4pm Tea Project (Lockdown 1)
to the recipient of a card looking to post your 'task' please scroll to the bottom of this page where the comment box, above popular posts, is located
Wednesday 5th August 2020
Wednesday 5th August 2020
a tribute to a dancer killed ten years ago today
the ONE HUNDREDTH (and last) card to be dispatched
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| this card cannot be sent to one person...as such it is sent to all recipients of previous cards listed on this blog page...a fitting card with which to end this project ... a project that logs a specific time in history, and a specific individual journey...stay safe, curious, creative and connected... |
Tuesday 4th August 2020
social distancing with work colleagues packing up desk to move offices
ninety-ninth card to be dispatched
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| this card remains unsent... it is placed in a moving box...when the box is unpacked in a new space, i will understand to whom it should be sent... |
Monday 3rd August 2020
day number 138 - tomorrow to work from London again - albeit only for a day
ninety-eighth card to be dispatched
Friday 31st July 2020
too hot to think, so come 4pm the knitting project came out...
ninety-seventh card to be dispatched
Thursday 30th July 2020
late night decision - Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire - new restrictions
ninety-sixth card to be dispatched
Wednesday 29th July 2020
first hair cut since December...
ninety-fifth card to be dispatched
Tuesday 28th July 2020
a second wave?
ninety-forth card to be dispatched
Monday 27th July 2020
Spanish quarantine
ninety-third card to be dispatched
Friday 24th July 2020
a prime-ministerial first year
ninety-second card to be dispatched
Thursday 23rd July 2020
the eve of compulsory face covering
ninety-first card to be dispatched
Wednesday 22nd July 2020
Russian spying hit the headlines
ninetieth card to be dispatched
Monday 20th & Tuesday 21st July 2020
behind though keeping up (just) with the workload
eight-eight and eighty-ninth cards to be dispatched
Friday 17th July 2020
shifting the guidance on travel to work and being at work
eight-seventh card to be dispatched
sharing home made short bread and copious feedback note from Zoom teaching sessions with the recipient of this card - hopefully she is in her garden tending flowers :)...
Thursday 16th July 2020
so many online zoom sessions I have lost touch with developments
eighty-sixth card to be dispatched
Wednesday 15th July 2020
a catch up with work friends
eighty-fifth card to be dispatched
Tuesday 14th July 2020
huawei be gone...
eighty-forth card to be dispatched
Monday 13th July 2020
definitely masks - but not yet!
eighty-third card to be dispatched
Friday 10th July 2020
masks or no masks...
eight-second card to be dispatched
Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th July 2020
eat out to help out... work out to help out...
not eat healthy and exercise for your own health and well-being which will ultimately contribute to society more deeply and more long-term.....
eightieth and eight-first card to be dispatched
Tuesday 7th July 2020
the new Archers format...hmmm
seventy-ninth card to be dispatched
Monday 6th July 2020
a day of Morphemes...
seventy-eighth card to be dispatched
Friday 3rd July
an 80th birthday
seventy-seventh card to be dispatched
Thursday 2nd July 2020
seventy-sixth card to be dispatched
forgot to take picture...
Wednesday 1st July 2020
1 year since my own build project started
seventy-fifth card to be dispatched
Tuesday 30th June
Leicester lock down & build-build-build
seventy-forth card to be dispatched
Monday 29th June
Berlin calling...
seventy-third card to be dispatched
Friday 26th June 2020
100th day - Athlete A
seventy-second card to be dispatched
Thursday 25th June 2020
heat wave - mad scenes at the beach
seventy-first card to be dispatched
Wednesday 24th June 2020
human trial of new vaccine starts
seventieth card to be dispatched
Tuesday 23rd June 2020
despair pubs... but not schools?
sixty-ninth card to be dispatched
Monday 22nd June 2020
2mtr to 1mtr but not yet
sixty-eighth card to be dispatched
Friday 19th June 2020
39 days later alert level three is declared
sixty-seventh card to be dispatched
Thursday 18th June 2020
taking the knee debate
sixty-sixth card to be dispatched
Wednesday 17th June 2020
premiere league football - players with hair cuts!
sixty-fifth card to be dispatched
Tuesday 16th June 2020
school meal vouchers...
sixty-forth card to be dispatched
Monday 15th June 2020
non-essential items...
sixty-third card to be dispatched
Friday 12th June
entering a support bubble - birthday tea
sixty-second card to be dispatched
Thursday 11th June
sixty first card not to be dispatched
I lost the plot
of what day it was other than
day 4 of being a full-time student
Wednesday 10th June
i can form a support bubble !!
