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Monday, May 25, 2015

Tea Time

HWho could imagine a cup of tea some hundred and fifty years ago inspiring the design and construction of fast sail boats. Back then tea came from China and the first shipment to arrive in London each season would fetch premium prices. The lure of this premium resulted in the famous tea clippers and the fastest of these tall masted sailing ships was the 'Cutty Sark'. 

Ironically, the reign of these beautiful, fast and efficient sailing ships was halted as a result of two significant developments. Steam powered vessels negated the reliance on wind power and the Suez Cannel was opened in 1869. Winds through the shorter Suez route did not favour sail and by 1877 clippers comprised only one in nine ships arriving in London with tea cargos. Seven years earlier there had been fifty nine.  

Saturday, after a tour inside the British Parliment, it was time for high tea on the terrace at Westminister....magnificently pre-organised by Katherine.

Rigging on the Cutty Sark sitting high and dry alongside the Thames at Greenwich
And more rigging....
School's in at the Cutty Sark
Taking tea at Westminister Terrace alongside the Thames
Mad Hatter's tea party display at the Chelsea Flower Show

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