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The Afternoon Tea Times welcomes correspondence. Contact Afternoon Tea online, or by mail to: Afternoon Tea Times, MPT, 11767 Owings Mills Blvd., Owings Mills, MD 21117-1499. You may also reach MPT Afternoon Tea by telephone at (443) 394-1634.
Tea Times is a co-production of Maryland Public Television and The Insider, a publication of the BBC Sales Company.
The Insider welcomes all correspondence, story ideas and requests for contributed articles. Send letters via e-mail to Editor N. Scott Jones at bbinsider@comcast.net or by snail mail to: The Insider, c/o Oliviu Savu, BBC Worldwide Americas, 747 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10017-2803. All letters are assumed to be for publication unless marked otherwise. The Insider reserves the right to edit letters for reason of space or clarity. Let us know what you think!
The Insider, copyright 1999-2007 by the BBC Sales Company. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission. All photos and graphics used are rights free or copyrighted by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Unless otherwise indicated, all material written by N. Scott Jones.
Editor's Note
Welcome to another month of the Tea Times! We hope you are ready to sit down to read your new edition.
Born and Bred is coming back! You asked and we will deliver. Read the Tea News Bits to find out when you can begin to enjoy this program again.
Last month we told you that Antiques Roadshow is coming to Baltimore so this month we offer an article about Antiques Roadshow in Britain. The program is popular no matter where you live.
Everyone loves Hyacinth (pictured)! This month read about our favorite Patricia Routledge and then further into the newsletter check out the article on Britcom Divas from A-Z. Sorry, gentlemen, it's all about the ladies this month.
We offer you a recipe for Fresh Rhubarb Cake this month. Since fresh rhubarb is only available such a short time we thought we'd take advantage of the season. Serve it warm and top with a delicious vanilla sauce at dinner time. Yum!
Happy Mother's Day!
The Tea Times Newsletter Staff
1
They Say It's Your Birthday!
Do you share a birthday with any of these people?
May 3, 1936 - Engelbert Humperdinck, singer
May 7, 1812 - Robert Browning, poet
May 12, 1948 - Steve Winwood, musician, singer
May 29, 1903 - Bob Hope, comedian, actor
2
The U.S. version of Antiques Roadshow is coming to Baltimore on June 16 so we thought you might enjoy this article about the British version. The last time the Antiques Roadshow came to town the turnout was just amazing. We hope to see everyone again this year!
Antiques Roadshow:
Roll Up For the Hottest Show on Three Continents
There was a couple from the town of Barnstaple who had no interest in antiques and didn't believe they had anything of value anyway. However, their dog needed a walk so they decided to take him for a stroll past the building where an episode of Antiques Roadshow was being filmed. On a whim, they brought along a watercolor to get its value. They expected to hear that it was worthless, but instead discovered that it was valued at over 100,000 pounds. The painting now hangs in the British Museum.
Goes to show you just never know, do you? But with Antiques Roadshow, people are finding out. Things in the attic, things passed down from relatives - these objects sometimes have a value only dreamed of.
This feeling of suspense and anticipation, along with its value as information and entertainment, are among the reasons Antiques Roadshow has been a staple on British television for more than two decades. Each year, its popularity continues to grow as the Roadshow visits a wide range of cities in the UK and abroad with experts who provide detailed information about the antiques and give owners an estimate of its value. Not only that, the show also gives viewers a chance to peek into some breathtaking buildings and learn more about some beautiful English villages and towns.
It starts with a notice in the local newspaper that Antiques Roadshow is coming to town. On the day of the taping, experts in pottery, jewelry, furniture, paintings and miscellaneous are available from 10:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. During that time they sift patiently through items brought by the estimated two thousand people who attend.
Sometimes the experts have good news, but other times you can see the look of disappointment on people's faces when what they have doesn't turn out to be valuable after all. In fact, one lady from the Isle of Man was convinced that she had a painting by Constable and huffed off in disgust when she was told she didn't, believing the experts to be wrong.
What makes the cut for the televised version are things that are rare, of great value and those objects that have a good story behind them. Over the years the Roadshow team has seen it all, including moustache clippings from a member of the Royal family and chocolate from WW1. The show can also provide some usually touching moments. In one episode, a Japanese vase turned out to have somehow survived the force of the atomic bomb that hit Nagasaki in 1945.
