In A Bath Teashop

By John Betjeman
Let us not speak, for the love we bear one another—
Let us hold hands and look.
She such a very ordinary little woman;
He such a thumping crook;
But both, for a moment, little lower than the angels
In the teashop's ingle-nook.
I very much like Sir John and his work, especially his poetry. For fifty years, at a time when other people were becoming more internationally aware, John Betjeman immersed himself in the glories of English culture -- its places, its writings, its heroes. His Tennis Whites and Teacakesbrings together the best of Betjeman's poetry, private letters, journalism and musings to present a fully rounded picture of what he stood for. From his arguments for new steel buildings to his amusement about the etiquette of village teashops, it reveals Betjeman not just as a sentimentalist but as a passionate observer with a wonderful sense of humor and an acute eye.

The Meaning of Tea

I recently found out about this DVD and could not wait to place an order...we all know there just aren't that many tea films about. It looks very entertaining and interesting. Tea Dragon Films describes their work as a "lyrical documentary" that explores the romance and complexities surrounding tea. They go on to invite us to sit back and enjoy the film, sipping "the finest (visual) brews from India to Morocco, England to Taiwan and other corners of the world where two leaves in a bud are revered." Available for purchase via their website.