A bit harsh to call her insubstantial!!! She supported causes that were really unpopular and stigmatised, like AIDS and landmines. My father fought in that war in Rhodesia and Angola and bringing attention to the plight of landmine victims was really courageous. My dad knew fellow soldiers that had legs blown off. I was 16 when she died and I remember it well. She really was a beautiful lady and it was a huge loss to the world. As for her legs in photos, well she can’t help it if she has long legs! She wasn’t perfect but none of us are. My engagement ring is a replica of hers!
Re the perfect cup of tea…. It can be very personal thing but as a long time tea drinker and devotee (it really does have a magical quality of being calming and stimulating at the same time) I have 4 simple suggestions for a perfect black/EB style tea: 1. Full cream milk and add only after you’ve let the tea steep for only a minute or two. 2. Fresh tap water & freshly boiled kettle 3. Try the organic breakfast tea leaves from Bright Organics online, it’s a beautiful flavour. Or Madura Premium blend tea bags or leaves from the supermarket are a winning substitution. 4. Try a smaller tea pot, only a cup or two size, with 2tsp leaves.
As long as Princes Harry and William and their families make the headlines, Princess Diana will continue to be brought up and
written about I think.
Maybe because Princess Diana was one of a long line of women who was ‘wronged’ because of Charles infidelity and the consequent media circus that continued for years especially when Charles remarried and even to this day. Diana was a concerned mother expressing her love openly to her sons, a humanitarian and fashionista, admitting her mistakes and weaknesses and loves that was quite distinct from most of the Royal Family.
the death of Diana - I remember where I was when I heard she’d been in an accident (I said to my friend “imagine if she died! Unthinkable” and then she did die) - it was utterly surreal.
How refreshing to read about Diana in terms that don’t elevate her to sainthood, that coolly observe her without any gloss, distant from her victimhood.
Anglo-empire peeps thinking that a nanny-raised, governess-educated aristocrat from a big estate is their “people’s princess” always made as much sense as mid-western minimum-wage workers believing that a NY property developer billionaire represents their interests. Yeah… nah.
The two are not unconnected. Diana’s heyday was the early 1980’s, when Thatcher closed the mines and sold off public assets, decimating communities and ruining livelihoods. Income disparity took a sharp upwards turn. Let’s just say that the people, as they are today, were looking for saviours and heroes through which they could channel their frustrations. Better Diana than the current lot.
I found this latest missive with its excoriation of Diana quite jarring. I think it's because it was so unkind. For all her frailties and missteps, she was a real person just trying to get through the life she had ended up in - a life almost none of us can imagine, let alone live through. Unlike Stephanie, I've always identified with the description of Diana coined by Tina Brown - 'the mouse that roared' - recognising the way, in the years following her marriage into the royal family and her later divorce, Diana matured and found her 'voice', her sexuality, and her purpose. Her story is an archetypal story and it explains to a large extent why people were so entranced by her. For a beautifully written and insightful appraisal of her by someone who knew her (at least a little), I'd direct you to this Clive James' essay: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1997/09/15/requiem-clive-james
Sorry Monique that you felt that way. Yes, I know that Clive James piece. It is wonderful and does an amazing job of portraying her complexities. But he was an ageing "smitten" man and she was a beautiful young woman.
Hey Steph, consider buying your tea from the Tea Centre ( Sydney, Canberra, online), I have found it to be superior to T2 & any supermarket offerings. I have been using their tea exclusively for about 12 years now. Proper tea, carefully sourced. The Assam Dimakusi BOP (like DOP with food), Yorkshire blend, Irish breakfast, Stockholm blend are all on rotation here in Dalmeny. Your tea-making method seems correct, so it's probably the quality of the leaves. Loving your weekly missives & thankyou for all your hard work to bring it to us.😊
I can’t remember how I came across Vamp, but I’m glad I did. Where else can I read about Tina Brown’s savage review (no one does a velvet insult like Tina Brown), tea and David Sedaris?! And thank you for introducing me to Chae.
I read the Sedaris piece, it’s … ok. I’m also finding he’s less funny and more peevish now, with an edge of bitterness? He’s poking fun at himself in a roundabout way as in his early books (like Me Talk Pretty One Day) but the overall effect is like listening to your rich uncle complain about capital gains tax on investment properties. In other words, you’re not missing much.
I love reading how other people make tea and have immediately added Bushell’s leaf tea to the shopping list. I love strong black with milk, so second the Taylor’s of Harrogate - Yorkshire Gold is my favourite. I read a Sofia Coppola interview and she mentions only drinking Yorkshire Gold (out of a very expensive porcelain cup), so naturally now I have to drink the same (ha). Honorable mentions to Barry’s Gold, PG Tips and Tea Garden Co. If I’m using loose leaf just for me, I use an in-cup infuser, 1-2tsp tea and set a timer for 3 mins, then strain and add milk. More often than not I’m rushing though (toddler life) so use two tea bags, dunk vigorously, drink half and then find it later and wonder if it’s worth reheating (can confirm it’s not an enjoyable choice).
