First things first: I sincerely apologise for the radio silence. I seem to have misplaced my writing mojo since my second hip surgery. I hope that everybody is as well as can be expected in these troubling times, and that you’re all staying safe! Life hasn’t changed that much for me, as in the fact … More Living On Lockdown, And Other Stories
I’m just over a month sober now, and can honestly say that I’m enjoying it. In part because there are so many AF options out there these days, so I don’t have to sit in a pub nursing a tomato juice and calling it a Virgin Mary so that the hardcore beer drinkers don’t look … More A “Teatotal” Monthiversary
“Ranking second in Chinese zodiacal signs, the Ox is huge. People often use it to indicate something big in size or number. People born in the Year of the Ox bear persistent, simple, honest, and straightforward characteristics. They are talented leaders with strong faith, and strong devotion to work. They are contemplative before taking actions, not easily … More Even Tea Pets Can Tell A Story
I don’t remember how long I was sober for, before Iain Duncan Smith took a massive shit on disabled people all over the UK (stress, panic and fear are not conducive to remaining sober when your entire world feels as though it’s ending). I immediately freaked, tried to jump out of the bedroom window, and … More Dry June… And Hopefully Dry Forever
This is going to be an occasional series, now that I’m getting back into my gongfu teas. For this one, I’m tasting puerh for the first time in a long while.
As most of you already know, I’ve got my tea mojo back. I’m trying to slowly cut down on the beer, with the intent of becoming mostly teetotal. I’ve already ditched the gin, but I can’t honestly see myself not enjoying a few shots of Swedish Snaps come Jul – and I’m not missing out … More Tea, Gong Fu And A Messy Bedroom!
It is really no secret to anybody who knows me that I love tea. I like a bog standard “builder’s brew” to wake me up in the morning (I prefer Yorkshire, but Tetley will do in a pinch) but there are different teas, and different ways of taking it. Such as drinking gong fu style. … More Back On The Gong Fu Trail
“First, let’s get the name out of the way! The story is that farmers discovered a tea cultivar in Ping Keng Tou village producing a unique and delicious taste and did not want this cultivar to be exploited by other farmers. So they made up stories that the earth in this area (which is a … More Tea Review: Chinalife’s Duck Sh*t Oolong
Yesterday was Man-Tribble’s first payday, and late in the afternoon I received a text informing me that he’d booked a table at our favourite pub/restaurant (pictured) for 8pm. For us this place holds many happy memories concerning family and friends, and the food never fails to deliver. Being a Tuesday, the menu wasn’t terribly exciting, … More Celebrating Good Times
I am drunk. High. Shit-faced. Raddled. Call it what you will, but I can safely say that I am high as a kite. And I’ve not been anywhere near the falling-down-juice. How, you might ask? Just head over to chinalife and read Tea Master Don Mei’s blog. He can teach you all about it, but … More Chinese Tea (Or How To Get Completely Rat-Arsed Without Alcohol)
An Accident In Space And Time 