Inside the November Issue:
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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!
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Editor's Note
As the leaves crunch under foot, the scent of fires burning in the hearth waft through the air, and family and friends gather for holiday feasts, take time to reflect on all the things in life for which you are grateful. Too often we are busy and preoccupied with other life events and the truly important things get lost in the fray. Then take some time with a nice cup of tea to enjoy November's edition of the Tea Times.
From political coverage to Hyacinth Bouquet–you'll find it all on MPT in November. Be sure to read the Tea News Bits to see all of the highlights of the programming coming to you in November.
What do Winston Churchill and Billy Idol have in common? You'll see as you read further!
Wendy Richard will be marrying her partner of 13 years. We all send our best wishes to the couple.
Molasses Pork Tenderloin with Red Wine Sauce. No, it's not turkey or even pumpkin but we thought you just might have enough of those types of recipes. We thought we'd offer an alternative solution to your holiday cooking plans.
Family, friends, good times, memories–we hope each of you experience all of these during the holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The Tea Times Newsletter Staff
1
They Say It's Your Birthday!
Do you share a birthday with any of these people?
November 21, 1963
Nicolette Sheridan – actress
November 25, 1835
Andrew Carnegie – financier, banker
November 30, 1874
Sir Winston Churchill – former Prime Minister of England
November 30, 1955
Billy Idol – singer
2
The Wars of the Roses
 15th century clock tower
of St Albans |
After the first Battle of St. Albans, the compromise of 1455 enjoyed some success, with York remaining the dominant voice on the Council even after Henry's recovery. The problems which had caused conflict soon re-emerged, particularly the issue of whether the Duke of York, or Henry and Margaret's infant son, Edward, would succeed to the throne. Margaret refused to accept any solution that would disinherit her son, and it became clear that she would only tolerate the situation for as long as the Duke of York and his allies retained the military ascendancy.
In 1456, Henry went on royal progress in the midlands, where the king and queen were popular. Margaret did not allow him to return to London where the merchants were angry at the decline in trade and widespread disorder. The king's court was set up at Coventry. By then, the new Duke of Somerset was emerging as a favourite of the royal court. Margaret also persuaded Henry to dismiss the appointments York had made as Protector, while York was made to return to his post as lieutenant in Ireland. Disorder in the capital and piracy on the south coast were growing, but the king and queen remained intent on protecting their own positions, with the queen introducing conscription for the first time in England. Meanwhile, York's ally, Warwick (later dubbed "The Kingmaker"), was growing in popularity in London as the champion of the merchants.
 Ludlow Castle, South Shropshire
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In 1460, Warwick and the others launched an invasion of England and rapidly established themselves in Kent and London, where they enjoyed wide support. Backed by a papal emissary who had taken their side, they marched north. Henry led an army south the meet them while Margaret remained in the north with Prince Edward. The Battle of Northampton on July 10, 1460, proved disastrous for the Lancastrians, and aided by treachery in the king's ranks, the Yorkist army under the Earl of Warwick was able to defeat the Lancastrians. Following the battle, and for the second time in the war, King Henry was found by the Yorkists abandoned by his retinue in a tent. He had apparently suffered another breakdown. With the king in their possession, the Yorkists returned to London.
...to be continued.
www.wikipedia.org
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Tea News Bits
November Programming
The Election is coming to a close. Tune in to Newshour on Tuesday, November 4 at 9:00 pm to watch the results as they begin to unfold.
It's an MPT premiere Monday, November 10 at 9:00 pm! Join us for America's Veterans: A Musical Tribute. Filmed at Strathmore Hall in Rockville, Maryland, it's a moving tribute done by the United States Air Force Band with Patti LaBelle and Clint Black, with narration by Cliff Robertson. This program rebroadcasts on Wednesday, November 12 at 10:00 p.m.
Join us on Wednesday, November 12, 19 and 26 at 8:00 p.m. for Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work. You'll get a good look at what keeps the Royals busy!
On Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 10:30 enjoy another MPT premiere: Maryland Ways: A Century of Modern Highways. This is followed by Flying the Secret Sky: The Story of the RAF Ferry Command.
Pip & Zastrow: An American Friendship airs on Wednesday, November 19 at 10:00 p.m. This is an engaging story of a friendship that rose above the divisiveness of the times.
Volvo Ocean Race coverage begins on Saturday, November 22 at 6:00 p.m. and will be on each succeeding Saturday for the duration of the race. If you watched this coverage last year, you'll remember how exciting it was to see the race up close and personal. If you didn't watch it last year, don't be left out this year!
