This might appear a silly trivial matter for such an important fishy Daily Report but so often it is the little things that count, that guests remember to judge the merits of a motel…
Some anglers confess they ended up staying at TRM driven out of guilt alone. They admit to SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed manages everything here) they may have stayed elsewhere out of habit but finally give in after reading and even enjoying these Daily Reports and relying on them for so long – addicted? – that their conscience drives them here. They actually feel guilty pangs staying somewhere else, so it confirms SWMBO’s remarkably cunning management strategy works.
She just had a ‘new’ fishy guest who confessed he has now converted to become another keen TRM inmate. I suspect the real reason he prefers TRM might be that he caught more trout while he was here. This is just like anglers always returning to whichever pool they caught their last trout in. It doesn’t matter which one – that is their best pool in the river – until they catch a fish somewhere else. (That was added purely to make this qualify as a fishing report.)
However this inmate remarked that he had not drank tea for twenty years but he was fascinated by TRM’s old fashioned tea pots and real genuine loose tea. So he tried to brew a pot. Then he enjoyed the challenge of making his home-made brew so much that he was going home to buy a teapot. We even had evidence as he had polished off all the tea in the unit.
I do not know of any other motel that still uses battered old teapots and loose tea but She knows the inmates love it. TRM was built in 1959 when tea bags had not been invented so we try to maintain certain traditions to go with the period decor and elderly obsolete management.. She still uses a tea “cosy” on TRM’s teapot – younger anglers might have to ask their grandmother what that is. A glance at the ancient manager also confirms the importance of keeping to traditional methods as otherwise She might not understand. No meal is complete at TRM without a cup of tea.
Can you believe She still maintains the guest booking sheet using a 4B pencil and a big rubber. Of course the big iMac has the latest sophisticated computerised programme for all this but She prefers the traditional pencil and rubber method. Why? What happens if there is a power cut? Then we lose all records of who is arriving and more importantly – who has not paid!
Back to tea making – TRM also has the usual Bell original tea bags of course, but it is interesting to note that for some strange reason they are hardly ever used? Fishy guests love making their own tea the traditional TRM way.
In addition to standard Bell tea loose leaves there is a wide variety of more exotic tea bags at reception including Earl Grey, New Zealand Breakfast, English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, Cranberry & Raspberry, Healtheries ‘be regular’ (?), pure Camomile, Orange & Cinnamon, even Assam and Darjeeling Makaibari organic clonal tips tea… So there should be something for everyone.
For coffee drinkers there is both instant coffee or plunger coffee with too many brands and styles and varying strengths to mention. TRM enjoy visits from many overseas anglers – right now there are fishing guests from USA, Scotland and West Island – who are addicted to their own peculiar style of plunger coffee. But they never manage to finish their coffee bags so all their left-overs are passed on to the next coffee addicts. For others needing a sugar fix, as opposed to a caffeine hit, there is hot chocolate.
So now you know.
Below on right is one of our guests serving TRM’s housekeeping staff their morning tea – hot muffins no less – to go with their cuppa. This is not a normal practice expected from all guests, but just illustrates the under rated addictive powerful mind altering hallucinogenic effects of caffeine. TRM anglers claim it sharpens their concentration and endurance but they are really just hopelessly addicted.
The effects of tea on all manner of human habits and characteristics is totally confusing depending who wrote it. i.e. It can both improve memory and eliminate memory?. Guess what is the largest least regulated addictive drug trade in America? Caffeine. So by managing premises offering such a wide range of addictive substances SWMBO may be legally operating as a drug baron? How scary is that?
How to Make a Perfect Pot of Tea
Making tea is easy!
- Heat water in an electric jug. Bring just to a boil. Do not let the water to continue to boil as it will boil off the oxygen and make the tea taste flat. (Microwaving water is not recommended but it will work in a pinch.)
- Place 1 heaping teaspoon of loose tea (for a cup) or 1 heaping tablespoon (for a 4 cup pot). The leaves need to expand in order to release their flavor. Pour boiling water over leaves.
- Steep for about 3-4 minutes. Do not let tea oversteep as it will make the tea taste bitter.
- Stir and enjoy!