sixtieth card to be dispatched
Tuesday 9th June 2020
(day 2 as a full-time student)
fifty-ninth card to be dispatched
today's post delivery ... including a card with from the recipient of card number fifty-nine...who has learned to blow raspberries
Friday 5th & Monday 8th June
are we still in alert level 4? so much silence
fifty-seventh & fifth-eighth cards to be dispatched
Thursday 4th June 2020
downward trend slows...
fifty-sixth card to be dispatched
Wednesday 3rd June 2020
still at alert level 4 - winging going on!!!!
fifty-fifth card to be dispatched
Tuesday 2nd June 2020
#blackouttuesday
fifty-forth card to be dispatched
Monday 1st June 2020
schools back ...hmm... new phase of tea project commences
fifty-third card to be dispatched
Monday (25), Tuesday (26), Wednesday (27), Thursday (28) & Friday (29) May 2020
days 15 - 19 of step 1 (towards alert level 3)
cards 48,49,50,51 & 52 - were not dispatched
Friday 22nd May 2020
day 12 of step 1 (towards alert level 3)
forty-seventh card to be dispatched
Thursday 21st May 2020
day 11 of step 1 (towards alert level 3)
forty-sixth card to be dispatched
4pm Wednesday 20th May 2020
day 10 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
forty-fifth card to be dispatched
4pm Tuesday 19th May 2020
day 9 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
forty-forth card to be dispatched
4pm Monday 18th May 2020
day 8 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
forty-third card to be dispatched
4pm Friday 15th May 2020
day 5 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
forty-second card to be dispatched
4pm Thursday 14th May 2020
day 4 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
forty-first card to be dispatched
4pm Wednesday 13th May 2020
day 3 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
fortieth card to be dispatched
4pm Tuesday 12th May 2020
day 2 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
thirty-ninth card to be dispatched
4pm Monday 11th May 2020
entering step 1 (toward alert level 3)
thirty-eight card to be dispatched
4pm Friday 8th May 2020
75 years VE day celebrations
thirty-seventh card to be dispatched
4pm Thursday 7th May 2020
thirty-sixth card to be dispatched
4pm Wednesday 6th May 2020
thirty-fifth card to be dispatched
4pm Tuesday 5th May 2020
thirty-fourth card to be dispatched
4pm Monday 4th May 2020 (week 8)
thirty-third card to be dispatched
4pm Friday 1st May 2020
thirty-second card to be dispatched
4pm Thursday 30th April 2020
Captain Tom's One Hundredth birthday
thirty-first card to be dispatched on
29th April 2020
thirtieth card to be dispatched
4pm Tuesday 28th April 2020
twenty-ninth card to be dispatched
4pm Monday 27th April 2020 (week 7)
twenty-eighth card to be dispatched
4pm Friday 24th April 2020
twenty-seventh card to be dispatched
4pm Thursday 23rd April 2020
twenty-sixth card to be dispatched
4pm Wednesday 22nd April 2020
twenty-fifth card to be dispatched
National Tea Day
4pm Tuesday 21st April 2020
twenty-fourth card to be dispatched
4pm Monday 20th April 2020 (week 6)
twenty-third card to be dispatched
4pm Friday 17th April 2020
twenty-second card to be dispatched
4pm Thursday 16th April 2020
twenty-first card to be dispatched
4pm Wednesday 15th April 2020
twentieth card to be dispatched
4pm Tuesday 14th April 2020
nineteenth card to be dispatched
4pm Monday 13th April 2020 (week 5)
eighteenth card to be dispatched
4pm Friday 10th April 2020
seventeenth card to be dispatched
4pm Thursday 9th April 2020
sixteenth card to be dispatched
4pm Wednesday 8th April 2020
fifteenth card to be dispatched
4pm Tuesday 7th April 2020
fourteenth card to be dispatched
4pm Monday 6th April 2020
thirteenth card to be dispatched
day number 138 - tomorrow to work from London again - albeit only for a day
ninety-eighth card to be dispatched
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| the recipients of this card live life their way; sisters in dance, passion and fun... |
too hot to think, so come 4pm the knitting project came out...
ninety-seventh card to be dispatched
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| so a 'knitted' card ... although made in 35 degree heat, by the time baby arrives it will be autumn... |
late night decision - Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire - new restrictions
ninety-sixth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card, unable to work on outside music performance events, has departed on a road trip through Europe |
first hair cut since December...
ninety-fifth card to be dispatched
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| a morning stretch rather than afternoon tea - the recipient of this card would understand ... |
a second wave?