On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, November 23, 24 and 25 at 8:30 p.m. please join us for The Jewish Americans series. These three programs are preceded at 8:00 by Maryland Generations: The Jewish Experience.
Windsor Castle: A Royal Year airs following The Jewish Americans on Monday and Tuesday, November 24 and 25.
Your Saturday night Brit Coms will not be on Saturday, November 22 or 29.
Ramsay slams Palace food standards
Gordon Ramsay has braved being sent to The Tower by daring to attack the standard of Buckingham Palace grub in an expletive-laden rant.
Morsels served to Ramsay during a visit to the Queen's London residence looked "prehistoric" and took forever to swallow, he added.
The 41-year-old chef was given an OBE in 2006 for services to the British hospitality industry.
The Scot received his gong at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, rather than in London.
But it was the quality of food at Buckingham Palace that came in for a roasting during an interview with US chat show king Jay Leno on Thursday's Tonight programme.
"You don't actually know who's cooking for the Queen, but I'd never employ him", Ramsay said.
The duck liver pate served to him in royal company came in for special criticism.
Ramsay said: "I was trying to get rid of it as I was approaching her because this thing was taking forever to chew.
"You couldn't spit it out on the carpet, for God's sake."
The comments are unlikely to be welcomed by chief royal chef Mark Flanagan and his 20-strong kitchen staff.
© Press Association 2008.
www.thisislocallondon.co.uk
What do you want to know more about?
If you have a topic that you would like to know more about, please drop us a line at tealady@mpt.org. We'll explore the opportunities to bring you the information you have interest in.
4
Tea "healthier" drink than water
Drinking three or more cups of tea a day is as good for you as drinking plenty of water and may even have extra health benefits, say researchers.
The work in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition dispels the common belief that tea dehydrates.
Tea not only rehydrates as well as water does, but it can also protect against heart disease and some cancers, UK nutritionists found. Experts believe flavonoids are the key ingredient in tea that promotes health.
These polyphenol antioxidants are found in many foods and plants, including tea leaves, and have been shown to help prevent cell damage.
Public health nutritionist Dr. Carrie Ruxton, and colleagues at Kings College London, looked at published studies on the health effects of tea consumption. They found clear evidence that drinking three to four cups of tea a day can cut the chances of having a heart attack.
Some studies suggested tea consumption protected against cancer, although this effect was less clear-cut. Other health benefits seen included protection against tooth plaque and potentially tooth decay, plus bone strengthening.
Dr. Ruxton said: "Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so it's got two things going for it."
She said it was an urban myth that tea is dehydrating. "Studies on caffeine have found very high doses dehydrate and everyone assumes that caffeine-containing beverages dehydrate. But even if you had a really, really strong cup of tea or coffee, which is quite hard to make, you would still have a net gain of fluid. Also a cup of tea contains fluoride, which is good for the teeth," she added.
There was no evidence that tea consumption was harmful to health. However, research suggests that tea can impair the body's ability to absorb iron from food, meaning people at risk of anemia should avoid drinking tea around mealtimes.
Dr. Ruxton's team found average tea consumption was just under three cups per day. She said the increasing popularity of soft drinks meant many people were not drinking as much tea as before.
"Tea drinking is most common in older people, the 40 plus age range. In older people, tea sometimes made up about 70% of fluid intake so it is a really important contributor," she said.
Clair Williamson of the British Nutrition Foundation said: "Studies in the laboratory have shown potential health benefits. The evidence in humans is not as strong and more studies need to be done. But there are definite potential health benefits from the polyphenols in terms of reducing the risk of diseases such as heart disease and cancers. In terms of fluid intake, we recommend 1.5-2 litres per day and that can include tea. Tea is not dehydrating. It is a healthy drink."
The Tea Council provided funding for the work. Dr. Ruxton stressed that the work was independent.
news.bbc.co.uk
5
Actress Wendy Richard Marries Partner
Ex-EastEnders [and former Are You Being Served?] star Wendy Richard married her partner before starting treatment for terminal cancer.
Guests arrived for the ceremony at a hotel in London's Mayfair, including Todd Carty, who played Richard's son in the soap. Other former co-stars including Barbara Windsor and Natalie Cassidy, who played her daughter-in-law Sonia, were also expected to attend.
Richard recently revealed that she had an aggressive form of cancer.
The actress's dog Lily, which is related to the Cairn terrier who was her on-screen dog Betty in EastEnders, was a special guest at the ceremony.
