I like to drink tea and, like many other people throughout the world, I have a cup of tea to start my day. Tea is certainly an interesting subject. I used tea as a background for my contemporary romance, Tea For Two.
Tea, coffee and chocolate were all well known drinks by the mid eighteenth century and that’s where we’re headed right now. Grab a cup of your morning beverage of choice and hold tight—we’re time traveling back to 1720 England. Wait! Close your eyes. We’re in Rosalind’s bed chamber…there…okay, she’s presentable now. You can open your eyes.
Meet Rosalind, Viscount Hastings new wife. Yes, she’s the spurned one, but we’ll get back to that later.
Rosalind likes to start her day with a cup of chocolate. Drinking chocolate was introduced to England around 1650. At that time, it was an expensive drink and only the wealthy partook. Word spread rapidly. The drink caught on and chocolate houses started to open in the cities. The chocolate of this time was a very sweet drink, with sugar and spices added to counteract the natural bitterness of chocolate.
Tea arrived in Britain in 1657. Samuel Pepys liked to try these new beverages, and he drank his first cup of tea around 1660. Initially they called the new product a medicine and told everyone a sip of tea would cure many ills. Tea certainly caught on quickly. By 1770 the British were consuming 18 million pounds of tea a year. The mistress of the house kept the tea under lock and key because it was so expensive. This exorbitant price created a black market and smugglers shipped in a lot of tea from Europe.
Employers allowed their cooks and servants to sell the used tea leaves. The servants collected and dried them, pocketing the money from the sale. The poor purchased the recycled tea leaves, which unscrupulous vendors sometimes doctored with dangerous additives such as dyes.
Doctors, politicians, wine merchants and the clergy condemned tea as a bad thing, but tea gardens such as Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens proved the popularity of the new beverage. At Vauxhall, men and women of all classes drank tea together.
The English started drinking coffee during the mid seventeenth century, and people flocked to taste the new beverage. Claims about its health properties helped sell the drink. Coffee Houses sprang up in Britain and they developed into male refuges. Coffee was around 2d a cup and newspapers and conversation were free. Gentlemen had their favorite coffee houses, usually catering to their politics or interests such as literature.
As I mentioned earlier, Rosalind likes to start her day with a cup of chocolate while Charles, her new cousin by marriage, and his best friend favor coffee. Lady Augusta drinks tea and is mightily upset when her best friend suggests she serves inferior tea to the ladies after dinner.
Here’s the blurb for The Spurned Viscountess:
Click to purchase
Cursed with the sight and rumors of witchcraft, Rosalind’s only chance at an ordinary life is marriage to Lucien, Viscount Hastings. She doesn’t expect love, only security and children of her own. Determined to go through with the wedding, she allows nothing she encounters at the gloomy Castle St. Clare to dissuade her.
He wants nothing to do with her.
Recently returned from the Continent, Lucien has no time for the English mouse his family has arranged for him to marry, not when he’s plotting to avenge the murder of his beloved Francesca. He has no intention of bedding Rosalind, not even to sire an heir.
Dark secrets will bind them.
Though spurned by her bridegroom, Rosalind turns to him for protection when she is plagued by a series of mysterious accidents and haunted by terrifying visions. Forced to keep Rosalind close, and tempted into passionate kisses, Lucien soon finds himself in grave danger of falling in love with his own wife…
The Art of Dining—a history of cooking and eating by Sara Paston-Williams
Thanks for having me to visit today!
What beverage do you like to start the day? Do you prefer tea, coffee, chocolate or something else? Do you like to read food scenes in your romances?
CONTEST: Answer one or all of the questions above and go into a draw to win a download of The Spurned Viscountess, a Georgian historical romance with gothic tones, byShelley Munro.