Antiques Roadshow is hosted by the affable Hugh Scully, who has spent over thirty years as a television presenter and producer. He began his career as a radio newsreader, first contracted to work only one week as holiday relief, but this led to other work as a reporter. He then presented Nationwide before he became the first host of Watchdog. Before the televised version of Antiques Roadshow, Scully spent nearly twenty years on a Radio 4 program called Talking About Antiques and then went on to present Collector's World before joining the Roadshow.
Why has this show become so popular? Antique hunting has always been a popular hobby and the boom in Internet auction sites such as E Bay makes it timely. But in a sense, it's also like watching the Lottery - there's always the chance that a visitor may have the winning number and something apparently worthless is actually valuable.
The Roadshow has become an international phenomenon, even showing in Australia and New Zealand. It has made road trips to countries such as Jamaica, which Scully once recalled as one of their more memorable jaunts. "When the local people were given their valuations, they did not move, unlike the British viewers, who normally say thanks very much and get up and go," he explained. "We wondered why this was. It turned out that the people of Jamaica had expected us to arrive in their lovely island with suitcases full of cash, and they thought it was illogical that a program based upon valuations would then not provide an immediate reward."
The craze for antiques is usually equated with older people, but Antiques Roadshow is introducing it to the younger crowd as well, with a spin-off entitled The Next Generation. It also inspired an American version produced by WGBH in Boston that has become one of the most widely syndicated shows in PBS history. This virtually guarantees that there will be an audience for the Roadshow well into the future. After all, you never know what unknown masterpiece or treasure might be lurking in the attic.
The Insider | November 19993
Tea News Bits
Tribute to John Inman
Don't forget to tune in to MPT's Tribute to John Inman on Saturday, May 5 from 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. We hope you enjoy the biography of Mr. Inman and the three programs we've selected of Are You Being Served?
Born and Bred
Starting Saturday, June 2 at 6:00 p.m. Born and Bred will air throughout the summer, other than Pledge weeks. We've had many people ask about bringing back Born and Bred!
Programs you don't want to miss
MPT is happy to bring you Masterpiece Theatre's Six Wives of Henry VIII on Sunday, May 6 and Sunday, May 13 from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. On Monday May 21 at 10:00 p.m. MPT will air City at War: London Calling. Back-to-back programming on Wednesday evening, May 23 should keep you glued to your set. At 9:00 p.m. watch Blair Decade followed at 11:00 p.m. by Remarkable Red Hat Society. On Thursday, May 24 For One English Officer airs at 10:00 p.m.
On Sunday, May 27, join MPT in saluting those that kept our country free. The National Memorial Day Concert begins at 8:00 p.m., followed by Eyes Wide Open at 9:30 p.m. The National Memorial Day Concert repeats at 10:00 p.m.
To finish out the month, Churchill: Destiny and then Churchill: The Lion's Roar begin at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 31.
Heather and The Queen
The Queen is visiting the United States in May in honor of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. And Heather has been invited to tea with her at the British Embassy! No photos are allowed but we will tell you all about it in an upcoming issue. Good luck, Heather!
Picture yourself here!
Do you want to see Great Britain at your own pace? MPT's Online Auction is the place to go to bid on a package for two with the Friendship Tour. Enjoy round-trip coach airfare to London on 
, the official airline of the Friendship Tour, First Class BritRail Four-Day FlexiPasses, and a five-night stay at the award-winning contemporary Langs Hotel in Glasgow with five breakfasts for two.
Are you intrigued? Go to http://auction.mpt.org. Here you will find all the pertinent information. Go soon as bidding closes on May 10, 2007!
Hypnotised student wakes up in Marrakech
A Roehampton University student who was hypnotised in a phone booth in England was shocked to find himself in a busy Moroccan market when he awoke 13 hours later.
Richard Critchlow, 21, was put into a trance by television personality Derren Brown, as part of a new show for Channel 4, according to a national newspaper. Mr. Critchlow was taken to Heathrow airport, where he was rolled through passport control in a wheelchair and flown to Marrakech. He woke in an identical phone booth but when he stumbled outside he was greeted by the bustle of a chaotic market place.
Mr. Brown told the Daily Mirror: "He was in a deep sleep. He had no sense of any time passing at all. His profound bewilderment eventually gave way to huge delight." Mr. Critchlow was left to wander the streets, while hawkers tried to sell him dates, nuts and juice, the paper reported.
He was eventually let in on the prank by Brown, who had used Mr. Critchlow after he applied to appear on his new show, Trick or Treat.
www.thisislocallondon.co.uk
Youths arrested over Harry Potter train attack
London (Reuters) - Ten youths have been arrested after Harry Potter's train, the Hogwarts Express, was attacked by vandals, police said. More than 300 of the tourist train's windows - famous for departing from imaginary platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross station in the Harry Potter books - were smashed with hammers while it was in a depot in Lancashire.
