Drinking Tea With English People
I write about the rich tapestry of difference between Irish and English peole thorugh the medium of tea.
Last week some English visitors came for tea. It was a most pleasant occasion. English and Irish people are near neighbours and these days we are united by a love of trash television, football and tea.
Yet I was also reminded that while Irish and English people speak the same language, there is a world of difference in the way we speak it.
I may be wandering into the realm of stereotype when I describe this visit, but stereotypes do have a drop of truth in them, so I hope you'll forgive me.
Arranging the Tea
When Irish people visit your house, you might get a message that morning, 'We're passing. Can we drop in?' 'Yeah, that's grand,' you might reply. 'When were you thinking of?' ‘We're not sure yet. We'll see how it goes.'
So, you spend your morning with an eye on the window, waiting to see if a vehicle will appear.
Photo Description: This is a picture of a red teapot against a black background.
The English visitors sent a message to ask if they could come on Thursday morning. I said we'd be free. And then… they gave a time that they were thinking of coming. I must have a drop of Saxon blood in me somewhere, because I was delighted. The freedom of it. I could let my day take shape around their visit.
Making the Tea
When they arrived and I asked them if they wanted tea or coffee, I waited for the dance to begin. Ah no, don't go to any trouble. Ah, you will. Well, if you're having one yourself. Go on, so.
But there was no dance. They simply told me what they wanted. Coffee, two sugars. Tea with milk. No need for detective work to figure out what they needed. And yet I missed the dance. There is a certain grace to it.
Conversations Without Questions
We settled down to pleasant conversation, about their visit to Ireland, about the state of the world. The conversation was enjoyable, but it was missing an ingredient. Questions. These visitors asked me no questions.
If these were Irish people, they would have known my seed, breed and generation, my home address, my PPS number. But by the end of the conversation, these people were none the wiser about me and I was none the wiser about them.
It made me wonder if these people were performing a dance of their own.
I'd love to hear your thoughts about the difference between our two nations. Feel free to debunk my stereotypes. You can email me on derbhile@writewordseditorial.ie or visit 0876959799. And if you like what you've read, hit the Subscribe button.