The Tea Tag!

What was the first kind of tea you ever had?

The first type of tea I ever tried was Earl Grey, however, soon after, I tried breakfast tea soon and enjoyed more than Earl Grey

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

At home because it means you can make the tea however you like it and then sit on the sofa with a book or watch something on your laptop whilst drinking it and eating toffee waffles!

Do you prefer hot tea or cold tea?

Hot tea, definitely! Who likes cold tea? You may as well drink water!

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

Every moment of the day? Why drink tea at only one point of the day, when yoou can drink it throughout!

What is your go-to tea?

Either breakfast tea or Lady Grey at the moment. It changes depending on the season!

What is your favourite seasonal tea?

In the summer, I head towards Lapsang Souchong and in the winter, redbush or whatever tea I find that has cinnamon in!

What do you put in your tea?

One sugar or one sweetener! No milk!

Do you prefer your tea weak or strong?

In the middle! Too strong and it tastes weird and too weak and it doesn’t taste of anything!

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

I found others who liked it, after I started to like it! Then, Jemima of Another Ranting Reader came along and I found someone who liked tea as much as me!

What kind of tea are you most keen to try?

I want to try more fruit teas and green teas!

What is the worst tea you’ve ever tasted?

I have never tried a tea that I hate with a passion, but chocolate tea is not particularly great!

Do you prefer loose tea or teabags

Teabags because they mean I get tea quickly and without a fuss!

Teacup or mug?

Mug because you can fit more in and you get cute designs like Disney pictures o them!

Best night-time tea?

Red bush because it have no caffeine in

What is the number one tea you’d recommend?

Lady Grey or Lapsang Souchong because they are AMAZING!

Stay happy,

Katie xx

D of E

We all arrived but one. A strangler, maybe, just a bit late. Later, we found out that this team member was ill. He had our tent and our route for day 2. Great. However, we ploughed on. We set off, waving to our parents and they waved back. We walked approximately 20 metres. We were already on the wrong path. We knew this would be a very interesting weekend!

We walked and walked, filming, chatting, singing. We ate continuously and chatted continuously. We stopped for lunch, exhausted already. Shoulders aching more than one can even begin to imagine. But no blisters? It's a miracle!

We walked more and more, until we came to three routes in front of us. Which way do we go? The wrong one, obviously. We got lost. Thank you google maps! (Don't tell anyone!)

Finally, we saw the gate for our campsite. I ran, suddenly power in my legs. I hugged the sign! We were there. One day down, another to go!

The food was good, the gossip was good, the sleep was not, but oh well!

The next day, we set off (late, because we didn't want to get up!). We got lost again, but found our way very quickly after that! We sang and sang and sang. We walked and walked and walked. Yet still no blisters!

Achey knees and achey shoulders, we stopped for lunch. We were so nearly there! We powered on, getting lost and taking routes that we weren't meant to. But then we saw the car park! We had done it! We dropped our bags and lay down, exhausted. Limbs aching and heads pounding, but we had done it. However, it was only the practise! Oh well!

D of E is a great experience, and although you may not think of it at the time, it is so much fun and you make great friends for life.

Stay happy,
Katie xx
P.s. I have no blisters!

The British Tag

Thank you to Jemima of http://anotherrantingreader.blogspot.co.uk for tagging me!

How many cups of tea do you have a day? Any sugar?
Around 3-4 on a normal school day. I have one English breakfast tea before school to wake me up and then 1-2 cups in the afternoon after school. This is either Lady Grey, Lapsang Souchong or normal tea. Then in the evening, I have a Rudbush, as it has no caffeine which means I won't be awake all night! And to the sugar question, I use sweetners instead as a healthier option! 1 sweetner is fine :) (p.s. I don't have milk in my tea!)

Favourite part of a roast dinner?
It depends what my mum makes. If it is a really nice roast, I love the potatoes or cauliflower and broccoli cheese! If it is a nice roast meal, yet with less in, just the potatoes! And of course, I love the meat!

Favourite dunking biscuit? 
Lotus biscuits! Like the ones that you get if you order a coffee and they taste caramelized and lovely!