The damage will cost at least £50,000 ($120,235) to repair, according to train operator West Coast Railways. A spokeswoman said hammers were used to break the toughened glass and several were found at the scene.
Police said the youngsters were between 12 and 14 years old. "Ten youths have been arrested after 337 windows were smashed on various trains at the West Coast Railway Company Depot in Carnforth, Lancashire," a spokesman for British Transport Police said. The youngster were released on police bail pending further inquiries and will have to report back to police in the first week of May.
uk.reuters.com
Bad Note Sounds as Movers Drop Piano Off Truck
Devon, England - Organizers of a classical music festival have been left feeling on a bad note after an $88,000 grand piano fell off the back of a delivery truck and crashed to the ground.
Fundraisers for the Two Moors Festival had saved for two years to get the cash needed to buy the Bosendorfer piano - considered to be the Rolls-Royce of the piano world.
The festival's artistic director Penny Adie, 53, said she was so excited that the instrument was being delivered that she ran out to take pictures. But she was left "numb" as she snapped it crashing to the ground.
"We were just so shocked," she said. "It was like seeing a priceless painting torn to shreds."
www.foxnews.com
4
Hyacinth In Bloom
Presenting Patricia Routledge
"I was a plump girl with a loud voice. I used to ride my bike round the country lanes thinking great thoughts and spouting pieces of poetry."
– Patricia Routledge
She will forever be known and loved as Hyacinth Bucket, but a quick look beneath the surface shows both similarities and differences between Patricia Routledge and her most famous creation.
One thing actress and character do share is an adoration of their families, especially their fathers.
In Patricia's case, her father was a haberdasher named Isaac Edgar Routledge. He and his wife, Catherine, lived behind his shop in Birkenhead (a town in the north of England) and on February 29th, 1929, Mrs. Routledge gave birth to a daughter. They named her Katherine, but the child would grow up to be known more commonly by her middle name. Patricia and her brother Graham were youngsters when World War II broke out, so they were forced to spend a lot of time in the basement bunker.
The family was extremely close and both children grew up secure in the knowledge that they were well loved. Patricia attended Birkenhead High School, where she was in her words "the plump girl with a loud voice." She's the first to say that she was a bit of a disruptive show-off, but she must have enjoyed school because she came to think of her future being spent as the headmistress of a school, driving a red sports car and spending summers having romances all around Europe.
She studied English at Liverpool University, but her career plans were altered when she began to participate in the end-of-term plays. She so enjoyed the time spent on these productions that after University went to work as an unpaid assistant at Liverpool Playhouse. Her acting talent did not go unnoticed and she was asked to join the company, making her debut in 1952 as Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night's Dream. This sort of career seemed distinctly at odds with her parents, who were firm believers in the notion of "Northern Puritanism" and instilled in their daughter the virtues of hard work and discipline ("common sense - that's what was expected of me" she once said).
However, Routledge also admitted to an interviewer in 1998 that her outward "self-control had always masked an anarchic nature." Truer words have never been spoken. On the one hand, there's the proper, Puritanical, very hard working Patricia, who according to writer Alan Bennett possesses a "strong moral streak and firm views." On the other hand, there was the Patricia who worshipped Lucille Ball and grew up to be extraordinarily adept at farce and physical pratfalls. Still, her parents were a bit taken aback at her decision to go into drama.
At the age of 23, she left her family home to study at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol and made her debut on the London stage in 1954. In 1961, she appeared in three episodes of Coronation Street, but knew in her heart that this wasn't where she wanted to stay. Always a big believer in risk and not allowing herself to stagnate, she decided to move on. That she did, all the way to New York and the Broadway stage, where in 1966 she caught the attention of famed composer Jules Styne. He asked her to star in his musical Darling of the Day, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
Her career was then firmly established and built mainly between the stage and television, though Routledge did have roles in movies such as The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom and To Sir with Love. Her television roles seem to be divided between pure farcical silliness and the brilliant artistry of sophisticated writers like Alan Bennett. In 1982 he created A Woman of No Importance, a one-woman monologue that allowed her a tour de force to showcase her extensive theatrical skills.