ninety-forth card to be dispatched
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| a day out at The Barn ... a group of 6 - private gardens - fresh air and inspiring flora and fauna |
Spanish quarantine
ninety-third card to be dispatched
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| I am able to go into shops care of the masks made by the recipient of this card |
a prime-ministerial first year
ninety-second card to be dispatched
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| the long road to a recovery begins... |
Thursday 23rd July 2020
the eve of compulsory face covering
ninety-first card to be dispatched
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| I am the recipient of this card... |
Wednesday 22nd July 2020
Russian spying hit the headlines
ninetieth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card is in a much warmer Spanish climate but will the card arrive ? |
behind though keeping up (just) with the workload
eight-eight and eighty-ninth cards to be dispatched
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| recipients in Scotland and Yorkshire - the outside world seems a long way off right now... |
shifting the guidance on travel to work and being at work
eight-seventh card to be dispatched
Thursday 16th July 2020
so many online zoom sessions I have lost touch with developments
eighty-sixth card to be dispatched
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| I'm sure the recipient of this card has read this edition already.... |
a catch up with work friends
eighty-fifth card to be dispatched
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| hopefully the recipient of this card has had some well needed down time... |
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| some down time for the recipient of card 85 |
huawei be gone...
eighty-forth card to be dispatched
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| the recipients of this card experiencing lofty living in lock down... |
definitely masks - but not yet!
eighty-third card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with reading all the entries thus far and sharing their thoughts, not from an HR perspective, on what they see... |
masks or no masks...
eight-second card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card missing her musical theatre fix... |
eat out to help out... work out to help out...
not eat healthy and exercise for your own health and well-being which will ultimately contribute to society more deeply and more long-term.....
eightieth and eight-first card to be dispatched
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| the recipients of these cards either ready to make decisions or released from home schooling for a while... |
the new Archers format...hmmm
seventy-ninth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card can be found back in Shakespeare Country... |
a day of Morphemes...
seventy-eighth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card enjoys the linguistics of morphemes... |
an 80th birthday
seventy-seventh card to be dispatched
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| cake being made for a birthday celebration |
Thursday 2nd July 2020
seventy-sixth card to be dispatched
forgot to take picture...
Wednesday 1st July 2020
1 year since my own build project started
seventy-fifth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card never turns down cake - in his absence I will eat two :) |
Tuesday 30th June
Leicester lock down & build-build-build
seventy-forth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of his card will appreciate my comments - that the government have only today understood the language of resilience - which always has been about bouncing forward ... not back ... I would like to think it was strategic on their part, but I think the colour combination of the PM's tie (and shirt), alongside the green of the board on which 'build build build' is emblazoned, and the High Viz jackets casual hung over the vista that is the backdrop to this press conference, is indicative of the chaotic thinking and lack of leadership that continues to frame all that is taking place... |
Berlin calling...
seventy-third card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card continues to share her somatic practice on line, looking after the health of others... |
Friday 26th June 2020
100th day - Athlete A
seventy-second card to be dispatched
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| this morning the recipient of this card and I reminisced over rehearsals and touring, teaching and educating, the value of the arts and dance and living dance history... |
Thursday 25th June 2020
heat wave - mad scenes at the beach
seventy-first card to be dispatched
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| although not a Liverpool supporter, the recipient of this card is happy for her friend who is (30 years of waiting)... |
human trial of new vaccine starts
seventieth card to be dispatched
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| i hope the recipient of this card is enjoying time taking on-line ballet class... |
despair pubs... but not schools?
sixty-ninth card to be dispatched
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| happy birthday to the recipient of this card... i'm sure frustrated is a mild way of expressing that dance schools are still not permitted to open... |
2mtr to 1mtr but not yet
sixty-eighth card to be dispatched
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| an intensive study period where the subject is the 'self'... a time for healing |
39 days later alert level three is declared
sixty-seventh card to be dispatched
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| why have I not sent a card to The Tea Man before now... the deli which stayed open (two days a week) where local hen's eggs, flour and fresh leaf tea, could be purchased in a peaceful, calm, friendly environment ... thank you Tea Man xx |
Thursday 18th June 2020
taking the knee debate
sixty-sixth card to be dispatched
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| baby ducklings will now be on the river and the recipient of this card will be watching them ... |
Wednesday 17th June 2020
premiere league football - players with hair cuts!
sixty-fifth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card is now back in his studio composing and playing... his music will never be forgotten by me... |
Tuesday 16th June 2020
school meal vouchers...
sixty-forth card to be dispatched
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| to the recipient of this card, thank you for the invite to the 6 member garden party |
non-essential items...
sixty-third card to be dispatched
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| cards have been an essential item for me during this time... it has been challenging to source cards... at times I have improvised... on 21st April I ordered personalised cards...they arrived this week... a message of 'stay safe, creative and curious' is one for beyond this Covid time... as is staying connected... the recipient of this card tasked with sharing their thoughts on the project thus far... |
entering a support bubble - birthday tea
sixty-second card to be dispatched
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| got in the car, put the roof down and drove - card to self - strawberries, sun, sand, sea |
sixty first card not to be dispatched
I lost the plot
of what day it was other than
day 4 of being a full-time student
Wednesday 10th June
i can form a support bubble !!
