Saturday, April 28, 2007

The Tea Lady

When we think of tea ladies, we usually picture women in beautiful Victorian style gowns or hats, gloves, proper tea service, and lovely things. But, I would like to introduce you to the 'true tea ladies' --- women who diligently work as tea pluckers on plantation groves --- so that we can partake in the great cuppa tea that so many of us enjoy.

3 comments:

  1. This was all very interesting! I'm glad you shared it. What an amazing experience for your sister! (BTW, Mr. Knott was our speaker this morning before we visited Joseph Bates' boyhood home!)

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  2. This points up the differences in meaning that often occur when an American and an Englishwoman use the same phrase. To me a tea lady conjures up an elderly working class lady pushing a trolley with a tea urn on it and a plate of assorted shop bought cakes. She is going round either a factory or an office dishing out cups of tea for the workers on their morning break. I'm not sure any still exist these days when everywhere has machines dispensing drinks but in the 50s and 60s and earlier this is what an English tea lady was - nothing like the elegant vision at the top of your post nor the hardworking tea pickers of Ceylon:)

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  3. I loved seeing the pictures of the 'tea lady' and reading about your sister's trip. Thank you for posting these!

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