Caree in Wonderland

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Mention afternoon tea to me and I can't help visualising white fluffy ears and hats with 10s/6d price tags on them. The presence of a teapot on a table immediately conjures up what was the shocking image for me as a child of the Hatter and March Hare 'trying to put the Dormouse into' it.

Maybe it's the fear that I won't be allowed to sit down and enjoy the comforts of good baking; ' "No room! No room!" they cried out when they saw (her) coming.'

Somewhere along the way the gift of a copy of 'Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland' when I was young together with an adult life spent in a neighbouring village to Croft on Tees where Lewis Carroll moved with his family when he was 11 years old, has clearly had an effect upon me. With a daughter who attended the school still connected to the church at which the author's father was the Rector, it's perhaps little wonder that the book continues to have an impact.

These days of course thanks to the resurgence of baking programmes on television, it is almost as common to go out for afternoon tea as it is for lunch. In fact, with so many places serving it from 1pm, it's theoretically possible to combine the two.
 
Today however, at the respectable hour of 3pm, Mister E and I were treated to a sumptous spread, missing lunch in readiness, at the elegant Goldsborough Hall. It is situated near to Knaresborough, known for its castle (with ravens), caves and pertrifying well, where we spent a pleasant couple of hours beforehand.
' "But they were IN the well," Alice said to the Dormouse.
"Of course they were," said the Dormouse; "-well in." '

Our meal was served from a tray ('Up above the world you fly, like a tea tray in the sky.') and we tried to do justice to the civilised occasion.

' "I've had nothing yet...so I can't take more."
"You mean you can’t take LESS," said the Hatter: "it’s very easy to take MORE than nothing." '

' "Have some wine," the March Hare said in an encouraging tone.
Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. "I don’t see any wine," she remarked.
"There isn’t any," said the March Hare.
"Then it wasn’t very civil of you to offer it." '

Fortunately there were no Wonderland characters present at our little treat to spoil it with their quarrelsome conversation and riddles.


When we had eaten to a state of satiety, we went through 'the door that led into the garden.' We found ourselves 'at last in the beautiful garden, among the bright flower-beds.' They were magnificent but please:

'Why is a raven like a writing-desk?'


Comments

Unknown said…
NevaR backwards and for words
7 August 2018 at 20:34
Debra Journet said…
A lovely, charming post. (It definitely gives me England envy.)
8 August 2018 at 02:02
Caree Risover said…
Thank you for sorting that one.
9 August 2018 at 22:58
Caree Risover said…
Yes, historic charm is one of the few things this country does do in spades.
9 August 2018 at 23:02
Unknown said…
Full answer: https://www.linkedin.com/post/edit/time-solve-why-raven-like-writing-desk-neil-bant
10 August 2018 at 17:32
Caree Risover said…
Golly, I'd not even countenanced the possibility of mathematical connotations. Brilliant article by the way.
12 August 2018 at 22:06
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