Welcome to a better world. Up till now I have always started my blog entry with “welcome to [sic…] Sydney…”. But today I feel I should acknowledge the rest of the world. In particular that which lies beyond metropolitan Sydney. For, truth be told, Sydney is a tough place to do business of the tea kind.

But that’s ok. For the rest of Australia is by tradition a beer and tea drinking nation and will remain so.

You can disagree. And I expect those hooked on quadruple caffeine will argue the most vehemently. They have a right to.

For me, I prefer a more civilized conversation or friendly chit-chat over a nice pot of tea and snacks.

Tea has a way of calming the mind when conflict seems inevitable because nobody can see a way through the difficulties.

And while we are at it, let’s get real and serve the tea with open Berliner sandwiches with thin slices of pickle and Gouda cheese; not grilled.

And what tea?

An Assam with evaporated milk. Creamier. Smoother. Richer. Loose leaf not tea-bag.