In 1985, Routledge had her first big sitcom role in Marjorie and Men. She played Marjorie Belton, recently divorced and on the lookout for a new man. Unfortunately, Marjorie's mother (played by Patricia Hayes) also has her eyes peeled for a prospective son-in-law and desperately wants to see her daughter remarried. Since the two women now live together, the mother gets to be even more of an interfering busybody than normal. Each of the six episodes shows Marjorie encountering a new man in her life.
That same year she appeared with the wonderful Victoria Wood in Wood's series As Seen On TV. She had a small role as a recurring character called Kitty, a highly snobby woman who sat in a chair and spouted such platitudes as "What has China given the world? Can you really respect a nation that's never taken to cutlery?" Kitty would be good practice for the role that would become something of a blessing and a curse.
For despite a highly distinguished, varied career and her multitude of talents as an actress, comedian, and singer, Routledge will probably always remain best known for a single line: "The Bucket residence - the lady of the house speaking." That line is just one demonstration of her total mastery of all vocal pyrotechnics including timing, modulation and rhythm. Anyone without her innate musicality would not have been able to make that line soar as she did. She didn't so much say the line as she sang it. The whole character of Hyacinth Bucket was approached much the same way - tackled with an enthusiasm and gusto that would do any musical comedy or opera star proud.
Those years of watching Lucille Ball would also teach Routledge a thing or two about physical humor and even at a relatively advanced age she was able to pull off some remarkable stunts and pratfalls. Climbing over hedges and hanging off the backs of trucks were proof positive of her boundless energy. Hyacinth brought Routledge to a vast American audience and there's little doubt that this was a perfect match of character and actress. Like Hyacinth, Routledge is a hard-working perfectionist who doesn't suffer fools lightly. She can be very demanding, but the effort shows every time she's on the screen. On the other hand, Routledge is a very spiritual woman who doesn't like snobs and looked at the role as a way to poke fun at women who are like Hyacinth.
Why does everyone love this character? Perhaps because she represents the Britain we want to believe still exists - a sophisticated, cultured place full of women who use Royal Doulton china, wear posh hats, and uphold the old traditions of manners and etiquette. Then again, nah - maybe not. Hyacinth really is a larger-than-life snobbish monster on a par with Basil Fawlty. Be honest - would you really want to live next door to her? I didn't think so.
Perhaps we tune in simply because we all love to see snobs deflated and we secretly hope that one day Hyacinth will truly get hers. Many also tune in simply to marvel at Routledge's ability as a physical comedian. Her entire body is in perpetual motion, from the eyebrows to the legs and especially that mouth.
Alan Bennett once said of Patricia that if the role didn't conform to her "very firm moral streak" and "firm views" that she would tend to be very dubious about it. This comment may explain why Routledge liked the role so much. Hyacinth might not want to claim her family since they don't meet her exacting social standards, but in the end she loves them just as Routledge loved her own family.
Her complete domination of this character won her many awards, including Top Comedy Actress in 1991. She was also awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1993 as well as being named Personality of the Year by the Variety Club of Great Britain. Finally, in a poll to celebrate the BBC's 60th anniversary in 1996, she was voted Britain's all-time favorite comedy actress. This was clearly a character the public adored and Routledge claims that fans would often tell her that they were like Hyacinth, or they knew someone just like her. "Poor you," was her standard reply.
Much to the disappointment of KUA fans, her need for change caused Routledge to say good-bye to Hyacinth in 1994 and move on to new and different territory. Our favorite snob then transformed into ace detective Hetty Wainthrop in the series Hetty Wainthrop Investigates. Hetty was a bit like Hyacinth in that she could be bossy and domineering, but luckily, Hetty wasn't nearly as much of a burden to her husband as Hyacinth was to the long-suffering Richard. Writer David Cook developed Hetty from a number of Northern women he knew. Indeed, women who hail from the gritty, industrial north of England tend to have the same bossy, no nonsense, take no guff nature.
One has to think no further than the women of The Last of the Summer Wine - including the infamous Nora Batty - to know what I'm speaking about. Routledge was keen to play Hetty because she liked how the scripts dealt with important topical issues such a schizophrenia and violence. She also liked the fact that Hetty was in her 60s, but still had plenty of energy and a strong determination to reach her potential despite her age.
She first played Hetty in a 13-part radio adaptation of Cook's novel Missing Persons. This worked into a series that lasted from 1995-1998. Routledge was keen to continue playing the sleuth with the young sidekick, but the series was abruptly canceled (apparently without a word to its star) in an effort to make room for shows that weren't quite so geared toward a middle-class, suburban audience.