sixtieth card to be dispatched
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| to the recipient of this card ... lets buy a camper van and just drive |
(day 2 as a full-time student)
fifty-ninth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with simply keeping her big eyes open wide - apart from when she needs to sleep - then she should dream big... |
Friday 5th & Monday 8th June
are we still in alert level 4? so much silence
fifty-seventh & fifth-eighth cards to be dispatched
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revisiting recipients past, to catch up on how they are doing since their first card...  |
downward trend slows...
fifty-sixth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card was nominated by the fortieth card to be dispatched - it has gone to the seaside |
Wednesday 3rd June 2020
still at alert level 4 - winging going on!!!!
fifty-fifth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card was nominated by the recipient of the twenty-first card to be dispatched - note the similarities... |
Tuesday 2nd June 2020
#blackouttuesday
fifty-forth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card was nominated by the recipient of the forty-second card to be dispatched ... Polish tea is to be the subject of this tale... |
Monday 1st June 2020
schools back ...hmm... new phase of tea project commences
fifty-third card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card is the first recipient unknown to me... and on Friday 5th June the card arrived :)  |
days 15 - 19 of step 1 (towards alert level 3)
cards 48,49,50,51 & 52 - were not dispatched
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| I had no cards, no stamps and no more addresses for cards to be delivered to - because I have more email addresses than 'home' addresses. My task is to develop the project. In doing so I shall now ask all those who have received cards to send me the names and address of someone to whom they would like me to send a card... |
day 12 of step 1 (towards alert level 3)
forty-seventh card to be dispatched
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| this card, delivered by hand to the grandmother of a 3 year just diagnosed with leukemia - Isla, currently in Addenbrooke's hospital and her mum unable to be with her... but we know the NHS nurses and doctors will be there holding those tiny hands until her mum can be with her - hopefully tomorrow xxx |
day 11 of step 1 (towards alert level 3)
forty-sixth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with sharing their most memorable ' i never gave up moment' she is an amazing woman... |
day 10 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
forty-fifth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with sharing a tale of taking tea with her best friend... |
4pm Tuesday 19th May 2020
day 9 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
forty-forth card to be dispatched
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| chocolate cake for the recipient of this card - task with a sharing a tale of chocolate cake as they don't drink tea !!!! |
day 8 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
forty-third card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with healing... |
4pm Friday 15th May 2020
day 5 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
forty-second card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card will provide something 'independent' for us to mull over whilst drinking tea:) |
4pm Thursday 14th May 2020
day 4 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
forty-first card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card has a task that is culinary in nature -what will arrive... |
day 3 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
fortieth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with writing a small theatrical scene about taking tea... |
day 2 of step 1 (toward alert level 3)
thirty-ninth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with composing a poem of tea... |
4pm Monday 11th May 2020
entering step 1 (toward alert level 3)
thirty-eight card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with telling a Maltese Tale of Tea |
4pm Friday 8th May 2020
75 years VE day celebrations
thirty-seventh card to be dispatched
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| today I send a card to myself - a picture of my alone, in isolation, VE Day tea party... the day providing much needed respite from full on work, and the daily challenges of living in lock down... pause and breathe |
thirty-sixth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of today's card tasked with a tale of tea in China |
4pm Wednesday 6th May 2020
thirty-fifth card to be dispatched
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| #difficult day at the office...the recipient of this card tasked with a musical theatre tea tale... |
thirty-fourth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with a tale of tea and Manchester United |
4pm Monday 4th May 2020 (week 8)
thirty-third card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with sharing a social tea tale.... |
4pm Friday 1st May 2020
thirty-second card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with sharing a tale of 'hair' from her own head wrap diary... |
Captain Tom's One Hundredth birthday
thirty-first card to be dispatched on
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| the recipient of this card tasked with sharing a tale of builders tea... |
thirtieth card to be dispatched
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| cards carrying messages of positivity this week - and the recipient of this card tasked with providing a message of positivity... |
twenty-ninth card to be dispatched
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| meeting the recipient of this card was a miracle - she is tasked with telling us what 'tea' means to her... |
twenty-eighth card to be dispatched
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| home made card - Rothko-esque? recipient of this card tasked with a 'Greggs' tea tale |
twenty-seventh card to be dispatched
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| gosh a long day on Zoom !!!! the recipient of this card is tasked with sharing a tea tale of childhood... |
twenty-sixth card to be dispatched
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| it was that kind of work day so card made in style of Rachel Whiteread's 2012 Olympic poster... this means the recipient of this card can only be one person, but will it get all the way down under - this will be a test of time.. |
twenty-fifth card to be dispatched
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| another home-made card - my attempt at a Jackson Pollock, created whilst listening to Max Richter's Sleep - representative of the state of my mind today... whilst the cats simply slept in the sun oblivious (or are they?) the recipient of this card tasked with telling an Irish tale of tea... |
