The Tea Tag

Monday 28 September 2015

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What was the first kind of tea you ever had?

Glengettie – it’s the tea that my mum grew up on and consequently drunk ever since then. It’s a Welsh brand and tastes great, although it’s obviously not produced in Wales.

What is the best place to have tea – at home or in a coffee shop?

At home definitely. Preferably by the fire in my pajamas, either writing or watching a film.

Do you prefer hot tea or cold tea?

Hot! You can’t have cold tea! It’s against the rules!

When do you drink tea – morning, evening or afternoon?

All of the above. I try to keep the flow of tea as constant as I can.

What is your go-to tea?

Again, Glengettie. But if not then a nice redbush or fruit tea.

What is your favourite seasonal tea?

Last year I drunk redbush and vanilla for basically the entire winter, but this year I want something a bit spicier.

What do you put in your tea?

If it’s a black tea then milk. If that black tea is redbush or chai tea then I’ll often have it without. If it’s green tea, fruit tea or an unusual flavor then no milk. And no sugar in my tea at all!

Do you prefer your tea weak or strong?

My mum likes really weak tea so when I started to drink it mine was very similar. Since then, however, I have grown to like it stronger, although not too strong. Again, it’ll depend on the type of tea as well.

How did you get started in the wonderful world of teas?

As I think I have said before, my mum got me into liking tea. It started off with regular tea and then as I found more different types of tea, my addiction has grown.


What kind of tea are you most keen to try?

I’ve some lemongrass ones somewhere – I’m really intrigued by them.

What is the worst tea you’ve ever tasted?

I don’t know – maybe that lemongrass one when I get round to trying it!

Do you prefer loose tea or teabags

I love both, but loose tea is more of a hassle to use so teabags.

Teacup or mug?

When I’m at home I usually use my Pride and Prejudice or 5SOS mug. However, if I am staying with my grandparents then I usually use a teacup and teapot that had been handed down to them from a relative.

Best night-time tea?

A good caffeineless redbush.

What is the number one tea you’d recommend?
Whatever suits you! As Ollivander says: "The tea chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter." Or that's my version of it anyway...


I would recommend going to various county shows if there is one near you – they’re really a summer thing so this’ll have to be next year. This summer I found a really nice little tea shop at my local show and they were selling little selections of their different tea for £10 – so naturally I bought some and they have been so nice. I really would recommend just looking for a local tea shop that has a wide variety of flavours – it’s a sure found way to get into the tea world!




I'm going to tag my friend Katie, who blogs at katieswaytohappy.blogspot.co.uk, as she, like me, is a tea enthusiast and addict!

Thanks for reading 

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5 misconceptions about writing

Friday 25 September 2015

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1. Writers have plenty of time to spare.

Those who write professionally will spend hours and hours in their day writing. But this doesn’t take into account the self-promotion. Many writers, particularly bloggers, spend an awful lot of time on social media. We have to promote ourselves to get people read what we have to say. Often the day can go by and you’ve been working all day – especially if you have another job, or go to school, college or university.

2. Writers earn lots of money – straight way

Unless you’re the genius that is J. K. Rowling, then you won’t become a billionaire through a career in writing. In fact, many writers have to get another job to keep themselves going as the royalties from their books and the small income that may come from blogging will not suffice. But we continue to write, because it’s like a calling. We have to write to keep our sense of mind.

3. Writing is relaxing

Believe me, I love writing and it’s my favourite thing in the world, but hell can it be stressful. I get so engrossed in the plotline, the happiness of my characters and the way they are feeling that I can honestly get really anxious by the whole thing.
4. Every single one of us is a huge nerd

Every writer I know or know of is, to some degree, a nerd. But we aren’t just nerds. We spend ages reading, researching and pursing our creativity. Writers are some of the most creative people you will ever meet and normally have some other creative outlet other than writing.  I am a writer and a violinist; I know writers who are singers, writers who are painters and artists and writers who have other interests that are quirky and fascinating. If us writers are anything, we are definitely not boring.