In something of a contradiction, however, there was a desire for more Keeping Up Appearances, perhaps due to its popularity in America. Routledge wasn't interested, though, feeling that it had been taken as far as it could go and that the scripts were starting to recycle themselves. Since then, Routledge has concentrated on stage work. In 1996 she played Beatrix Potter in Beatrix at the Chichester Festival Theater.
Last year her association with Chichester continued when she appeared as Lady Bracknell in a production of The Importance of Being Earnest that later transferred to the West End. This role garnered her great reviews with one reviewer praising her "richly comic authority."
Interestingly enough for someone who has fond memories of her childhood and a strong belief in the family, Routledge has not created a family of her own. In a scenario more suited to Rose than Hyacinth, she had a youthful affair with a married man that broke her heart. She has had other relationships since then (one with a man who died suddenly of a heart attack), but for the most part, she has immersed herself in a remarkably rich and varied career.
Patricia Routledge is now 71 years old, but this formidable woman appears to have plenty of exuberance and energy left. She is still driven and claims she can "hardly spell" the word retirement. Her stated ambition has always been to do "good work with good people." There is no doubt she has achieved this goal.
The Insider | June 2000
5
Britcom Divas From A To Z
You can read about Britcom's ultimate Diva, Patricia Routledge, elsewhere in this issue, but here's a run down of other talented ladies deserving of the title.
A
Chloe Annett. Took over from CP (Clare) Grogan when the role of Kochanski was expanded in the seventh season of Red Dwarf. She also appeared in the series Crime Travelers.
Mina Anwar. Fans of The Thin Blue Line may remember her as the feisty but sexy Police Constable Habib, who constantly had to fend off the advances of Constable Goody.
B
Connie Booth
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Eleanor Bron. One of the first female members of the Cambridge University Footlights Club that spawned a whole generation of comedy talent. She proved herself during the 60s to be extremely adept at writing performing sketch comedy, often teamed with John Bird. She kept The Beatles out of trouble as Princess Ahmed in Help! and had a riotous cameo as Patsy's hippy mother in Absolutely Fabulous.
Patsy Bryne. Lots of fun as the dingy Nursie/Bernard in Blackadder 2.
C
Carol Cleveland. It couldn't have been easy playing second fiddle to the Pythons, but she managed to make her mark. Who can forget the classic..."But it's my only line!" or how she lured unsuspecting milkman Michael Palin into her lair.
Stephanie Cole
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Kirsten Cooke. Helped the French resistance as Michelle ("I will say this only once") in the popular Croft/Lloyd sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!
Judy Cornwell. "Our Daisy." Her desperate attempts to get her husband Onslow to pay attention to her on Keeping Up Appearances are priceless.
Wendy Craig. As Ria Parkinson in Butterflies, she created a memorable portrait of a woman going through a mid-life crisis.
Annette Crosbie. Absolute perfection as Margaret Meldrew, who puts up with cantankerous husband Victor on One Foot in the Grave.
D
Frances de la Tour. Very touching and funny as the love-starved Miss Jones, the object of Rigsby's desire in Rising Damp.
Judi Dench
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F
Helen Fielding. Novelist who created two best selling books about the life and times of insecure diva wannabe Bridget Jones.
Dawn French. She's played murderers, vicars, and everything in between.
G
CP (Clare) Grogan. Former singer for the Scottish band Altered Images who went on to star as the love of Lister's life Kochanski for the first six series of Red Dwarf. Last seen hosting a show on the British VH1.
H
Hattie Hayridge. Sorely underrated comic actress who took over from Norman Lovett as the braniac computer Holly on Red Dwarf. Also a talented stand-up comedian.
Pippa Haywood. Put up with Chris Barrie as Mrs. Gordon Brittas on The Brittas Empire.
Julia Hills. Talented actress who was memorable as Rona in 2 Point 4 Children and kept her husband, son, and father-in-law in line as Beryl Hook in Dad.
Jane Horrocks. Best known as the ditzy Bubble on AbFab, she displayed incredible range as a mimic in the critically acclaimed movie Little Voice.
J
Hattie Jacques. Star of the bawdy Carry On series who was once married to Dad's Army star John LeMesurier.
Caroline Lee Johnson. The only woman who could stand up to and control master cook Gareth Blackstock was his wife, as played with dignity and intelligence by Caroline Lee Johnson in the series Chef!
K
Penelope Keith
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Felicity Kendal. Star of The Good Life, Solo, and numerous stage productions. A good sport, she can be seen getting slathered with paint by Jennifer Saunders in Series Five of French and Saunders.