Richard said the move to bring forward the wedding meant there was little time to order a cake, flowers and outfits for their big day. She said: "We were going to get married anyway but when we got the diagnosis we decided to push ahead and get married now. There was no rush before."
The star, who was in EastEnders for more than 21 years, said recently that she wanted to enjoy a pain-free day and have a laugh.
The couple's honeymoon in the U.S. has been postponed until Richard completes her course of chemotherapy.
Richard and her partner, John Burns, who is 20 years younger than her, have been together for 13 years.
The actress, who also appeared in the sitcom Are You Being Served?, has been divorced on three previous occasions.
Richard has fought off breast cancer twice, but in January was told the disease had spread to her right kidney and bones.
news.bbc.co.uk
6
Becoming Jane Austen
The True Love Story That Inspired
the Classic Novels
by John Spence
Part of a continuing series.
When Phila wrote that Cassandra had had her fourth son in 1771, Tysoe replied: "That my brother & sister Austen are well, I heartily rejoice, but I cannot say that the news of the violently rapid increase of their family gives me so much pleasure." By the time he received this information, Cassandra was pregnant again. She had her fifth child, a girl at last, in early January 1773, and Tysoe, tersely commented: "I must own myself sorry to hear of your going to Steventon, & for the occasion of it: I fear George will find it easier to a family than to provide for them." Tysoe was not yet fifty, but his health had been undermined by work and worry and the harsh climate in India; he didn't live to reply to the news that the Austens had had another son in 1774, and he died a month before their second daughter, named after her aunt Cooper, was born on 16 December, 1775. Jane Austen was the seventh of the Austens' eight children.
Jane Austen
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Jane was only about six month old when news of Tysoe Hancock's death reached Steventon, and before she was two, her aunt Phila and fifteen-year-old cousin Betsey set out for the Continent where they eventually settled in France. Phila and Betsy didn't re-enter Jane's life until 1786, at about the time of her eleventh birthday.
There had been talk about Phila and her daughter spending some time in France when Betsy was only seven or eight, long before Tysoe's death. He had thought it a good idea at the time because, he wrote to Phila, "Betsy will soon be too old to risqué her picking up the levity of follies of the French. Perhaps by 1777 Phila had forgotten this warning.
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Tea Advisor
Aspects of Tea Production
Following the revision of its charter in 1834, the East India Company's monopoly of trade between China and Britain had come to an end. Simultaneously, there were doubts in Britain as to the reliability of Chinese exports, particularly as Japan had recently severed all trade with the West. It was therefore natural that the British, through the East India Company, should consider growing tea in India.
In 1793 Lord Macartney had been sent by the British government on a mission to Peking. Macartney was determined to be treated as an emissary of an equal sate, but the Chinese had other ideas. They inscribed his barges with characters reading "envoy bearing tribute." When he arrived he was expected to perform the "kowtow," which involved kneeling three times before the Emperor, and each time touching the floor three times with the face. Macartney would only do this if in return the Emperor would perform the kowtow to a portrait Macartney was carrying of the British king, George III. This the Chinese Emperor refused to do, and permission was refused for Macartney to become resident ambassador in Peking. The two did exchange present, however, and Lord Macartney was allowed to take away some tea seeds and plants.
In crossing into Kiangsi we passed through tea plantations and were allowed by the Viceroy to take up several tea plants in a growing state with very large balls of earth adhering to them, which plants I flatter myself, I shall be able to transmit to Bengal.
Tea | By Roy Moxham
8
Mystery of the Month
What Is Your Guess?
Case One
One man's image has inspired many people to write songs, stories and poems. He has even compelled some to travel great distances to visit him. For as long as anyone can remember, individuals around the world have seen him on a regular basis. However, he only shows his face from a distance; when people are able to reach him, he disappears.
The Mystery
Who is the man and which of his features are people able to see?
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Clues
- He is surrounded by stars, but he's not an actor.
- Ancient Greeks believed he was a woman.
- Farmers, fisherman and hunters look to him for advice.
- He appears ageless and timeless.
- He shows himself when it gets dark out.
Case Two
A talented entertainer gathers several of his friends and his glamorous girlfriend together to make a major motion picture. In it, he performs a new song about a colorful object in the sky, which becomes an instant national hit. The star is more famous than ever before, but never receives a penny of the millions in proceeds.
The Mystery
Who is the star and who is his girlfriend?
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Clues
- The year is 1979.
- The song is considered dreamy.