With nominating a day for the zoom meetup, it seems we could only choose one so the first option got a lot of preferences. I tred to click on 4 options but that didnt seem possible. That's the one I can't make and I'd really like to join. Can you possibly repost it and make it a multi-option selection?
You are doing everything right, I think it’s about the leaves tho’ and have noticed that many ie: twinings, T2, even those expensive ones in pretty tins taste weak and watery and it doesn’t matter if you add more leaves. I think the previous comment is on the money with the Bushells but also while staying with a Yorkshire born friend in London recently noticed the only tea in her kitchen was Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire tea. Leaf or bag, it didn’t seem to matter. A proper brew.
One thing, should you be using the dreaded bag let it steep before adding milk…lactic acid inhibits tannic acid.
Everyone in my extended family likes a strong tea and uses Bushells extra strong leaf tea. Brew in a pot for 4-5 mins. Always leaf tea and a pot first thing in the morning. Not expensive. I’ll have a flavoured tea (Tea2 Melbourne Breakfast a favourite at the moment) from a bag at work, but first cup of the day needs to be strong and from a pot.
Tea… I don’t enjoy any tea when I’m away, even when I use my favourite teabags (I know… don’t judge me) that I take with me. The variable factors… water quality (rainwater at home, sometimes fresh sometimes vintage like an aged wine). Freshly boiled water into a warmed mug. Water should only reach halfway in the kettle, and constantly refreshed or not allowed to boil constantly so it doesn’t contain deoxygenated water. Always fine porcelain mugs (cos chunky brims make me dribble) of about 350ml capacity. I use ordinary granulated white sugar; I enjoy caramel notes from raw sugar, but not in my tea thankyouverymuch.
Best enjoyed in an armchair with cat on lap.
Another wonderful newsletter Stephanie.. your writing style and subjects fire my neurones in a deeply satisfying way. I’m smiling as I read..even the sad bits.
oh thank you! and for the tea tips .. interesting about the water and deoxygenation ... who knew! and rainwater! lucky you! (got me thinking ... wonder if I could get a rainwater tank in my fairly small inner-city courtyard!)
A bit harsh to call her insubstantial!!! She supported causes that were really unpopular and stigmatised, like AIDS and landmines. My father fought in that war in Rhodesia and Angola and bringing attention to the plight of landmine victims was really courageous. My dad knew fellow soldiers that had legs blown off. I was 16 when she died and I remember it well. She really was a beautiful lady and it was a huge loss to the world. As for her legs in photos, well she can’t help it if she has long legs! She wasn’t perfect but none of us are. My engagement ring is a replica of hers!
Re the perfect cup of tea…. It can be very personal thing but as a long time tea drinker and devotee (it really does have a magical quality of being calming and stimulating at the same time) I have 4 simple suggestions for a perfect black/EB style tea: 1. Full cream milk and add only after you’ve let the tea steep for only a minute or two. 2. Fresh tap water & freshly boiled kettle 3. Try the organic breakfast tea leaves from Bright Organics online, it’s a beautiful flavour. Or Madura Premium blend tea bags or leaves from the supermarket are a winning substitution. 4. Try a smaller tea pot, only a cup or two size, with 2tsp leaves.
As long as Princes Harry and William and their families make the headlines, Princess Diana will continue to be brought up and
written about I think.
Maybe because Princess Diana was one of a long line of women who was ‘wronged’ because of Charles infidelity and the consequent media circus that continued for years especially when Charles remarried and even to this day. Diana was a concerned mother expressing her love openly to her sons, a humanitarian and fashionista, admitting her mistakes and weaknesses and loves that was quite distinct from most of the Royal Family.
Dilmah leaf tea, Avanti insulated Teapot. Please share the results of your tea 'experiments' 😊.
the death of Diana - I remember where I was when I heard she’d been in an accident (I said to my friend “imagine if she died! Unthinkable” and then she did die) - it was utterly surreal.
How refreshing to read about Diana in terms that don’t elevate her to sainthood, that coolly observe her without any gloss, distant from her victimhood.
Anglo-empire peeps thinking that a nanny-raised, governess-educated aristocrat from a big estate is their “people’s princess” always made as much sense as mid-western minimum-wage workers believing that a NY property developer billionaire represents their interests. Yeah… nah.
The two are not unconnected. Diana’s heyday was the early 1980’s, when Thatcher closed the mines and sold off public assets, decimating communities and ruining livelihoods. Income disparity took a sharp upwards turn. Let’s just say that the people, as they are today, were looking for saviours and heroes through which they could channel their frustrations. Better Diana than the current lot.
wonderful insightful comment, thanks Ania!