4pm Tuesday 21st April 2020
twenty-fourth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card is task with telling a grammatically correct tale of tea...national tea day celebrated with Ms Lizz Fort, her daughter Max and pug Tina... it was great to catch up over a social cuppa... |
twenty-third card to be dispatched
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| another hand-made card today ... very minimal ... the recipient of this card tasked with telling a tale of tea at the ballet... |
twenty-second card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card is presented with a creative writing task... |
twenty-first card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card is tasked with sharing a tale of Yorkshire Tea - a brew a tad too strong for me... |
twentieth card to be dispatched
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| cards dispatched on week days only ... so it is actually day 29 of working from home followed by lock down... the recipient of this card tasked with providing us with a view from the platforms of Marylebone Station... |
nineteenth card to be dispatched
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| a few cards ordered on line arrived today - the recipient of this card has been tasked with sharing a Safari tea tale... 2.30pm Monday 13th April 2020 (week 5) first card to be received  |
eighteenth card to be dispatched
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| homemade cards now - this one made as a response to a challenge I set myself for this week; the first challenging being today... the recipient of this card tasked with setting readers a challenge to help them through this time of 'temporary restriction and physical distancing...' |
seventeenth card to be dispatched
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| homemade card to go with homemade Good Friday cakes - the recipient of this card will provide a good yarn for us to read... |
sixteenth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with providing us with an example of Model behaviour at this challenging time... |
fifteenth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card will, I am sure, provide a political perspective; whether that is on tea or the current lock down we will wait and see... |
fourteenth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with describing the scene through the round, square or arched window... |
thirteenth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card is tasked with making an artistic, photographic, contribution to the project... |
4pm Friday 3rd April 2020
twelfth card to be dispatched
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| tough day today - hopefully the recipient of this card will send a lovely piano tune this way to lift my spirits... |
eleventh card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card is tasked with telling tales of the river |
tenth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card is tasked with providing a very specific list ... |
ninth card to be dispatched
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| I did some baking (for my mum) - the recipient of this card will smuggle a tea tale here all in good time... |
eighth card to be dispatched
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| only crumbs of today's cake left... busy work day finished by delivering an on-line floor barre...the recipient of this card tasked with sharing a London memory... |
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| Suzanne's London Memory is posted below... i remember that day well Suzanne xx |
seventh card to be dispatched
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| I forgot to take a picture - I think I'd lost the plot having held 25 online tutorials in the last three days...The recipient tasked with sharing a tea and tree tale... |
4pm Thursday 26th March 2020
sixth card to be dispatched
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| no cake today... well actually I had it with my 11am tea :) the recipient of this card a sophisticated lady not to be messed with - her task relates to home schooling |
fifth card to be dispatched
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| rhubarb scone cake made fresh today...the task for the recipient of this card is reflective of everything they are :) |
fourth card to be dispatched
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| the recipient of this card tasked with a tea tribute to her up and coming album |
fourth card received.. anticipating the words to the song
4pm Monday 23rd March 2020 (week 2)
third card to be dispatched
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| this recipient is tasked with sharing 1 positive change this new way of living has made to life lived before Covid 19 |
4pm Friday 20th March 2020
second card to be dispatched
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| Will this be the one that drops through your letter box?
The recipient will have a task, which they will share here...
Watch this space ... or the comment box :) 
Card two has arrived and the task carried out - a very amusing story shared in the comment box below...
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4pm Thursday 19th March 2020 (week 1)
First Card to be dispatched
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| the recipient is challenged to post a comment when it arrives, reveal where in the UK it was sent, and share a tea tale... |
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| project up and running- we're waiting on the comment box to reveal the destination... |
Many of my ‘adventures in tea’ (some of which have
been written up here in the tea tales section) have been solo ones; indeed they
were adventures because I was on my own. Many of my ‘posts’ are also posts which are the result of reflections over tea which
I have taken alone. But as I reflect on
the developments of the last few days, I find myself considering the difference
between drinking tea alone when out and about, and drinking tea alone when you
are alone. ‘Out and about’ tea tends to accompanied by the
hubbub of the tea shop or café. Alone,
alone tea is really home alone tea; where in the silence and stillness of my own
little Coach House, with only two cats to interrupt, I make and then partake of
a pot or two of tea. Admittedly there has
been occasion where ‘out and about’ tea has had a ‘home alone’ feel about it, but
if the tea is good it doesn’t feel too desolate. But today there has become another tea
drinking context; imposed home alone tea.
As a result of a certain virus, I will spend more time in my own home. At the moment I will be able to go out and
exercise, travel into work if required, and hop in the car, go out for a drive
and see friends. This, of course, could all
change. Then there will be much more
imposed ‘home alone’ tea, and I wonder how I will feel about, and respond to, this
new situation.
