tea is important.
i insist on it being perfectly made, being as how i am royalty an' all.
these are my instructions to my willing handmaidens - sorry, not those instructions...where did i put the tea memo...?

ok, here we go ...

tea must always be poured from a proper tea pot made of china and not brewed in the cup.
two tea bags - preferably clipper fair trade - in the teapot which has previously been warmed with boiling water.
the kettle must still be boiling when the water is poured into the tea pot.
the tea pot must then be covered with a tea cosy - doris's old bedsocks will not do - anyway they've got holes in them.
the tea must be left to brew for three minutes.
a small amount of milk (semi-skimmed) must be poured into a china mug, after which the tea can be poured.
it should be so hot that i have to blow it first.

by the time the first cup of the day is down my neck, i am half awake.
after the second, i'm ready for anything.

but if the tea's not right, it can have a drastic effect on my enjoyment of the whole day.

how do you like yours?