Thoughts on tea
There are lots of different kinds of tea.
I am English, so lots of people send me messages asking if I want tea, telling me how brilliant they are at making tea, or even that, because they want me to drink tea, I should make some and drink it right now!
Here’s the thing, though: I only like certain kinds of tea. And, I do not want to take your tea unless I can be sure you want to share your tea with me.
If you offer me tea, I will want to talk about the tea. I want to be sure you’re okay sharing your tea with me, and that it’s a kind of tea I like.
When I am offered tea I think I’ll like, I’ll say, “Yes please, let’s have tea together.” Then, you’ll know I’m happy to drink the tea.
But if I say, “sorry, no, I don’t like that kind of tea,” then don’t make me tea. I don’t want to drink tea I don’t like.
If you try to make me tea without asking, well, that’s kind of you. But, lots of people make me lots of cups of tea, and I can’t drink them all. Not all of them are kinds of tea I like, and some of them go cold before I get to drink them. Save yourself the trouble and ask me first, then you’ll know whether I want to drink tea with you.
And if I tell you I don’t want your tea, do not try forcing me to drink your tea. You can’t blackmail me into drinking tea. You can’t shame me into drinking tea. You can’t guilt-trip me into drinking tea. Just because you want me to drink your tea, doesn’t mean I have to drink your tea.
So, do we all understand about the tea? Good. Now, I’m off to make myself a cup of tea.