Taking heed of the ‘working
from home’ advice… I shall make sure 11am tea involves a stroll around the
building site that is the outside of my little coach house right now, and 4.00pm
tea will involve cake and the writing of card.
Each day I will write and then send a card to a friend; a personal card
not a faceless email. I will photograph
the cards next to the tea cup, and post the pictures here. Putting the stamp on the envelop and walking to
the post box at the end of the drive, will mark the end of the tea break and
another hour of work. What I save in train fares I will spend in cards and
stamps. I think I like my plan. A creative
project within a time of complete uncertainty.
The power of TEA !
Dear diary. 7am 25th March. Under Lockdown. I was drinking my first cup of the day (coffee first then second drink tea) when I saw the blurred face of the man from number 4 through my front door. I was surprised to see a card being pushed through, even more so when it had a pair of big knickers on it! I realised it was from Dennie upon turning it over. My task being to write a la Bridget Jones. So with my Earl Gray in a China Cup I thought of something my 4 year old son had said. He was trying on a pair of my knickers over his clothes (thongs to be exact) when I asked what he was doing and to take them off. He said why, they're too small for you anyway, your bottom sticks out of them! I realised how silly they must look to a child and wondered if I should become a member of the 'big knickers fan club'!?
ReplyDeletehilarious Carla... great tale thank you for sharing !!!
DeleteUp before her alarm, keen for 'Miss Perl' to call the register.
ReplyDeleteMoments of shared success with spelling tests and her explanation of split diagraphs for a Mummy who doesn't know.
Then, adamant refusal to acknowledge she can add 1 to 9 to make 10.
A constant shadow and a constant call.....'Mummy' - the tone saying it all.
A moment's respite - TV is on - whilst lunch is made.
Then off to the park, allotment, garden, wherever there is space, distance.
More food, a bath (or not) and finally bed (or not)
That first moment of sitting on the sofa - peace.
Contemplation.
Do it all again tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...
Dear Ms Perl, please thank Ms M for the delightful rainbows I now have in the window of my door. xx
DeleteMilky clouds in the sky. A very high tide, partially flooding the towpath. This is due to the full moon, a d if tonight's sky is clear, we will see a marvellous moon scene. When the tide ebbs the ducks and geese will gather in the pools and puddles, and enjoys bathing, preening and slurping the muddy duck soup. Delicious!!
ReplyDeleteLove your view of the river xxx
DeleteSuzanne Astley17 April 2020 at 16:04
ReplyDeleteA sunny hot day in July’19. I pop my favourite summer dress on to make a journey to The Imperial College. It’s a special day, graduation has come for my students studying at The Royal Academy of a dance.
On arrival, I get gowned up with two of my wonderful friends and colleagues. We take pics of each other as a momento.
The students are proudly presented with their certificates by ex-Royal ballet ballerina Darcey Bussell.
Afterwards, I delight in sitting with my colleagues sipping English breakfast tea. We reflect and chat about life, loves and what the future holds.Top of the list is what we hold dear, education and artistry. As we sit we’re joined by students from Berlin. Professional dancers who have received their post grad qualification -making that life changing transition from performer to teacher. It’s a delight to hear their stories, there’s a real sense of achievement.
That’s what it’s all about isn’t it? feeling we’re moving forwards.
I’m sat her writing this in my Coffee Shop & Wellbeing studio in readiness to teach another lockdown FB live stream Contemporary Ballet class, then later a Somatic Yoga practice! It’s nice to reminisce over a cuppa.
a very fond memory ... loving your somatic yoga sessions
DeleteI received my card a week ago. Response? Hmm. Still not certain. The Labour Party's NHS it said. And so it was and so it is despite what other parties may claim, it is and was Labour's NHS. A Marxist construct. From each according to their ability, to each according to their need and almost without fail we agree with the idea. So tell me how it can be a Tory Health Service when the very concept alienates them. Meanwhile we celebrate a 99 year old man walking round his garden to raise money for the NHS. Admiral of him, a bitter reflection on our society. Today 2.6 or 26, or 260. The cancellation of the London Marathon is reported in narrow terms of lost charity but there are more problems, relating to that need for charity and the money that would have circulated in the commercial economy from the event and from the charitable funds. It's good to help others and be mindful. We shouldn't base a society on that need. But I still find myself looking and thinking. 2.6? 26? 260..... I better start.
