from August 2002, 22 years ago

August 2002, I am just returned from a fortnight in London, and it was lovely.

There is always good tea in London. Every place I visited – and nearly every lunch hour was spent in a museum café – had a splendid little machine next to the espresso maker whose only function was to produce freshly boiling water. So every pot of tea was lovely (most often Twinings Assam. There was always a choice, and the Twinings there is obviously better than the Twinings here).

I had the best scones of my life in Brighton: big plain puffy pillows with cream (alas lightweight) and homemade raspberry jam at a tiny shop called The Mock Turtle.

In Cambridge, we ate at Auntie’s Tea Shop, sitting outside so we could gaze upon Kings College, and the Assam was ‘strong enough to trot a mouse over’ with a goodly helping of cream and demerara in it.

I also found the Bridgewater Pottery shop in London (on Marylebone High Street) and did as much damage as I could carry. I love the strong, satisfying shapes of this pottery, which is not easy to find in the US. I added a sugar pot and a mug to the two Bridgewater teapots I already own.

I bought a few tins of this and that, and will report. The Fortnum & Mason New York blend, supposedly made especially for NY water, is a light mix of Ceylons, and it is indeed very tasty. I drank it neat, without milk or sugar, and think it will make a nice iced brew, also.

I am very very tired, and still, I think, on London time. But it is good to be back.