Monday 7 April 2014

Magpie Monday - Back for Tea

I'm just back from a wonderful weekend in Stockholm.  It was an early birthday surprise from my clever Old Man who managed to get me all the way to the airport before I found out where we were going!

It was a lovely break with lots of mooching; glasses of bubbly; much salmon and a spot of sight seeing.

Apart from missing our daughter who was having her own holiday at Granny's I REALLY missed my daily cuppas.  I gave up caffeine back in January (go me - 3 months!), and so finding a decent cuppa away was near impossible.

Caffeine is a national institution to the Swedes and whilst we could get decaf in the larger chain-type coffee shop (Wayne's and Espresso House were good) we were not exactly catered for in the gorgeous little independent coffee and cake houses where the locals take their 'Fika' (coffee and cake - the Swedish equivalent to the British afternoon tea).  Here they look at you as though you'd tried to order a luke warm cup of wee.

Not to worry I'm back home now so I can enjoy my Yorkshire Tea decaf (absolutely the best decaf I've found, after extensive research!) and what's more I can enjoy it in one of my most recent purchases, this beautiful fine bone china water lily teacup.



Doesn't tea always taste better in a china cup?  And at only £3 from a charity shop this was cheaper than a cup of coffee in Stockholm!

What second-hand gems have you found lately?  I'd love you to grab the badge and link up.
      


19 comments:

  1. Blimey, 3 months without caffeine? Don't think I could manage 3 hours! That cup is very pretty - I have my favourite cups and agree they make me drinks taste better.

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  2. I too changed to decaf and totally agree that Yorkshire Tea decaf is the best!
    We break so many cups in our house that I think a charity shop trip might be needed very soon, especially to find gorgeous things like this!

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  3. So pretty! And with these things I always love the history attached to it - I bet that cups been privy to all manner of interesting conversations over the years - if only they could talk x

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  4. Yes. Tea absolutely does taste better from a china cup!

    Funnily enough I think I was drinking your three months supply of cafffeine yesterday.

    Stockholm?!!! Can't wait to hear more about that.

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  5. Wow a weekend in Stockholm! I'm well jealous! Such a pretty teacup too, you're right tea tastes nicer drunk from china.

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  6. Ooh love the tea cup - and oooh sounds lovely to be whisked away! x

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  7. So pretty! I love all the touches of gold. Your trip sounds like such a great birthday surprise!

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  8. My Granny will only drink her tea from a china cup. At just £3 I think you got a bargain

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  9. Oooh I know a little girl who would love that cup. My Dad gave away all my Grandma's china and cake stands, we agree to disagree and never talk about it again ;)

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  10. Oh Liz that is such a beautiful cup. Happy Birthday! what a lovely surprise to be whisked away, you lucky thing. x

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  11. Oh it does taste better you are completely right. A beautiful cup, I've not seen one like that before. Though I am a little taken aback you've gone caffeine free, blimey, did you suffer withdrawal? You've done brilliantly giving it up though.

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  12. Awww, that's a super cute little cup. I'm too much of a klutz to drink out of proper china like that, but I do like my tea from thin cups, and my coffee from chunky ones.

    Can't wait to hear more about Sweden! xx

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  13. So so pretty and I agree Sweden can be quite expensive, but then, they do earn a ridiculous amount of money there.

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  14. Brilliant suprise, three months without caffeine! Fair play I don't think I could give up my Barry's Tea. Lovely find and great price too!

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  15. I have to say that missing a decent cuppa is the one thing about travelling that I always struggled with. No tea ever tastes as good as it does here in England!

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  16. Love this tea solves all problems

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