ReplyDeleteI missed being on The Mall this year ... i hope whatever your 2.6 challenge is, it brings you some satisfaction X
DeleteTea and ballet start in the kitchen, as the kettle boils or coffee machine is flicked into action, I start to prance around to ballet music getting inspiration for the planning of a ballet class. Music de jour for a few years now is composed by David Plumpton who has accompanied a few ballet workshop for Birmingham Royal Ballet in the Sunderland schools, in fact one workshop was held in Tony Blairs constituency and he visited the school on the same day as our Romeo and Juliet workshop, photo even on the fridge door to this day. His music for ballet class are inspiring using modern melodies from Divas to movies like The Wizard of Oz or The Greatest Showman.
ReplyDeletePlanning your ballet class is a methodical and rewarding as your progress through the series of generationally coded exercises. There is always a warm-up facing the counter worktop holding on for balance like the barre in the studio, always a demi plie in 1st position, stretch the legs and rise onto demi pointe, then a series of battement tendu with right leg starting, stretching the torso, lateral flexion, extension backwards and forwards. Once you’ve created a sequence that fits the music, better write it all down in the little black book of scribbles 1-4 Demi 5-8 Rise 1- 6 tendu en croix transfer 2nd, Rpt, Rev, Rev. Look over the notes and see what you did last week for plies, tendus, glisses, rond de jambes, adage and grand battements the end of the barre work I think we can have an espresso cup of coffee now to keep the energy for the centre.
In the centre, the tiled floor is fairly suitable for pirouettes and centre practice, but the usual attire of socks or slippers might not be best safe practice, but while creating a ballet class you don’t always do the enchainment flat out and throw the legs high and spin with full pull up and turn out, you’re always dodging the dog bowls or the bar stools may get in the way and cause injury.
In fact, we all know that dancing on a hard concrete and tiles floor especially jumping for the grand allegro leads to some longer term injuries, so allegro are always the hardest section of the class, not just for body maintenance but the T shaped kitchen there isn’t a clear diagonal either. Transferring all this preparation into the studio setting has to be done later on in the 15 mins before starting ballet class with my learners.
My prep in the kitchen for the ballet classes and drinking plenty of coffee at the touch of a button is slightly upgraded nowadays, it is a creating space and performing as well. Creating videos for online classes setting up the phone and camera, music at the ready, clearing all debris from breakfast bar to welcome learners to a cyber ballet space to practice ballet in their homes. I am sure this will change soon, and the face to face learning and sharing of ballet will be once again a norm, until then hope I we all can stay injury free and healthy ready to leap once more into the ballet studio.
what a fabulously detailed entry ... i can see you leaping from the kitchen straight into the studio xx
DeleteWell my card arrived yesterday, I was having a bit of a moment actually (bad migraine, home schooling alone dragging on now etc etc). I was on my way out but when the post came a small handwritten letter came to my attention, and before thinking I grabbed it and opened it in a kind of desperation.
ReplyDeleteThe card read
"I will create the future I want."
As if my world had been struck by some kind of tornado of positivity to break me out of my funk, to bring tear to my eyes and then many really special memories of my happy times as a kid when I used to love dancing (the card sender was my increible teacher). The timing could not have been more perfect.
I leave with a quote from someone who inspires me.
"Breathing In
I have Arrived.
Breathing Out
I am Home
My destination is in each step."
Thich Nhat Hanh
small things can make a big difference - stay safe Jo and keep dancing
DeleteI bloody love tea. Being from THE NORTH, I was practically weened on tea by my Nana Thelma- a woman who even made cups of tea for her dogs. There's always a good reason to have a cup of tea or a 'brew' as it's commonly referred to in my family; a wake up brew, a post-lunch-perk-me-up-brew, a brew to cheer up a friend, a brew to warm you up after being outside in the rain and wind, a brew for a cheeky excuse to open that packet of hobnobs, a brew at 2am walking back to your tent at a festival, a brew to warm your heat. A brew to warm your soul.
ReplyDeleteMy task is to describe having a cup of tea alongside my favourite purchase from Greggs. I guess I should state here, for clarity that I bloody love Greggs. Greggs, the Northern bakery with its tasty treats at great prices. Greggs, the reason I am not a size 8.
It's been so long now since I visited a Greggs due to the current COVID catastrophe, so I am going to describe a very memorable Greggs and brew combo I experienced after the longest summer of work of work I've ever had in 2018. A summer of performing at 23 music festivals, pretty much living in the back of my van and touring all over the UK with my bandmates, it was incredibly fun but seriously tiring. A lot of singing, dancing, sound checks, dramas, travel, late nights, parties and lifting/carrying over the three month stint had left me exhausted travelling back to London after our final show of the summer. We pulled into a service station somewhere around Northampton for a break, I got out of the van to stretch my legs. I found a patch of grass to lie on and had a nap in the August sunshine before the next driving shift. I have no idea how long I slept, but I was woken by my boyfriend Ben who presented me with a huge cup of tea and two hot, creamy chicken bakes from Greggs.
To this day, it's the best wake up call I've ever had!