Favourite quintessentially British pastime?
Having a cup of tea and a scone whilst watching Harry Potter. Oh, and saying spiffing and tally-ho is one of my favourites as well!

Favourite word?
Spiffing!

Favourite Cockney rhyming slang?
Tie up ya scooby-doos!

Favourite sweet?
Those really nice gummy fish that you never seem to find anymore

What would you pub be called?
Tea inn? I don't really know?!

No.1 British person?
Emma Watson

Favourite shop/restaurant?
Shop would be Urban Outfitter because I like looking at the knick-knacks that they have! And restaurant would probably be Wagamama's even though it is not British!

What British song pops into your head?
Jerusalem

Marmite - love or hate?
All the love for marmite!

I don't really have anyone specific to tag but if you do want to do it, go ahead!

Stay happy,
Katie

Dear September...

Dear September,

You seem to have come very quickly. Almost too quickly, perhaps. It was like I blinked and suddenly I am not a little girl in a primary school uniform anymore. I am nearly 16 and deciding where I want to take my life. 12 years ago and I would have just started reception class, without any knowledge of the massive journey that it would take me on. The friends I would make, the experiences that I would have the opportunity to grab with both hands and hug like a giant teddy bear.
 But here we are, 12 years later, and my life is taking a path that I never thought it would take me. I have the best friends a girl could ever wish for, an amazing, supportive family and a caring school that I look forward to going too everyday.
 You have taken me far and wide, September, yet we all seem to rush through you, as we go back to school, college, university, work. You are a loud month, September. My brain is rushing with new ideas, lists, lessons, music and the lack of sleep I get.
 Why do you do this to me September. You go cold on me, stormy, even. It's like you are paying me back for all the fun I have with family and friends over the six weeks of holiday I get during the summer months. And now we are back. Back to where we were. Overdue work, bags so heavy, your back hurts at the end of the day, more than you could possibly imagine, piles and piles of books to read and revise from. Coursework, compositions, classes. Where did all the fun go? It must have blown away with the angry winds that come with this month, because I didn't get to say goodbye, and now I miss it.
  One more year September. This time next year, I will be at college, making another step towards the looming future that is the dark shadow beyond the light. But until then, September, lets focus on what is really important. Now. Let's focus on the good things that happen, the bad things that happen and the challenges that we have been set.

Until next time September,
Stay happy,
Katie x

To The Moon and Back

To The Moon and Back - A Poem

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These words I say to only you,

When I’m happy or when I’m blue,

But every night and every day,

These are the words you’ll hear me say:

“To the moon and back,

I love you so,

Don’t ever leave me,

Don’t ever go,

I love you more than the world could know,

To the moon and back,

I love you so.”

And every night, you say it too,

And everyone stops, but me and you.

We look around and then we see,

That life doesn’t stop, for you or me

Stay happy,

Katie x

Credit: The Telegraph

Italy

Italy is an amazing place. I visited it last week with my family and a few family friends and it reminded me that some of the happiest times were spent there.

The plane journey there was okay. There was some turbulence and at one point we dropped about 1 metre because of the cloud. I have problems with flying. I love it but it also scares me more than you can possibly imagine. It's a love hate relationship!

We spent 4 days in a small hill town called Cortona, which is my favourite place in the world. The town is always buzzing but not too busy. There is great food and all of the people there speak both Italian and English, which is good, because I do not have a large knowledge of the Italian language!

You can get a three ball ice cream there for £2.00. That is less than a tub of new forest ice cream or the equal depending where you are!


After the 4 days, we drove to back to Rome, where we had flown to, and spent an evening and a day there. It wasn't really enough, but it was very tiring!

We went to the Vatican City and saw the Pope! It was amazing and for many, very emotional. We also visited the Colosseum and a lot of churches!

As I said, Italy is an amazing place because it is peaceful. You feel like there is nothing to worry about in Italy (Cortona more than Rome, because Rome is full of pick pocketers). I could spend many more happy days there, and I hope I do, because right now, I am missing it. It has only been 3 days!

Stay happy,
Katie x