- The star hosted a weekly TV show with celebrity guests.
- The star's girlfriend wears a blond wig.
- The star's favorite color is green.
Be sure to check the December 2008 edition of the Tea Times for the answers
Answers to October Mysteries:
Case One: The patriot is Yankee Doodle Dandy and the pasta is macaroni.
Case Two: The woman is a professional exterminator. She poisons her victims.
9
England's Calendar of Events | November
Bristol Charity Fireworks Fiesta
November 3, 2008
The Downs
The sky above The Downs fills with noise and colour for the annual Bristol Charity Fireworks Fiesta, celebrating the historic demise of Guy Fawkes.
www.whatsonwhen.com
Southport Weekender
November 7-9, 2008
Pontins Holiday Village
One of the UK's longest-running music extravaganzas, the Southport Weekender attracts a 5000 capacity crowd to the Pontins holiday complex in Southport, north-west England.
The Southport Weekenders have their roots back in October 1987, before the "Superclub" had been invented. Moving with the times, the Weekenders have set trends in fashion, showcased new and up-and-coming music and proved their staying power. With the emphasis on quality music, these events have always attracted a crowd who not only want to party hard for a whole weekend in a holiday camp, but who really care about what they are dancing to.
The holiday centre has excellent facilities including a go-cart track, restaurant, shops, heated indoor swimming pool, basketball courts, games rooms and, of course, fully-licensed bars serving the best booze 24 hours a day. Accommodation is in modern self-catering apartments, which are likely to host various alternative gatherings, parties and general tomfoolery. The entry price includes all accommodation and entertainment.
Music ranges from R&B, soul and hip-hop in The Funkbase and floor-filling dance sounds in The Powerhouse to the soul aficionado's Connoisseur's Corner and the eclectic styles of the B-Bar. The Southport crew treats you to a feast of world-class DJ talent.
www.whatsonwhen.com
Windsor Contemporary Art Fair
November 7-9, 2008
Royal Windsor Race Course
Art lovers faithfully gather for the annual Windsor Contemporary Art Fair, held at the Royal Windsor Racecourse. Photography, paintings, drawings, limited edition prints, sculptures and glasswork by over 70 exhibitors are on display.
The exhibitor list features new talent and established names whose pieces range from £30 to £3,000. Music, art workshops, wine-tasting and a café add to the arty fun.
www.whatsonwhen.com
10
Molasses Pork Tenderloin with Red Wine Sauce
Thinking about breaking away from turkey for a little while? Here's a recipe sure to please the crowd!
Ingredients
- 1 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1 ¼ cups molasses
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 3 (¾-pound) pork tenderloins
Red Wine Sauce Ingredients
- ½ small sweet onion, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup dry red wine
- 1 (14 ½-ounce) can beef broth
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Preparation
Combine first 6 ingredients in a shallow dish or heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag; add tenderloins. Cover or seal, and chill 8 hours.
Remove tenderloins from marinade, discarding marinade.
Grill tenderloins, covered with grill lid, over medium-high heat (350° to 400°) 20 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 160°, turning occasionally. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with Red Wine Sauce, if desired.
Note: Tenderloins may be pan seared in a hot skillet to brown and then baked at 375° for 15 to 20 minutes.
Red Wine Sauce Preparation
Sauté onion in butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat 3 minutes, or until browned. Add wine, and cook 3 minutes. Add beef broth; bring to a boil, and cook 5 minutes.
Stir together ¼ cup water and cornstarch; add to broth mixture, stirring constantly, 1 minute or until mixture thickens. Remove from heat, and serve over tenderloin.
Yield
6-8 servings
www.myrecipes.com
11
Afternoon Teaisms
Rhymes and Wits
Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.
Attributed to Yves Saint Laurent
Real Simple Magazine
September 2008
Poems For Thanksgiving
May Your Stuffing Be Tasty;
May Your Turkey Be Plump,
May Your Potatoes N Gravy Have A Nary A Lump,
May Your Yams Be Delicious,
May Your Pies Take The Prize,
May Your Thanksgiving Dinner
Stay Off Of Your Thighs!
Thanksgiving.spike-jaimie.com
Thanks for giving me your ears
and listening when I need a friend.
Thanks for giving me your heart
and caring so much about me.
Thanks for giving me a shoulder
when I needed someone to lean on.
Thanks for giving me a hand
to help me through many a troubled time.
Thanks for giving me you -
it's been the best gift
I've ever received!
Thanksgiving.spike-jaimie.com