I felt a bit gloomy about this and that, reflecting the weather it seemed, when i heard a car door slam outside. I am very near the corner and people have often used my driveway as a turnaround, or they park opposite the house and get out of their cars to check something--trailers pulling boats or motorcycles, or they get something from the trunk/boot. I looked outside to see a deliveryman in a white van. I've seen him before in my driveway. Only i hadn't ordered anything.
I hadn't. But a dear friend in the UK had, and i opened a box from Fortnum & Mason, which held about a half dozen varieties of tea, some which i have tasted and loved, and a few i had wanted to try but hadn't yet ordered. In fancy tins.
There was also a tin of biscuits and not just any old tin, but one that has a music box on the bottom, and not just only old biscuits but yummy dark chocolate dipped orange digestive ones,
and a card which read simply,
Tea and Sympathy and much love from across the Pond
All dismal feelings vanished, and i gave thanks for such a loving, dear friend.
I am glad love is not aware of long distances when it crosses from one heart to another and was once again struck by how it warms the heart on the gloomiest of days.
That's great. I would love the biscuits. I go insane over dark chocolate and orange. Isn't it wonderful to have someone care so much about you?
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Janie, i plan on sharing the biscuits with a few friends who'll enjoy them as much i shall. And yes, it is wonderful to have someone care so much about me. I am very blessed to have such a lovely woman in my tribe.
DeleteIt's like magic; there is nothing to compare on any shop shelf in America.
ReplyDeleteNo, Joanne, there isn't. And every pot of tea i make from these tins will be a reminder of just how wonderful a friend's love can be.
DeleteLucky you. Fortnum's was always a favourite shop for such things; especially those bikkies!
ReplyDeleteOh, Cro, i know, their bikkies are amazing. I have yet to sample one i haven't loved.
DeleteBlimey! The closest I ever got to those biscuits were Jaffa Cakes from Tescos!
ReplyDeleteAs young officers stationed in Belize, we decided to test the notion that Fortnum's could deliver one of their famous hampers anywhere in the world so wrote to them asking for a hamper to be delivered to the top of Xanantunich, a Mayan Temple on the Vaca Plateau. Whoever received the letter in Fortnum's evidently had a sense of humour for he sent us an itemised breakdown of delivery costs including such gems as; Transport by Packet Steamer to Central America; 300 Guineas. Native Bearers three of; 87 Guineas. Rations for same, 30 Guineas and so it went on! It was only right at the end of the letter the author confessed that Fortnum's could deliver what ever we wanted to a BFPO address (British Forces Post Office, always overseas) at UK parcel post rates. We received our hamper thus but had to lug it ourselves to the top of Xanantunich. Ever since then I have an undying affection for Carr's Water Biscuits and Patum Pepperium, a novelty for me at the time, and the most enormous respect for the now sadly anonymous Fortnum's employee who took the time to respond to our letter in such a witty way all those years ago.
When George Bush the younger was president and Homeland Security was created after 9/11, F&M found it difficult to deliver packages to the former colonies across the Pond, so they set up a US shop on the East Coast as a warehouse. It was only about 15 miles from me, so i could make a local phone call, order my tea, and as i was so close, get it next day. I got spoiled; once security loosened up a bit, F&M closed the US warehouse and it was back to calling Old Blighty or ordering on-line and paying triple in shipping costs.
DeleteThey've always been cordial when i've talked to them on the phone, but i've never had occasion to ask them to deliver to such a remote location. What a great story, Tom.
It was your story that reminded me of it. It reawakened such fond memories of being a young officer and what we got up to!
DeleteI posted my comment on your blog which means it belongs to you now. Do you mind if I post it on my blog? I will add what happened when I wrote to Moss Bros. of London to order a Panama hat delivered to Belize... and will post a photo of me wearing it.
Not at all. I look forward to reading it.
DeleteThanks! I'm a bit tired this evening, my foot is giving me hell but just standby!
DeleteWhat a charming gift and wonderful friend. I would love some tea and sympathy like that (although I don't deserve any)... I would just love it.
ReplyDeleteMitchell, i can remember many times in my house where when there was some to-do or sad event, the first thing that would occur was to put the kettle on. We were mostly coffee drinkers, but if it were the afternoon when The Event occurred, it was always tea.
DeleteThis friend and i had discussed comestibles, as when we send gifts for Christmas and birthdays, we've found comestibles work best, but this was completely unexpected, which made it all the sweeter.