Shelley Munro lives in New Zealand and enjoys both writing and reading historical romance. She loves to cook and eat, but her husband does most of the cooking because he says it relaxes him after a stressful day at work. A great deal, according to Shelley! You can visit Shelley and learn more about her books at http://www.shelleymunro.com
62 Replies to “Enjoy Your Morning Cuppa with Shelley Munro”
I usually have juice in the morning. I like food scenes in romance novels because meals are intimate and it can help the characters get to know each other better and help develop their relationship.
I used to start my day with a cup of tea. After our son was born, however, coffee became the drink of choice and remains so. I usually have only one cup, maybe two. More than that seems to upset my stomach. I still enjoy tea and often have cups during the day or evening. Hot chocolate is always a special treat, especially with a dash of coconut rum.
I like food scenes that reflect an accurate picture of what was eaten during that time period and how it was served. It is nice to see how things are the same and how they have changed.
THE SPURNED VISCOUNTESS sounds like it will be a good read. I don’t have an E-Reader and don’t know when I’ll get one. Soon I hope.
I spend my quiet moments in the morning over ice coffee, that I make. A reminder and recipe of my grandmother’s, it is cool, refreshing, touches of spice and flavor that helps me start off the day. I believe that food scenes are as in life, passion… I know I am passionate about life, love, food, art.. the list goes on. Food is a conversation, from the way it is set and prepared to the ingredient of love poured in. The people we invite to our table expresses the way a meal is going, formal to ala famigilia, and whether the conversation will be simply as long as the meal or last into the night.
Congrats on the new release, Shelley. I alternate between tea and coffee depending on my mood. I do enjoy reading food scenes in romances. Sometimes they can be quite sensual and other times I just like to know what they’re eating.
I’ve recently switched to coffee in the morning from tea because I need the extra caffeine to get going. Hot chocolate for me is a once in a while treat on a cool evening.
I do like food scenes in my romances, not just because I love to eat, but I think they can tell us a lot about the characters.
I am a lover of all three. But after my children is when I switched to coffee in the morning from tea. I only drink 2 cups in the morning because I am a Pepsi lover and drink it throughout the day. Great seeing you here Shelley and I’m looking forward to reading your book.
Carol L. Lucky4750@aol.com
Stephanie – Meals are definitely times to relax and chat and get to know each other. I like to eat. I should probably write more food type scenes. 🙂
Library Pat – I love the sound of your hot chocolate with coconut rum. It sounds very decadent!
Jane – thanks so much. Even a food fight could make a sensual scene with the right people. 😉
Cynthya – I’m defintely a tea girl in the mornings. I drink coffee in the afternoons or if I go to a cafe to do some writing. I think coffee goes good with people watching.
Hi Shelley,
Welcome to the blog. Thanks for the great post about our morning beverages. I love the story of a spurned wife (I’m actually writing one right now–hehehe) so I have to check out The Spurned Viscountess.
Growing up, my brothers and sister and I were given hot chocolate every morning. My mother said we needed something hot to drink every day. I think she held to the notion, a cup of hot chocolate every day kept the doctor away.
As an adult, I still love the odd cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day, but I love my decaffeinated Tetley Tea (British Blend) with lemon. Can’t have milk in it. And I don’t like coffee at all. Never drank it and never will.
Beverley – I’m a big tea drinker. I think it’s spending so long in England that turned me 🙂 I look forward to checking out your spurned heroine.
Congrats on the release and thanks for the insight. I hadn’t realised chocolate had been around so long in England, even predating tea which is the “English drink”.
I don’t drink coffee at all and although my mom was a big tea drinker (hot only, she didn’t like ice tea) I didn’t develop much of a taste for it either. I’ll occasionally will have a cup or even going out to Afternoon Tea at one of the local hotels. During winter a cup of hot chocolate after getting to the office in the morning is always nice.
I usually have coffee to start my day. I have read books with food scenes and never really thought about liking it or not liking it. I guess I could go either way. Congrats on your new release.
This book looks great!! I’m not a big coffee drinker, so if I need a pick me up in the morning, I usually go with Diet Pepsi, or Hot Cocoa in the winter.
