mugs 7 December 2008
We seem to have built up a strangely varied collection of mugs over the years. I need my tea to be mug-sized first thing in the morning – a cup just doesn’t cut it. And then I need another followupper straight after that. THEN I am ready to tackle the fresh hell awaiting. I don’t generally go mad for those with slogans on as they can become annoying BUT we have some good ones that have stood the test of time. My especial favourite in our range is one given to Richard by a colleague which says ‘I can only please one person each day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow does not look good either.’ It’s in a lovely orange and white scheme. I have made it mine. I was gifted a small one decorated with ‘I’d rather be drinking champagne’ which is how I feel most days. When we were in Barcelona many years ago I got a great large cup and saucer with a Picasso face drawn on it in just a few coloured lines. I think he’d have approved, being quite a commercial type when the needs arose (as well as a genius). I also brought back a lovely blue one with an illustration of a cat on it from that trip which says it’s from CATalunya.
As to the whole cup/mug debate, I’m not sure if tea tastes better from a china cup but I sometimes think water tastes lovely from a crystal glass so there’s a little something in the notion perhaps? When I was in Tanzania four years ago with World Vision Ireland (and Victoria Smurfit who is also in OCTOBER with me) we had the loveliest smokey tea. I bought some locally (all loose leaves) but discovered when I got home that the smokiness was from the water being boiled over a wooden fire. That whole smell and taste reminds me of all the picnics we went on as kids with my parents (who were brilliant for bringing us on many, many adventures) and nothing has ever tasted better than sausages and beans cooked over an open fire, for which we had found the wood ourselves. As far as smokey tea goes, there’s always a drop of Lapsang Souchong should the need arise but the sausages and beans really need the total childhood package to come up to scratch and with my Dad gone we are down on the personnel needed for that. Great, great days though and cherished, happy memories.