L
Carla Lane. Creator and writer of the classic Britcoms Bread, Butterflies and The Liver Birds, among others. Her sitcoms are not everyone's cuppa, but she has done some terrific work and pushed herself to try new things.
Belinda Lang. Starred as Bill Porter in 2 Point 4 Children.
Josie Lawrence. Extraordinarily talented comedian, actress, and singer seen improvising on the Brit version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Joanna Lumley. Not normally known for being a laugh riot, this former star of the New Avengers showed that she can be absolutely hysterical as Patsy Stone on Absolutely Fabulous.
M
Mary Millar
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Q
Caroline Quentin. The ex-wife of comedian Paul Merton, Quentin is terrific as Dorothy on the Brit version of Men Behaving Badly and also on the comedy/mystery Jonathan Creek.
R
Wendy Richard
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Miranda Richardson. Respected for her dramatic talent in such films as The Crying Game and Tom and Viv, Richardson made an indelible comic impression as the spoiled Queen in Blackadder 2. Also did a terrific guest shot as a neurotic new mother on AbFab. One of those rare talents who is equally at home doing comedy or drama.
S
Jennifer Saunders. She was the creative force behind Absolutely Fabulous, the Saunders half of French and Saunders, and even took the time to have three children and appear in a couple of episodes of Friends. One very talented lady.
Prunella Scales
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Carmen Silvera. Helped keep Café Rene running smoothly and sang badly as Edith Artois in 'Allo 'Allo!
Joan Sims. Once part of the Carry On team, she can also be seen as Madge (Geoffrey Palmer's step-mother) in As Time Goes By.
Kathy Staff
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Pamela Stephenson. The blonde from Not The Nine O'Clock News who snagged a long-time companion in fellow comic Billy Connolly. She appeared for one season as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, but sadly, her talents seem to remain unexplored to a large extent.
Julia St. John. Tried hard to keep the Whitbury Leisure Centre running despite her crazy boss Gordon in The Brittas Empire.
Mollie Sugden
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T
Emma Thompson. Survived a critically slammed sketch comedy series called Emma to become an Academy Award winning actress and writer. If you haven't, check out her terrific performance with Jeff Goldblum and Rowan Atkinson in the film The Tall Guy.
Harriet Thorpe. Valuable second banana who was the receptionist Carole on Brittas Empire and as Patsy's coworker Fleur on AbFab.
U
Tracey Ullman. Multi-talented performer who's also put out some wonderful pop records and got Paul McCartney to appear in a video with her. Ullman began as one of the Three of a Kind team with Lenny Henry and David Copperfield, and before heading off to seek fame and fortune in America she appeared with French and Saunders in the series Girls on Top. Her HBO series Tracey Takes On... has won her numerous awards.
W-Y
Julie Walters. Engaging actress and sometime sidekick to the great Victoria Wood. She was terrific as "sexual entrepreneur" Cynthia Paine in Terry Jones' film Personal Services and stole the heart of Michael Caine in Educating Rita.
Ruby Wax. A brash, loud, hysterically funny American who has made her career and home in the UK. She worked with French, Saunders and Tracey Ullman in Girls on Top, has hosted numerous chat shows (including one shown on the Lifetime Network for a short while) and served as script editor on AbFab.
June Whitfield. From her work with Terry Scott to Edina's lovably spacey Mom on AbFab, she's a national treasure.
Barbara Windsor. The sparkling Cockney bombshell from the Carry On series.
Victoria Wood. Award winning writer, performer, and creator of some sketch gems as Acorn Antiques. Her one woman appearances consistently sell out and she's also published several books including Barmy and It's Up To You, Porky!
Pauline Yates. She was outstanding as the long suffering wife of Leonard Rossiter in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.
The Insider | June 2000
6
Tea With Jane Austen
by Kim Wilson
Tea in the Evening
An Elegant Entertainment
One step up from the quiet tea-and-cards evening was the evening party. Guests at such parties would expect other entertainments (such as performances by professional musicians) as well as tea and cards. After visiting the Maitland family one evening, Jane told Cassandra, "We found ourselves tricked into a thorough party at Mrs. Maitland's, a quadrille & a Commerce Table & Music in the other room." Such elegance didn't necessarily impress Jane: "The Miss Maitlands. were as civil & as silly as usual."
