“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Heathrow Airport. Local time is 5:58 in the morning and the temperature is 3 degrees Celsius.
For your safety and comfort, we ask that you please remain seated with your seat beats fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about.”
My sister, J, and I had finally arrived in London. A trip I prepared for since that fateful day in September when she invited me to join her. It was a much appreciated gift to gain an insight, though briefly, on British culture. And even more so, it was a God-sent opportunity to bond with my daughter who was in the UK on a scholarship grant.
It was easy moving out of the airport to our hotel. An underground train or the tube, took us directly to a station that was a block away from our hotel. Since it was too early to check in at our hotel, we left our bags with the concierge and decided to walk around the area. Although the trees were bare and the cold was getting into our bones, the blue sky made up for it. We counted ourselves very lucky since we were told that it had been raining in London for the previous days.
We passed a church and at first I thought it was a Catholic one—it turned out to be Anglican. I reminded myself that everything changed with King Henry the VIII. But it did not stop me from saying a silent prayer of gratitude for a safe trip.
With the cold just getting too much to handle, we entered a StarBucks coffee house for some warmth. A croissant and a cup of tea helped.
Luck was on our side as the British Museum was just across this coffee shop. I marveled at the tall and massive columns. And was agog at what laid inside. Question: How did the British manage to bring such huge and heavy works of art from one end of the world to their country? I am sure some of these countries would want to have them back.
Our eyelids were getting heavy and although it was still early afternoon, we thought it best to catch up on some much needed sleep. Rest would be important specially when we had planned to pack our days with the sights, sounds, smells and taste of London.
xoxoxoxox
The English are generally known to be reserved in their manners, dress and speech. They are famous for their politeness, self-discipline, and their love for tea. And tea it was for me for the duration of my stay.
Of course, I also wanted to make sure that I was making proper tea. Guided by instructions printed on tea boxes and advises passed down from one stranger to the next, I now share with you steps on coming up with that perfect cuppa:
Warm the teapot (4-cup capacity -- preferably of the best china) by pouring hot water into it. After a minute or so, pour out the water.
Add one teaspoon of loose tea leaves or 1 tea bag for every person served—plus 1 teaspoon of loose tea leaves or one tea bag for the pot. (For the love of the Pot!)
Now add freshly boiled water into the pot with the tea. Preferably spring not distilled water —one cup for every guest. And remember, chlorinated water will give off a smell to your tea that would agitate you or your guests.
Let the tea steep depending on the type used:
o About one minute for green tea.
o Three to six minutes for black tea.
o Six to eight minutes for Oolong teas
o Eight to twelve minutes for herbal teas.
o Note: if you like stronger tea, don't steep longer—add more tea, instead.
Pass around the sugar bowl for those who wish to cut the bitterness of their brew. George Orwell, a British tea purist, would be turning in his grave at the act of adding milk and sugar to tea.
But in the end, tea is for the living and personal preferences should prevail. So carry on and make yourself a cuppa tea the way you like it.
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| As I am home now, butter on hot pan de sal makes perfect sense |
And that my dear friends, was my lovely first day in London.
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