I can really hear you telling this story - thank you xx
DeleteUnknown3 May 2020 at 10:50
ReplyDeleteSo humbled to receive this beautiful card! Tea means a lot of things to me. It means health, relaxation, beauty. I have a cup of matcha green tea every single day and have done for the last 4 years now. Tea is also has a colloquial meaning in my life for truth. If I’m spilling the tea it means I have to tell the truth about something and there’s been a lot of that for me recently. Coming to terms with the fact the tea I’ve been spilling or drinking for pretty much all my life may have been wrong or sour. I feel like it’s a big time of transformation for us all. I’m enjoying the beauty of the struggle and looking forward to sipping the tea that is best for me. Xxxxxxx
I’ve been thinking about this a lot and I’ve concluded that a cup of builder’s tea is iconic of British culture. It’s something that is supposed to both bring us together for social events / celebrations and something to warm us as a source of comfort when we’re unhappy. It’s an ice breaker when making a new friend or colleague and asking if they want to grab a “coffee” (obviously meaning tea) and it’s a sign of togetherness and compassion when offering someone a hot beverage (still meaning tea) when you see someone’s down. The trouble is – I spent a lot of my time being completely oblivious to this. I don’t have any real specific memories of tea (nor any hot drink really… nor even any cold drink) because, quite frankly, I hadn’t realised its social significance until I started to focus a little less on my personal work bubble and little more on working out how to integrate in a new office environment. The truth is – I don’t drink tea regularly. I have a splash of orange juice in the morning (maybe 2 inches) and then tap water for the rest of the day. It seems like the whole world drinks tea in England and it’s the main basis on which to meet people, relax and have a little break. On realising this I therefore embraced tea a few short years ago; specifically PG Tips where possible with a splash of milk (no sugar) to be social and to keep me going through long meetings. I’m born and bred in England but I feel I have finally integrated into British culture. Who knew something so small could sway a person towards a sense of social and cultural identity?
ReplyDeleteit is wonderful to be following your daily Captains Log posts as your own personal builder has been rebuilding your new home...
DeleteI received a lovely card from you today...I feel so deeply touched. I cannot even remember the last time I received a card from someone I have never met. Perhaps I never have. It has warmed my heart so much on this overcast day and I feel so tremendously grateful. Thank you also to Jo Dance for nominating me; you are full of surprises and kindnesses, you really are! I'd love to share a photo of my card but am unsure how to do this. Please let me know! With bundles of gratitude and massive respect for you and for this incredibly connecting and loving project, Nicole xx
ReplyDeleteI received a beautiful card asking me to share a story about chocolate cake as I am slightly weird and dont drink tea! Chocolate however is my LIFE!!!!! Your cup of tea time is my let's have chocolate time :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I first got with my now husband I wanted to impress him with my cookery skills...what would be better then a chocolate cake. One of my loves and his...United as one in a form of a cake! The pressure must of got to me as it was probably one of the worst baking attempts I have ever done, he didnt even pretend to like it! I now stick to Rocky Road and Brownies!
Thank you so much for my card and putting a smile on my face. During these difficult times we all need to stick together. Keep safe and eat chocolate!! Lots of love Michelle....I mean Nichola :) :) :) x x x x x
Had a lovely tea cup card arrive. Its so nice to have something come through the post, addressed to you, that you don't expect. Since my last card I have been taking my boys out on their bikes, sometimes for 30 minutes, other times 2 hours. I have been painting a cabin in my garden (inside and out) which will be my place of work. Mainly for massage therapy but hopefully for lots of conversation and meditation. I have missed socialising, I love to talk but also like time alone, which isn't possible at the moment, apart from the short car journey to do the shopping!
ReplyDeleteReceived a card from Dennie Wilson today on my 80th Bithday.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dennie for all the effort you have put in and are are putting in to make this a special "milestone" birthday for me.
Hello to Dennie! Thank you for my card! Here are my thoughts on tea.
ReplyDeleteTea!
Tea!How very British!
How lovely to come home to a nice cup of tea at the end of a long day!
It is the treat after hard work.
It must be at the right temperature, Passepartout!
If it goes too cold, I warm it in the microwave and then forget it’s there.
It is a frustration to my granddaughters who are ready to play, but I have to finish my tea.
It is a delight to the cats because I have to sit still and they can settle on my lap.
I never finish the whole cup - that is a tradition.
I do not dunk - who wants bits in their tea?
It is the first thing to offer visitors, the second is wine.
Tea in my cat cup (given to me by my sister) - I hold the hot cup against each eye to soothe it, I hold the hot cup against my nose to warm it, I hold the hot cup on my shoulder when it hurts, I trace the cats on the cup and savour the moment.
Who would think that dried up leaves could give such pleasure?!
Enjoy! Sandy