I have been giving a fair share of my thoughts, and that's saying something, to tea as of late. I have been wanting to drink tea for a while now. This is in part because I have a crystalized ice tea problem. The other part is I like hot drinks.
However, I have run into a slight dilemma. I have a fair amount of choice and I'm an indecisive creature at best.
This might help someone understand my predicament.
We have:
8 boxes of Earl Grey (Harrods, Stash, Williams and Magor, Jacksons of Piccadilly, oh and Harrods #42, dear lord St. Dalfaur, oh found yet another Dilmah, holy freaking smokes Edinburgh Tea and Coffee Company)
4 boxes of Chai Tea; white, red and black( Stash, Western Family, Celestial Seasonings, and President's Choice)
3 boxes o Morning Tea (2 are Harrod's and Jacksons of Piccadilly)
2 boxes of Afternoon Tea ( Harrods, and Jacksons)
2 box and bag of Yorkshire Tea (Family Tea Merchants)
2 tins of Camomile Tea (unidentified and Tetley's)
3 boxes of Green Tea (some japanese and Reward)
2 boxes of Honey Citron (Celestial Seasonings)
1 box of Sleepytime (Celestial Seasonings)
1 bag of Mango Darjeeling Black Tea (Celestial Seasonings)
1 bag of Rutherford Rose (Acquired Taste)
1 box of Kiwi tea (Yogue)
1 box of Christmas Morning (Stash)
1 box of Assam Tea, hey that's me (Harrod's)
1 box of Lemon Zinger (Celestial Seasonings)
1 box of Wild Jumbleberry Herbal Tea (Compliments)
1 box of Empire Tea (our favourite, Harrod's)
For a grand total of 35 containers of tea!
Please forgive me for not looking at the back of the cupboard or in other cupboards. I also didn't have the heart to count individual tea bags.
I think I'm allowed to say, we are steeped in Tea.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Map Making
Heading south-southwest down the Cape Horn. The three-story high swells have adequately allowed the area to be known as the "roaring forties". Sail further and one will experience the "furious fifties" and worse, the "shrieking sixties". I've often wondered how many men have given the thought of going to hell just to warm up a consideration. With waters bellow zero, as well as decks becoming ice rinks, and rigging freezing to the point of being as hard as iron the weather shows it's cruelty. This would not frighten many sailors. It is the sea itself, in all her anger, grace, and volatile moods. Imagine waves the size of a small hillock, sixty to eighty feel high and with a crest. Maelstroms with depths as high as the masts on a tall ship. A well earned name for this expanse is the "God forsaken seas". Ships are in good fortune to pass it unscathed by The Cape Horn's beauty and danger.
I've just described what anyone wishing to map the west coast of the "new land" had to go through. The more I think about it, the more worth it would seem to be. Indeed, the descriptions put forth by early explorers have made the new world appear to be the paradise once lost.
However, this is not entirely what I wish to put forward. Plainly said, I wish there was more undiscovered land right now. I feel robbed of the chance to go and find something worth finding. To be the first person there and simply say "I am the first person here".
I have become slightly agitated at my inability to look at a map or chart and read "thus Ends all Known waters". Every islet , peninsula , protected harbour or cove is mapped. One can simply go to Google Earth and type in either the name or the coordinates for it and bang, there it is. I want to go somewhere, with great effort , and be able to say, this is what I know about here.
Some could call this arrogance. I'm not sure what I'd call it. I think I am a little tired of being able to know anything I want anytime. It is tempting to go on a sailing trip, not a great voyage or anything just for a weekend. On this trip I would not bring a map, just a few plotting tools, and try to be as innocently ignorant as possible. I think I would then feel like I am a true cartographer, searching for information for my country, before someone else can put mark on it.
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