I found this latest missive with its excoriation of Diana quite jarring. I think it's because it was so unkind. For all her frailties and missteps, she was a real person just trying to get through the life she had ended up in - a life almost none of us can imagine, let alone live through. Unlike Stephanie, I've always identified with the description of Diana coined by Tina Brown - 'the mouse that roared' - recognising the way, in the years following her marriage into the royal family and her later divorce, Diana matured and found her 'voice', her sexuality, and her purpose. Her story is an archetypal story and it explains to a large extent why people were so entranced by her. For a beautifully written and insightful appraisal of her by someone who knew her (at least a little), I'd direct you to this Clive James' essay: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1997/09/15/requiem-clive-james
Sorry Monique that you felt that way. Yes, I know that Clive James piece. It is wonderful and does an amazing job of portraying her complexities. But he was an ageing "smitten" man and she was a beautiful young woman.
Hey Steph, consider buying your tea from the Tea Centre ( Sydney, Canberra, online), I have found it to be superior to T2 & any supermarket offerings. I have been using their tea exclusively for about 12 years now. Proper tea, carefully sourced. The Assam Dimakusi BOP (like DOP with food), Yorkshire blend, Irish breakfast, Stockholm blend are all on rotation here in Dalmeny. Your tea-making method seems correct, so it's probably the quality of the leaves. Loving your weekly missives & thankyou for all your hard work to bring it to us.😊
thank you Joanna!
I can’t remember how I came across Vamp, but I’m glad I did. Where else can I read about Tina Brown’s savage review (no one does a velvet insult like Tina Brown), tea and David Sedaris?! And thank you for introducing me to Chae.
I read the Sedaris piece, it’s … ok. I’m also finding he’s less funny and more peevish now, with an edge of bitterness? He’s poking fun at himself in a roundabout way as in his early books (like Me Talk Pretty One Day) but the overall effect is like listening to your rich uncle complain about capital gains tax on investment properties. In other words, you’re not missing much.
I love reading how other people make tea and have immediately added Bushell’s leaf tea to the shopping list. I love strong black with milk, so second the Taylor’s of Harrogate - Yorkshire Gold is my favourite. I read a Sofia Coppola interview and she mentions only drinking Yorkshire Gold (out of a very expensive porcelain cup), so naturally now I have to drink the same (ha). Honorable mentions to Barry’s Gold, PG Tips and Tea Garden Co. If I’m using loose leaf just for me, I use an in-cup infuser, 1-2tsp tea and set a timer for 3 mins, then strain and add milk. More often than not I’m rushing though (toddler life) so use two tea bags, dunk vigorously, drink half and then find it later and wonder if it’s worth reheating (can confirm it’s not an enjoyable choice).
Hi, so glad you found Vamp!!!! I'll be returning to the subject of tea I think!
I think when your partner shuts down instead of communicating.
Not listening or dismissing feelings.
Minimising or ignoring their partner’s emotions or concerns.
Jokey comments that convey control.
With nominating a day for the zoom meetup, it seems we could only choose one so the first option got a lot of preferences. I tred to click on 4 options but that didnt seem possible. That's the one I can't make and I'd really like to join. Can you possibly repost it and make it a multi-option selection?
You are doing everything right, I think it’s about the leaves tho’ and have noticed that many ie: twinings, T2, even those expensive ones in pretty tins taste weak and watery and it doesn’t matter if you add more leaves. I think the previous comment is on the money with the Bushells but also while staying with a Yorkshire born friend in London recently noticed the only tea in her kitchen was Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire tea. Leaf or bag, it didn’t seem to matter. A proper brew.
One thing, should you be using the dreaded bag let it steep before adding milk…lactic acid inhibits tannic acid.
so the Taylors of Harrogate was good?
Everyone in my extended family likes a strong tea and uses Bushells extra strong leaf tea. Brew in a pot for 4-5 mins. Always leaf tea and a pot first thing in the morning. Not expensive. I’ll have a flavoured tea (Tea2 Melbourne Breakfast a favourite at the moment) from a bag at work, but first cup of the day needs to be strong and from a pot.
thanks Katherine, I've been buying Tetley's but putting Bushell's on my shopping list now!
Tea… I don’t enjoy any tea when I’m away, even when I use my favourite teabags (I know… don’t judge me) that I take with me. The variable factors… water quality (rainwater at home, sometimes fresh sometimes vintage like an aged wine). Freshly boiled water into a warmed mug. Water should only reach halfway in the kettle, and constantly refreshed or not allowed to boil constantly so it doesn’t contain deoxygenated water. Always fine porcelain mugs (cos chunky brims make me dribble) of about 350ml capacity. I use ordinary granulated white sugar; I enjoy caramel notes from raw sugar, but not in my tea thankyouverymuch.
Best enjoyed in an armchair with cat on lap.
Another wonderful newsletter Stephanie.. your writing style and subjects fire my neurones in a deeply satisfying way. I’m smiling as I read..even the sad bits.
oh thank you! and for the tea tips .. interesting about the water and deoxygenation ... who knew! and rainwater! lucky you! (got me thinking ... wonder if I could get a rainwater tank in my fairly small inner-city courtyard!)