Jan Austen's brother Henry and his wife, Eliza (the fashionable former Countess de Feuillide), lived in London and were well acquainted with what guests expected at a truly elegant evening party. During one of Jane's visits, they held a musical party, with five professional musicians providing the entertainment. Eliza worked for days ahead of time to ensure its success. Jane sent Cassandra the details:
Our party went off extremely well. There were many solicitudes, alarms & vexations beforehand of course, but at last everything was quite right. The rooms were dressed up with flowers & looked very pretty...Including everybody we were 66 - which was considerable more than Eliza had expected, & quite enough to fill the Back Draw[in]g room, & leave a few to be scattered about in the other, & in the passage...The House was not clear till after 12.
7
Tea Advisor
Essential Components of Tea
[This month and the next few upcoming months] you'll find some of today's most popular herbs, with a brief description of their effects plus instruction on how to brew each one into a tea. (Caution: When brewing herbs that you've gathered, do not use roadside herbs, which may be coated with noxious car exhaust, or herbs that may have been sprayed with pesticide.) You'll also find recipes for herbal tea blends and beverages as well as herbal recipes to transform your home and bath. Soothing, stimulating aromatic herbs - they are all here.
Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius, American ginseng: P. ginseng, Korean or Chinese ginseng) has been proclaimed an aphrodisiac and cure-all for many human ailments. Its root often resembles the human form, indicative, some believe, of its curative powers. To make a decoction, use ½ teaspoon of the powdered root in 6 to 8 ounces of boiling water, simmering for 10 minutes.
Hops (Humulus lupulus) are small, cone like flowers that flavor and preserve beer. The mellow and peppery tea made from hops is believed to work as a mild sedative that relieves tension. Use 2 teaspoons of the fresh flowers or freezer-dried hops in 6 to 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep for 5 minutes or to taste.
Lavender (Lavandula spica, L. vera, L. angustifolia, L. officinalis) is one of the world's favorite herbs. Its aromatic flowers have scented baths and given fragrance to perfumes and potions since ancient Roman times. As an herbal tea, it has a slightly sweet, highly aromatic flavor. It's often used as an accent in blends. (Peet's Coffee & Tea makes a delightful Earl Grey with Lavender.) Lavender is said to relieve fatigue, depression, and tension headaches. Use 2 teaspoons of the fresh flowers or 1 teaspoon dried in 6 to 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
The New Tea Book | By Sara Perry
Lu Yu, Chinese Tea Authorities
At the factory the tea leaves are spread out on bamboo trays to dry off the dew and other superfluous moisture. If green tea is being made, any fermentation is now brought to a halt by killing off the enzymes with heat. This can be done by a few minutes of steaming or roasting. The roasting is quite mild - the leaves being tossed about in a shallow iron pan and heated over a charcoal fire until they are just hot enough still to remove by hand. They are then tipped out on to the rolling table.
At the wicker rolling table the workers make balls of the leaves, which they roll between the palms of their hands and about the table, both to expel any moisture and to put a twist on the leaves. If there is too much moisture left, the brief roasting and the rolling may be repeated a few times. Then the leaves are returned to the roasting pans for a much longer final roasting. This may take an hour or more, the leaves being continually moved around with the hands so that they do not blacken. At the end of this final roasting the tea is ready for use. All that remains is to sieve out the dust and sort the leaf into different grades.
Tea | By Roy Moxham
8
Mystery of the Month
What Is Your Guess?
Case One
An elderly woman is walking down the sidewalk of a busy city street when she suddenly falls to the ground and dies. The authorities search for her body, but don't find it for nearly five days - even though it was on the sidewalk the entire time.
The Mystery
In what city did the woman die and why couldn't her body be found?
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Clues
- The woman was 80 years old in 1900.
- The woman's age had nothing to do with her fall.
- The woman did not die from the fall.
- Just before she died, the woman admired a bay in the Pacific Ocean.
- The woman was headed down a steep hill.
- Something fell on the woman during a natural disaster.
Case Two
A group of famous people hangs out together every day - though some have never even met each other. Many people have seen them together, but if asked, no one in the group would acknowledge that they've had a blast together.
The Mystery
What are the people's last names and where can the people be seen together?
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Clues
- There are four men in the group.
- The men are in the U.S.
- People look up to the men - literally.
- The men are from different time periods.
- The men are all American heads of state.
- The men can be found in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Be sure to check the June 2007 edition of the Tea Times for the answers
Answers to April Mysteries:
Case One: The group was camping in Tanzania atop Mount Kilimanjaro.
Case Two: The animal's name is Toto and the road ends at the Emerald City.
9
England's Calendar of Events | May
Downton Cuckoo Fair
May 5, 2007
The annual Downton Cuckoo Fair has been running for over a quarter of a century and attracts up to 20,000 people to the tiny village for maypoles, morris dancing and traditional folk entertainment.