I usually have water first thing, but I really love tea especially Iced tea. I love hot chocolate also. I like food scenes in books. The Spurned Viscountess looks really good can’t wait to read it.
I don’t drink much of anything but water, both in the morning and throughout the day. I’m on a perpetual diet and calories in drinks are the easiest thing for me to forgo. Every once in awhile though I will indulge in a glass of chocolate milk, either hot or cold. I’m a foodie so I love to read food scenes in books. I’m always surprised at how these aristocratic women stayed thin given the kind of food they were supposedly eating. Best wishes on your book. It looks good.
Fascinating to know the origins of stuff we take for granted.
I actually like to start my day with drinking water then maybe milk. Coffee does nothing for me….LOL
I’m a coffee person. Must have my coffee in the morning!
Yes, I like to read ‘food scenes’ in books….as long as there is nothing gross on the dinner menu! I’m think now about the dinner scene in the movie ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’.
Tea drinker all the way, and not just a cup, I savour over a whole pot while I write, blog, email, etc. All the best for your release!!
I prefer cold water over anything else, but a cup of hot herbal tea on a cold day is the best. 🙂 Juice is a close contender…
I like to start out the day with just one cup of coffee, and then I switch over to hot tea, especially in the winter! I’m always cold and love a good cup of tea to warm me up from the inside out
Shelly –
When I’m at home and have to go to work in the morning I find myself drinking coffee (black). My parents both drank there coffee that way so I thought that black coffee was “regular”. Imagine my surprise the first time when I ordered coffee at a restaurant!
When I’m home on the week-end is when I relax with a soothing cup of Earl Grey. I never really appreciated tea until my husband and I had a chance to visit England about 20 years ago. Yes Virginia there is a Santa Clauss and he brings you tea.
I love having “food scenes” involved in a story. I must admit some of the most descriptive I’ve read have been set in pubs and taverns!
I actually don’t drink much of anything but water in the morning. Occasionally I will drink tea or coffee, but not with any regularity. I get the sleepies around 2 pm every day, and that’s when I have my cup of coffee, or cinnamon tea. Yum!
Coffee! I need that caffeine! I do like tea and chocolate as well, but later in the day. As for food scenes in books, they are interesting especially in historicals. Food is such an important part of life.
I always start my day with a big, low fat, milk coffee. Then I drink tea for the rest of the day.
Valerie
in Germany
Donna Ann – thanks so much. It’s funny, but iced tea isn’t big in New Zealand or England either. When I used to work in London pubs we’d make iced tea sometimes for American tourists but it isn’t something we’d drink there either.
Rebekah – I think food can be very sensual in a scene. If you like contemporaries check out Louisa Edwards series about chefs. They’re very good reads.
MinnChica – I’m drinking my cup of tea as I type this. I definitely need a boost to wake up in the mornings. (It’s morning in New Zealand right now)
Sherry – sometimes only water will do to quench the thirst. 🙂
JenM – My guess would be the corsets restricted their eating. I’d have trouble breathing, let alone eating a large meal. There’s a British documentary I watch sometimes about a man and woman who go back in time and eat the food of a specific era. It’s very interesting.
Thanks for stopping by, Grace. 🙂
Marjana – coffee is an acquired taste. It’s quite a strong beverage, and I can see why they’d introduce it as a drink with health properties. I probably drink way too much. I definitely get headaches if I stop drinking it!
Karen – I’m not sure I’d be willing to try some of the things our ancestors ate. I think the Victorian food is particularly gross. They wasted nothing!
Karyn – I’m happy to drink a pot too. I find it refreshing. In fact, I’m off to get my second cup of the day…
Julie – I have to admit I’m very picky about my herbal teas. They’re not my favorites.
JWZ – my MIL is always cold and drinks tea to keep warm 🙂
Jeanne M – I’m very fond of Lady Gray tea, which is a variation of Earl Gray.
