get back, and I'll email it to you. My email address still works (I don't know about yours though)<BR><BR>Have a few Ozzie brews for me!

Mina

Jane, yes, I will definitely go back to England, and look up your suggestion. I feel that now I am tea-set! (awful pun intended)

Butch

<BR><BR>Hi, Mina, you've got mail.

topping

More fun reading from Mina

Nutella

Great post Mina! You might be interested in this article about tea time, which coincidentally appeared the same day as yours (but your's is more entertaining!):<BR>http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2002-10-17/cafe.html/1/index.html<BR><BR>

Kay

Hi Mina,<BR>loved your story! As an Austalian, with a British family background, it was always tea, never coffee, when I was growing up. My grandmother even had a knitted tea cosy to keep her teapot warm! <BR>I had to laugh at your description of how the Americans order coffee. My husband and I were in the US 2 years ago on holiday and sat in coffee shops absolutely bemused at what the heck 'with room' could be, or 'wet or dry'. We ordered a mocha valencia and a caramel macchiato and tried to look like we knew what we were doing! Very daunting. It's like a special 'coffee language'!!<BR>Kay

top

topping

t

to the top also

up

And UP

Julie

Mina - loved your story!!! can't wait to read about your adventures in Ireland. You really should be published!

margo

Mina<BR><BR>Wonderful story - and I just loved your Irish story as well. I might just venture to tea when next in London (wearing my only good clothes, of course)<BR> <BR>When next in Sydney, try afternoon tea at the Intercontinental Hotel. It's a good experience, and nowhere near as intimidating as London.<BR><BR>Kay - whaddya mean, your grandmother had a knitted tea-cosy - I HAVE A KNITTED TEA COSY. Doesn't everyone? How do you keep your tea warm?

Mina

Nutella: Thanks for the article...I read it with much fascination and wished I had read it before I left! Funny that it was posted the same day as my tea story though.<BR><BR>Kay and Margo...nice "chatting" with you here on the Europe board! Kay, I have no idea what those things mean in relation to coffee (I actually don't drink coffee either). <BR><BR>Margo, I do hope to go to Sydney at some point soon (although Ireland now calls me back as well) so I will look into having tea there. I feel like quite the expert now! (well, sort of.)<BR><BR>Julie, glad you enjoyed the story. Yes, it would be nice to be paid for something I enjoy doing so much, but I won't hold my breath. <BR><BR>I'm off to finish laundry and clean the place up. My travels may be exciting, but when I'm home, my life is sadly mundane. And it's Saturday too! I should be skating at the beach!<BR><BR>Have a good rest of your weekend.

Kay

Margo - you did make me chuckle. While my grandmother still does all the old fashioned tea rituals, I just pour hot water over the teabag and add milk. She would be horrified - and I use mugs (gasp! horror!) instead of a cup and saucer.<BR>Kay

top

for Mina