The event also features over 250 craft stalls and craft demonstrations, line dancing, street entertainment, music, the Downton Brass Band and plenty for the children, including Punch and Judy, clowns, a bouncy castle and roundabouts.
www.whatsonwhen.com
Stan Games Guineas Festival
May 5-6, 2007
The Stan James Guineas Festival at Newmarket, the home of English racing, is a must for any race fan. Only Epsom can match its claim to stage two Classic races in the course of one meeting.
The 2000 Guineas, the first of the season's Triple Crown races, is the highlight of the meeting. Taking place on the Saturday the race, for three-year-olds, is surpassed in quality only by the Derby. Sunday sees the running of the 1000 Guineas, which competes with the Oaks as the best fillies-only race in the country.
www.whatsonwhen.com
Weymouth Beach Kite Festival
May 5-7, 2007
Aerial fanatics assemble on Weymouth's beach for Britain's biggest kite festival.
On Saturday there are trade stands on the Esplanade, a funfair on the Pavilion Forecourt and a "casual" kite flying day for non-competitors or those wanting to get warmed up. Sunday and Monday is when the airborne excitement really gets going, with plenty of displays and stunts, as well as workshops for those needing a little assistance.
If your neck isn't hurting too much from looking skywards, it's worth hanging around for the night flying and firework display on the Sunday evening.
www.whatsonwhen.com
St. Briavels Bread & Cheese Dole
May 2007 (tbd)
Each year on Whit Sunday the small village of St Briavels, in the Wye Valley, plays host to the Bread and Cheese Dole. This age old tradition sees crowds of medieval-costumed locals converge outside the local Saint Mary's Church in eager anticipation of catching dole pieces of bread and cheese that are thrown into the air from brimming baskets.
From the moment the first morsels are thrown a thrill of excitement ignites the crowd. Hands outstretched, every man, woman and child battles for his share of the bounty. There are no rules in this battle - women hoist restricting skirts and men pull out extraordinarily large hats to ensure they receive more than their fair share.
The Dole has not gone without its fair share of trouble in the past. As far back as 1816 the Gentleman's Magazine recorded that "most of the food was used as pellets; the pastor coming in for his share as he left the pulpit...". The event even had to relocate several times last century - drinking and outbreaks of fighting invariably the cause.
The origins of this unusual tradition date back to the time of Milo, Earl of Hereford, in the 12th century, although the first records are from Rudder's account, published in 1779. Dole claimers could be anyone who paid a penny to the Earl of Hereford (then Lord of the Forest of Dean) entitling them to gather wood from nearby Hucknoll's woods.
Although the tradition of being able to gather wood has disappeared, the Dole lives on. Revelers believe in the power of these edible morsels and preserve them for good luck (miners originally used them as charms to protect against accidents). Today some people choose to place them in matchboxes and rest them under their pillow to inspire dreams of the future.
www.whatsonwhen.com
10
Fresh Rhubarb Cake
It's the time of year to enjoy fresh rhubarb so we thought you might like to try this cake. You can surprise your family on a beautiful Sunday out on the deck!
Cake
- ½ cup margarine at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups sugar, divided
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups chopped rhubarb - fresh or frozen
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Vanilla Sauce
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup evaporated milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup butter
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 9x13x2-inch baking pan; dust with flour. In a medium-sized bowl, cream the margarine and 1 cup of sugar. Add the eggs; beat well. In a small bowl, combine the buttermilk and vanilla.
Into another bowl, sift the flour, baking soda and salt. Add one-third of the flour mixture the creamed mixture and beat well. Beat in half of the buttermilk. Add another third of the flour, then the rest of the butter, ending with the remaining flour, beating well after each addition. Stir in the rhubarb. Spread in the prepared pan.
Combine the remaining ¼ cup sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkle over the batter. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the cake test done with a toothpick or cake tester. Serve warm with Vanilla Sauce.
Vanilla Sauce Directions
In a one-quart saucepan, combine all sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil; simmer for about 10 minutes. Serve warm with Rhubarb cake.
www.southernfood.about.com
11
Afternoon Teaisms
Rhymes and Wits
"Make tea not war."
From Monty Pythons Flying Circus: Hell's Grannies sketch (on the back of their jackets)
"If a man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty."
Japanese proverb
"Woman are like tea bags. They don't know how strong they are until they get into hot water."
Attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt and Nancy Reagan
www.stashtea.com