Monica – a cup of tea or coffe is a good cure for the sleepies. 🙂
Corie – I agree. We spend a large portion of our life eating. We should have more food scenes in books!
Valerie – I like my coffee and tea quite milky. I think it was living on a farm. We had a house cow so lots of milk on hand. 🙂
I start my day with coffee, 1 or 2 cups to get me going! But this is only a recent thing for me because I grew up in Barbados, which used to be a British colony. Everyone there drinks tea with milk like they do in England. That’s what I drank every morning until recently when I acquired a taste for coffee because it’s hard to get a good hot cup of tea in restaurants in the U.S. You always have to wait for it and it arrives lukewarm. So I learned to love coffee! Now I get a headache if I skip my morning coffee!
Your new book looks great! Hope I win!
I like to start the day with a glass of green tea or water. I’m not really a big coffee drinker. I don’t really mind food scenes in books but they aren’t a must have.
Without coffee I can’t start up. So I start my day with 2 or 3 cups of coffee and then I switch to tea for the afternoon.
Thanks for the giveaway and please enter me.
I start my day with coffee, and I enjoy food scenes in the books I read.
During the week I need to to have a cup of coffee every morning. On the weekends and in the evenings I drink tea. We have a wonderful tea shop close to where I love to go in and smell the different tea blends (they have samples to smell) and I usually end up buying more than I planned). Hot chocolate is a treat (with a little Frangelico added) on a cold winter day.
I love food scenes in books – whether it’s a group of people sitting around a table or someone grabbing food on the run , such scenes can be very entertaining and they can really develop a character(s) or move the plot along.
I start my day by drinking hot green tea. My favorite flavor is orange-peach.
That should be “tea shop close to where I live. …” I think I need a tea now :-).
Have to start my day with coffee. I haven’t read too many food scenes. I do enjoy them when a book has them.
I start the day with a huge mug of strong coffee, but I add Half & Half and sweetener.
I really enjoy food scenes. They made Sherry Thomas’ “Delicious” – well… delicious!!!
Your new book sounds great. I’m looking forward to reading it. This is quite a change for you, isn’t it, Shelly?
Heather – I have to agree about it being difficult to find a good cup of tea in the US. Um…dare I say it? The coffee is wishy washy too. The coffee in our cafes here is hot and strong.
Calila – green tea is meant to be very good for you. 🙂
Shelley, have you read Dick Frances’ “The Edge”? It takes place on that train accross Canada. It’s one of my favorites of his. I’ve reread it every so often.
I camped with my best friend all accross Canada – from PEI and Nova Scotia to Vancuver Island. We were teachers with the summers off, so every year we’d head a different direction. We not only went to all the lower provences, but to more than forty states. Of course, we were single then. It was all an adventure! 🙂
Lucy – definitely. Tea or coffee is a must to wake up in the mornings.
Hi Estella – thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Lynnd – a good teashop is awesome. We have some really good funs in Auckland. I always enjoy visiting them.
Tracey D – that sounds lovely! Peaches always remind me of summer. I can’t wait for some warm weather!
Sue – it’s surprising that there aren’t more food scenes since eating is such a social activity.
Elaine – Yes, it is a bit of a change, but I’ve always been a huge fan of historicals. The research always put me off, but now it’s a part that I find fascinating. To date I’ve written two World War II novellas and The Spurned Viscountess, which is a Georgian Gothic. I’m in the planning stages of another Georgian story. It’s my favorite era.
I like iced tea or hot chocolate. I have to take pills so I drink anything.
Loretta – I don’t envy you having to take pills. I’m a real baby when it comes to taking pills.
First thing in the morning, I’m an Irish Breakfast tea kind of girl. After lunch, if it’s cold out, I’ll drink another. If it’s summer, I like Pepsi One after lunch.
lvsgund at gmail.com
Tea, coffee and chocolate were all well known drinks by the mid eighteenth century and that’s where we’re headed right now. Grab a cup of your morning beverage of choice and hold tight—we’re time traveling back to 1720 England. Wait! Close your eyes. We’re in Rosalind’s bed chamber…there…okay, she’s presentable now. You can open your eyes.
