Miss-Match

Miss-matched china is so in fashion that Churchill China have launched a retro range which has the pluses of being vitrified and not needing to be acquired in junk shops.  Spotted by my colleague Charles.

Very Cosy

 Would you know what this is?

 All becomes clear - tea pot cosy courtesy of my neighbour's collection of family heirlooms

Mountain Cafe

The Mountain Cafe at Aviemore has a deserved reputation

Their best seller - chocolate and beetroot cake

Fabulous selection of cake despite the cling film

Stylish tea pots

And their own calender

Go to Prison for a Slice

Ethel's Kitchen in Hove on the south coast has a sense of humour to match the great food, cakes and assorted teapots

Suki Tea

Quality tea and attractive tea pots - Suki tea at Dobbies garden centre cafe, Ashford.  Are you still offering a cheap stainless steel dribbling teapot with no-name untagged teabag?

Jing Tea

Jing Tea have some great glass teapots as well as first rate tea

See http://jingtea.com/

Wacky, Weird, Eccentric & Ingenious

A self-pouring teapot from 1886.

Apparently they were hugely popular.  You raise the lid, put your finger over the hole in the top of the lid, lower the lid and presto, it pours.

One of the first patented Teasmades from 1902.   Ask your granny if you have never heard of a Teasmade - they were all the rage in the 1960s/70s and, unbelievably, a modern "uniquely British icon" version is still being made.

One of my favourites - a combination lock stopper to stop your servants nicking your whisky.





This, and some other fine eccentric gadgets, are on hire to museums and other establishments from the delightful Maurice Collins mauricecollins@msn.com who puts all hire proceeds to disability charities.    His own disabled daughter was the inspiration to start the charity Kith & Kids http://www.kithandkids.org.uk/  Heartwarming.