How to Drink your Tea

Whilst sharing a pot of tea with Edward at the weekend, I was horrified when he put milk in my cup before pouring the tea. I was mainly irritated because it makes my tea too milky, but then we had a heated discussion about the 'right' way to make tea. I insisted that you pour the tea first, he reckons it's the milk. I have since consulted my Debrett's Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners, and it says that you should pour the tea first, then the milk, but Edward's still not having it.

If anyone has any comments on this, please go to the Contact section of this website and let me know what you think.

Here are some comments I have received this week:

'In Carry On Up The Kybher during the attack on Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond's offical residency, the Khasi of Kalabar says: "A thing like that leaves them unmoved, but put the tea in the cup before the milk and they go berserk!"'
Mark, Liverpool

'Tea.........When in China, we took tea (at 4.00pm) in a tea house......way back..way way back..we were told by the owner of the tea house, tea was put in the cup first, in fact there was no milk added at all, but when the boiling tea was poured into the fine china cups it sometimes made the china crack and so cold milk was added first to the cup to cool down the tea water...the first cup of milky tea was born..........'
Jamboree, Cornwall

Whilst watching Celebrity Big Brother last night, I noticed John McCrirrick telling Jeremy Edwards that you must put the milk in second 'Always, always put it in after!'. And he does look like (a slightly grubby) Great Uncle Bulgaria, so he must know about these things.

26 January

Here's a link to an interesting article in today's Guardian, about Tony Blair's love of a good old mug of tea. I wonder if he milks before or after...

How to Make a Bus Sculpture

I am currently working on my solo exhibition, 'How to Make a Bus Sculpture', which is due to take place at The Chapman Gallery, Salford University from 7-18 February 2005. The exhibition is exploring the little sculptures we make whilst sitting on the bus, and will include work in various media.

There will be an opening event on February 9th at 6pm; I will put up more information nearer the time.