I usually have juice in the morning. I like food scenes in romance novels because meals are intimate and it can help the characters get to know each other better and help develop their relationship.
I used to start my day with a cup of tea. After our son was born, however, coffee became the drink of choice and remains so. I usually have only one cup, maybe two. More than that seems to upset my stomach. I still enjoy tea and often have cups during the day or evening. Hot chocolate is always a special treat, especially with a dash of coconut rum.
I like food scenes that reflect an accurate picture of what was eaten during that time period and how it was served. It is nice to see how things are the same and how they have changed.
THE SPURNED VISCOUNTESS sounds like it will be a good read. I don’t have an E-Reader and don’t know when I’ll get one. Soon I hope.
I spend my quiet moments in the morning over ice coffee, that I make. A reminder and recipe of my grandmother’s, it is cool, refreshing, touches of spice and flavor that helps me start off the day. I believe that food scenes are as in life, passion… I know I am passionate about life, love, food, art.. the list goes on. Food is a conversation, from the way it is set and prepared to the ingredient of love poured in. The people we invite to our table expresses the way a meal is going, formal to ala famigilia, and whether the conversation will be simply as long as the meal or last into the night.
Congrats on the new release, Shelley. I alternate between tea and coffee depending on my mood. I do enjoy reading food scenes in romances. Sometimes they can be quite sensual and other times I just like to know what they’re eating.
I’ve recently switched to coffee in the morning from tea because I need the extra caffeine to get going. Hot chocolate for me is a once in a while treat on a cool evening.
I do like food scenes in my romances, not just because I love to eat, but I think they can tell us a lot about the characters.
I am a lover of all three. But after my children is when I switched to coffee in the morning from tea. I only drink 2 cups in the morning because I am a Pepsi lover and drink it throughout the day. Great seeing you here Shelley and I’m looking forward to reading your book.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
Stephanie – Meals are definitely times to relax and chat and get to know each other. I like to eat. I should probably write more food type scenes. 🙂
Library Pat – I love the sound of your hot chocolate with coconut rum. It sounds very decadent!
Jane – thanks so much. Even a food fight could make a sensual scene with the right people. 😉
Cynthya – I’m defintely a tea girl in the mornings. I drink coffee in the afternoons or if I go to a cafe to do some writing. I think coffee goes good with people watching.
Hi Shelley,
Welcome to the blog. Thanks for the great post about our morning beverages. I love the story of a spurned wife (I’m actually writing one right now–hehehe) so I have to check out The Spurned Viscountess.
Growing up, my brothers and sister and I were given hot chocolate every morning. My mother said we needed something hot to drink every day. I think she held to the notion, a cup of hot chocolate every day kept the doctor away.
As an adult, I still love the odd cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day, but I love my decaffeinated Tetley Tea (British Blend) with lemon. Can’t have milk in it. And I don’t like coffee at all. Never drank it and never will.
Beverley – I’m a big tea drinker. I think it’s spending so long in England that turned me 🙂 I look forward to checking out your spurned heroine.
Congrats on the release and thanks for the insight. I hadn’t realised chocolate had been around so long in England, even predating tea which is the “English drink”.
I don’t drink coffee at all and although my mom was a big tea drinker (hot only, she didn’t like ice tea) I didn’t develop much of a taste for it either. I’ll occasionally will have a cup or even going out to Afternoon Tea at one of the local hotels. During winter a cup of hot chocolate after getting to the office in the morning is always nice.
I usually have coffee to start my day. I have read books with food scenes and never really thought about liking it or not liking it. I guess I could go either way. Congrats on your new release.