Credit

5. Writers have no social life


Probably the biggest writer stereotype is the image of a writer in their “natural habitat” of sorts. Alone, typing feverishly on constantly used computers. That may be true for a lot of the time but it doesn’t represent us completely. We have plenty of friends – the amount of time we spend reading turns us into better conversationalists. And where else do you expect us to get our inspiration from?

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How Blogging has Affected my Writing

Monday 21 September 2015

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Since starting my blog in May I have written nearly 50 posts on topics that vary widely. I have written about happiness, self love, events in my life, books that I enjoy and, possibly my favourite thing in the world: writing. That’s what blogging is essentially all about, isn’t it? Writing.

Of course, I did write a lot before I started blogging. I have done basically since I could. But blogging has started me writing in a different way to normal.

Instead of sticking to narratives and individual stories only, I have expanded to another realm of the craft. I now write about actual events that have occurred in my life – whether it is something like watching an emotional film about one of my biggest writing inspirations or going on a trek in order to complete my bronze D of E award. I can now write about my opinions in a way that I know other people will hear (more like read!) them. I can try to help others by writing about my own experiences and reach out to a wider audience.

Blogging has improved my writing and my mind because it forces me to be creative and think outside of the box on a regular basis – particularly because I have a weekly schedule to stick to. It makes me think about a lot of things in more depth, and I love that.

But blogging has had some negative effects on my writing. Take what I said about blogging and narratives; they’re very different styles of writing. I have said many times just how much I love to create different stories and characters – and I feel that one story and a few characters in particular have suffered since I started to blog.

I have been writing a novel for over six months now and I add to it whenever I can (particularly when there is something else that needs to be done!). I adore my characters and truly wish to give them as much attention as I absolutely can, but given the amount of time I am in school, completing schoolwork at home, sorting out my room, practicing my violin and doing extra things outside of school, they have had to take the back seat multiple times. And that’s without publishing three blog posts each week thrown into the mix.

I’m not complaining. I love blogging – I really do; it has given me the chance to speak to some great people and reach out to people all across the globe. But I’m convinced that blogging has prevented the word count on my novel from growing as much as it should have done.


The only thing I wish for is more hours in the day. More hours in which I could just write. To give my characters the tie they deserve.




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Are you a writer and a blogger? How do you think your righting has been effected by blogging? I would love to know (Please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this!).

Jemima x





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The British Tag

Wednesday 16 September 2015

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1. How many cups of tea do you have a day? How many sugars?

As many of you probably know from previous posts, I am very much addicted tea. I drink tons of the stuff, but the amount depends on the day. If it’s an average school day then I probably drink about 3-4 cups (normal tea and then redbush after 7 so I can fall asleep more easily). However, if it’s a day where there is no school then that number will increase a lot – especially if my mum is home as well. I can’t even count how many cups of tea that would be! No sugar by the way…

2. Favourite part of your roast?

Probably either parsnips or the actual meat itself. Although I do love a good roastie…

3. Favourite dunking biscuit?

It’s got to be a dark chocolate digestive. But if it weren’t a biscuit then definitely a Twirl: bite off each end and place it in your drink like a straw. Then you can use it like a straw! Careful of all the melting chocolate, mind.

4. Favourite quintessentially British pastime?

Watching Doctor Who, reading Jane Austen books while drinking tea and simultaneously complaining about the weather. Going for a good cream tea with my mum and attempting different accents from around the country.

5. Favourite word?

I presume this means stereotypically British word, so: bollocks, kift, expelliarmus…

6. Favourite cockney rhyme slang?

Apple and pears.

7. Favourite sweet?

The ones in the shape of strawberries or gay bacon.

8. What would your pub be called?

The Darcy and Bennet – why not?

9. No.1 British person?

Jane Austen or Tom Jones.

10. Favourite shop / Restaurant?

Waterstones Waterstones Waterstones! And Paperchase…

11. What British song pops into your head?

God Save the Queen, obviously...

12. Marmite?


LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!


I'm going to tag my friend Katie, who blogs at katieswaytohappy.blogspot.co.uk and any of you lovely people who want to do the tag!

Thanks for reading!

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