When I Grow Up...

As a sixth former in the middle of the oh-so-stressful experience of begging universities to offer me a place, I am constantly asked what I want to do when I grow up. Unfortunately "become a princess" is no longer an appropriate answer. I am now expected to reply with a sombre look on my face and sincerity in my eyes.

Cheerfully I reply that I want to be a writer and travel the world. Although this is a perfectly "acceptable" aspiration, I have often been warned about how "terribly competitive" journalism is now and how such-and-such knows so-and-so who is having a terrible time with it. As far as I'm concerned it's my dream and so will make it happen. An eternal optimist (you might call me naive) I believe that too many people give up and go home at the first sign of trouble. If you want something enough then you should make it happen - take on the challenge, take the bull by the horns or whatever other cliche you want to use. At the risk of smothering this post in cheese, I must add that I don't intend to give a pep talk, it's just that I would rather not hear about the trauma of so-and-so. Let me get excited about my ambition.

This is my dream right now, and I will use everything I have to achieve it but who knows  what's around the corner? Who even knows when you are officially "grown up" and does it even matter?

It's as if we all set ourselves a blurry deadline of ambition as if one day we'll say to ourselves "I'm now officially grown up". We are told in school to be mature and set an example, yet we are clearly not yet "grown ups". Then comes university-age. No comment. Does growing up mean leaving education? Or starting a family? Buying a house? If the latter is the case then it doesn't look like any of my generation will ever grow up the way things are going.

I feel like I have confused myself and in writing this I have changed my mind so many times that I can feel the cogs turning between my ears. So for now I'll say this, I want to write for a living and that is the most succinct answer I can trot out at a moment's notice. There are of course so many other things  I want to see and do... and I intend to try them all. In particular, I will one day open a cake-shop, with deliciously decorated treats to send a diabetic delirious. Watch this space...

Ode to a cuppa

I sit here on my bed with tea nearly brimming my second favourite mug staring at the blank screen of this blog post and all I want to write about is tea.

Everyone knows that some guy a long time ago dropped a tea leaf in hot water and decided it was a bit of a winner in the drinks department. Maybe it's the heat, the taste or the caffeine but I'm with Emperor Shennong on this one, there's nothing better than a great cup of tea. After a totally disastrous day, a cup of good old English Breakfast can make mountains into mole hills. It is the perfect way to accompany breakfast, and during revision periods, a magic motivator "15 more minutes of geography then it's tea-break time!" A good cup of tea is the perfect accompaniment to a catch up with friends or curling up on the sofa with a great book.

From English Breakfast to Chamomile, Peppermint and Jasmine, theres very little that can't be done with tea. There are also may ways to ruin a cup of tea before you've even started; in France I have often been presented with a packet of lipton sitting next to a glass of tepid water, hopeless. By the time I've plunged the tea bag into the glass and battered it with a spoon to eek out as much flavour as possible, the water is nearly cold. Heaven forfend I should be treated to boiling water. I have almost given up ordering tea when abroad, finding coffee to be a much safer choice. 

Its no wonder that the UK is top of the list for global tea consumption. (Tea Stats) Seeing as most Brits start their day with a stumble towards the kettle. In Britain we tend to go for tea in a comfy mug, and everyone seems to have a favourite. Mum and I are often caught fighting over who gets the best mug - I would say the mug is a vital part of the perfect cup of tea and I've had many a diva moment over the shape, size and design of the mug holding my tea, much to the frustration of my mother! 

So let's here it for the cuppa... Britain's favourite hot beverage