This book looks great!! I’m not a big coffee drinker, so if I need a pick me up in the morning, I usually go with Diet Pepsi, or Hot Cocoa in the winter.
I usually have water first thing, but I really love tea especially Iced tea. I love hot chocolate also. I like food scenes in books. The Spurned Viscountess looks really good can’t wait to read it.
I don’t drink much of anything but water, both in the morning and throughout the day. I’m on a perpetual diet and calories in drinks are the easiest thing for me to forgo. Every once in awhile though I will indulge in a glass of chocolate milk, either hot or cold. I’m a foodie so I love to read food scenes in books. I’m always surprised at how these aristocratic women stayed thin given the kind of food they were supposedly eating. Best wishes on your book. It looks good.
Fascinating to know the origins of stuff we take for granted.
I actually like to start my day with drinking water then maybe milk. Coffee does nothing for me….LOL
I’m a coffee person. Must have my coffee in the morning!
Yes, I like to read ‘food scenes’ in books….as long as there is nothing gross on the dinner menu! I’m think now about the dinner scene in the movie ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’.
Tea drinker all the way, and not just a cup, I savour over a whole pot while I write, blog, email, etc. All the best for your release!!
I prefer cold water over anything else, but a cup of hot herbal tea on a cold day is the best. 🙂 Juice is a close contender…
I like to start out the day with just one cup of coffee, and then I switch over to hot tea, especially in the winter! I’m always cold and love a good cup of tea to warm me up from the inside out
Shelly –
When I’m at home and have to go to work in the morning I find myself drinking coffee (black). My parents both drank there coffee that way so I thought that black coffee was “regular”. Imagine my surprise the first time when I ordered coffee at a restaurant!
When I’m home on the week-end is when I relax with a soothing cup of Earl Grey. I never really appreciated tea until my husband and I had a chance to visit England about 20 years ago. Yes Virginia there is a Santa Clauss and he brings you tea.
I love having “food scenes” involved in a story. I must admit some of the most descriptive I’ve read have been set in pubs and taverns!
I actually don’t drink much of anything but water in the morning. Occasionally I will drink tea or coffee, but not with any regularity. I get the sleepies around 2 pm every day, and that’s when I have my cup of coffee, or cinnamon tea. Yum!
Coffee! I need that caffeine! I do like tea and chocolate as well, but later in the day. As for food scenes in books, they are interesting especially in historicals. Food is such an important part of life.
I always start my day with a big, low fat, milk coffee. Then I drink tea for the rest of the day.
Valerie
in Germany
Donna Ann – thanks so much. It’s funny, but iced tea isn’t big in New Zealand or England either. When I used to work in London pubs we’d make iced tea sometimes for American tourists but it isn’t something we’d drink there either.
Rebekah – I think food can be very sensual in a scene. If you like contemporaries check out Louisa Edwards series about chefs. They’re very good reads.
MinnChica – I’m drinking my cup of tea as I type this. I definitely need a boost to wake up in the mornings. (It’s morning in New Zealand right now)
Sherry – sometimes only water will do to quench the thirst. 🙂
JenM – My guess would be the corsets restricted their eating. I’d have trouble breathing, let alone eating a large meal. There’s a British documentary I watch sometimes about a man and woman who go back in time and eat the food of a specific era. It’s very interesting.
Thanks for stopping by, Grace. 🙂
Marjana – coffee is an acquired taste. It’s quite a strong beverage, and I can see why they’d introduce it as a drink with health properties. I probably drink way too much. I definitely get headaches if I stop drinking it!
Karen – I’m not sure I’d be willing to try some of the things our ancestors ate. I think the Victorian food is particularly gross. They wasted nothing!
Karyn – I’m happy to drink a pot too. I find it refreshing. In fact, I’m off to get my second cup of the day…
Julie – I have to admit I’m very picky about my herbal teas. They’re not my favorites.
JWZ – my MIL is always cold and drinks tea to keep warm 🙂
Jeanne M – I’m very fond of Lady Gray tea, which is a variation of Earl Gray.
