“And you know how much The Burnout Queens love tea!”

Ask anyone who knows Dr T & Dr B (aka The Burnout Queens) and they will tell you how much we love tea and cake.  In fact, we seem to have started a trend with clients and readers alike because we receive photos of others taking tea just like us.  How fabulous Darling!  (Why don’t you send us one as well?)

In this edition of Hello, we thought we would show you our favourite tea shops in and around our part of the world.  They aren’t fancy, but they are cozy, varied, always friendly, and serve a great cuppa.

Nothing better than tea inside on a rainy day or looking over the small back garden when the sun comes out.  Artwork on the walls, banter with the owner, and always a smiling face (Patisserie Lewes).

On the ‘chores’ run down the hill into town we catch a quick pick-me-up before facing the dreaded grocery store line-ups (Flint Owl Bakery).

If we’re craving a jelly doughnut this never gets missed (Baked Out) or we need a boost of energy, the music here is always toe-tapping (Backyard Café and Needlemakers).

When we truly want a vibe, a hello, and great atmosphere it’s here (Le Magasin) where they refer to us as ‘the Canadian ladies’.

And then there’s always our regular ‘sit and relax’ after massage in Brighton (Flour Pot Bakery), a tradition for the last three years!

If you love tea like The Burnout Queens do, perhaps you will melt over this video from Fortnum and Mason who really know what tea is all about.  Enjoy this perfect masterclass in the importance of tea (hope you follow the instructions at the end xx).

Fortnum & Mason – The Tea Film (1:34)

On May 19^th we will be sipping and celebrating The Royal Wedding from our living room.  You can be certain that Wedding Breakfast, Royal Blend, and Prince of Wales teas will be poured throughout.  And of course, there will be cake!

Until next month, have a cuppa with us!

“won’t you let me take you on a city cruise…ew wee, ew wee baby”

An apt little ditty for this edition of Hello.  We finally booked the petsitter and took a day off in London to explore and discover anything we wanted at the Victoria & Albert Museum.  No plan, but in this beautiful setting (that is free to the public) you can never be disappointed.   Here’s our recap.

We love seeing art students and clubs sitting on the floor or fold-up chairs throughout the museum drawing the famous sculptures, clothing and ancient artefacts around them as everyone passes by.  Who wouldn’t want to draw an original Rodin sculpture!

We discovered the poppy display commemorating the 16 V&A employees who lost their lives during WWI.  These were purchased from the famous poppy memorial that surrounded the moat at The Tower of London that we had the good fortune to see a few years ago.  So beautiful and moving.

Lunch break in the Member’s Room and a review of current exhibits on offer.  We had a choice between Winnie the Pooh drawings and Ocean Liners.  We picked the less noisy of the two (school break and screams from inside Winnie the Pooh rooms clinched the choice).  Ocean Liners it was.

People it was fantastic!  If you are in London go.  If you aren’t then let us take you on a city cruise (ew we, ew we baby).  The whole exhibit was set to give you the cruise experience (thankfully without the movement).  Into the first-class reception and through the guilt doors we go, ending up in the first class lounge (artefacts from the Queen Mary, and P&O Liners).  The costumes, the wood panelling, the sculptures, the chandeliers, the lifestyle…quite stunning.   A few yards on and you’re out on deck looking over the ocean as we sail past a huge ocean liner sailing past us.  You know it was sometimes difficult to know if you were standing by a real person or a mannequin, but never mind, it was all too intriguing to care.

Of course there is always a pool for a quick dip and dive before setting off for an evening in the ballroom under the stars.  First class all the way Darling!

After exiting (or disembarking as they say) the liner we were definitely happy we had seen it, although I don’t think either of us will see the open seas soon as Dr T doesn’t like ships and I don’t like wide open spaces of nothingness!!

Here’s an added bonus.  I received this video link from the V&A about how they captured the essence of the descending staircase in the ballroom and the historic costumes the ladies wore.  I hope you enjoy it.  (it’s a safe click through I promise). 

Making an entrance ocean liner style (3:40)

I’m glad we didn’t have a set plan for the day, except to visit the V&A.  The Burnout Queens always expect the unexpected will bring us enjoyment and today’s trip gave us that and more.  Now we only have hundreds of little exhibits left to discover!

Until next month, ‘ew wee baby!’