I’m from the US so maybe not what you’re looking for, but for black tea you need a few things:

• 212° water (freedom units) - must be boiling, not boiled-then-left-to-cool. I use an electric kettle. If your water isn’t hot enough your tea won’t steep effectively.
• Decent tea. If you’re steeping 15 minutes you might be drinking cheap tea made with fannings (essentially the tea dust that’s left over after the better quality products have been packaged). I drink Yorkshire Gold but this is a matter of preference.
• Milk and sugar to taste, but these should complement the tea. Tea should be the predominant flavor, it shouldn’t just taste like milk or sugar.

Here’s what you do:

1. Heat the water to a rolling boil.
2. While the water is still boiling, pour over the teabag. Pour slowly enough that you don’t rupture the bag.
3. Steep for 5 minutes.
4. Remove the teabag. Don’t squeeze it out - this releases more tannins and your brew will be more bitter.
5. (CONTROVERSIAL!) Add milk and sugar. Some people will tell you milk goes in first. These people are wrong.

Some people will talk at you about teapots and patinas but honestly if you’re an infrequent tea drinker it’s not worth bothering with.

Signed - an American anxiously awaiting all the UKians who will tell me I’m doing it wrong.

Colby, cumbox, swamps of degobah, doritos.

Anyone else freaked out by that fake smile?

In the context of the OOP I think it’s obnoxious, but people who baldly objectify women tend to be obnoxious, so I can’t say I’m surprised. I wish they’d knock it off.

“Female” is appropriate as an adjective: I need a female hose adaptor or My primary care doctor is female or Female cats don’t spray the way male cats do. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any case in which “female” should be used as a noun - except I guess it’s common in healthcare and law enforcement (though still grammatically incorrect).

It seems like “woman” is a hard word to use for some people. I’m not sure why. This also gets into the “woman” vs “girl” thing, which in my view is much more demeaning than “female.” We’re not children for fuck’s sake!

I should mention that some women aren’t bothered by “female” or “girl,” which is completely their prerogative.

It’s so fuzzy! 🥰

Maus is so powerful.

I keep hearing that but I couldn’t get through it! It just didn’t hold my attention.

Fair point, but then I’m starting from scratch again which I’d prefer not to do. I think the censorship is dumb but I can live with it.

hunter2

Certain words are being censored. I really don’t love it but we can all fill in the blanks.

I like gardening too…

Me too! Have you found any good gardening subs yet?