Monica – a cup of tea or coffe is a good cure for the sleepies. 🙂
Corie – I agree. We spend a large portion of our life eating. We should have more food scenes in books!
Valerie – I like my coffee and tea quite milky. I think it was living on a farm. We had a house cow so lots of milk on hand. 🙂
I start my day with coffee, 1 or 2 cups to get me going! But this is only a recent thing for me because I grew up in Barbados, which used to be a British colony. Everyone there drinks tea with milk like they do in England. That’s what I drank every morning until recently when I acquired a taste for coffee because it’s hard to get a good hot cup of tea in restaurants in the U.S. You always have to wait for it and it arrives lukewarm. So I learned to love coffee! Now I get a headache if I skip my morning coffee!
Your new book looks great! Hope I win!
I like to start the day with a glass of green tea or water. I’m not really a big coffee drinker. I don’t really mind food scenes in books but they aren’t a must have.
Without coffee I can’t start up. So I start my day with 2 or 3 cups of coffee and then I switch to tea for the afternoon.
Thanks for the giveaway and please enter me.
I start my day with coffee, and I enjoy food scenes in the books I read.
During the week I need to to have a cup of coffee every morning. On the weekends and in the evenings I drink tea. We have a wonderful tea shop close to where I love to go in and smell the different tea blends (they have samples to smell) and I usually end up buying more than I planned). Hot chocolate is a treat (with a little Frangelico added) on a cold winter day.
I love food scenes in books – whether it’s a group of people sitting around a table or someone grabbing food on the run , such scenes can be very entertaining and they can really develop a character(s) or move the plot along.
I start my day by drinking hot green tea. My favorite flavor is orange-peach.
That should be “tea shop close to where I live. …” I think I need a tea now :-).
Have to start my day with coffee. I haven’t read too many food scenes. I do enjoy them when a book has them.
I start the day with a huge mug of strong coffee, but I add Half & Half and sweetener.
I really enjoy food scenes. They made Sherry Thomas’ “Delicious” – well… delicious!!!
Your new book sounds great. I’m looking forward to reading it. This is quite a change for you, isn’t it, Shelly?
Heather – I have to agree about it being difficult to find a good cup of tea in the US. Um…dare I say it? The coffee is wishy washy too. The coffee in our cafes here is hot and strong.
Calila – green tea is meant to be very good for you. 🙂
Shelley, have you read Dick Frances’ “The Edge”? It takes place on that train accross Canada. It’s one of my favorites of his. I’ve reread it every so often.
I camped with my best friend all accross Canada – from PEI and Nova Scotia to Vancuver Island. We were teachers with the summers off, so every year we’d head a different direction. We not only went to all the lower provences, but to more than forty states. Of course, we were single then. It was all an adventure! 🙂
Lucy – definitely. Tea or coffee is a must to wake up in the mornings.
Hi Estella – thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Lynnd – a good teashop is awesome. We have some really good funs in Auckland. I always enjoy visiting them.
Tracey D – that sounds lovely! Peaches always remind me of summer. I can’t wait for some warm weather!
Sue – it’s surprising that there aren’t more food scenes since eating is such a social activity.
Elaine – Yes, it is a bit of a change, but I’ve always been a huge fan of historicals. The research always put me off, but now it’s a part that I find fascinating. To date I’ve written two World War II novellas and The Spurned Viscountess, which is a Georgian Gothic. I’m in the planning stages of another Georgian story. It’s my favorite era.
I like iced tea or hot chocolate. I have to take pills so I drink anything.
lbcanton
lbcanton@verizon.net
Loretta – I don’t envy you having to take pills. I’m a real baby when it comes to taking pills.
First thing in the morning, I’m an Irish Breakfast tea kind of girl. After lunch, if it’s cold out, I’ll drink another. If it’s summer, I like Pepsi One after lunch.
lvsgund at gmail.com