“Tea time at Stuart Lodge”
                                                                                         with Dan's Mom at Mrs. Shaw's

     Mrs. Ethel Shaw owned a cozy “bed and breakfast” in the picturesque town of Darjeeling in the Himalayan foothills.   It was named “Stuart Lodge” – her maiden name. Travelers found their way to “Stuart Lodge” from all over the world.

Mrs. Shaw’s Darjeeling tea was famous.  She served it with Chinese-made Panda brand condensed milk.  Milk so thick the spoon stood on end in the can. We spent many a summer evening on the veranda sipping her tea and watching the world go by.

Her house was located on Theatre Road, so named because of the Rink Cinema (Movie Theater) just across the street. The walls were thin. The Rink was definitely pre-war.  (The Second World War!)

Often during the warm summer evenings the doors to the theatre were left open. We could hear strains of “Supercalifragilistic Expealidocious,’ or Shirley Bassey belting out “Gold finger.”  Young folks would pass by lip synching dialogues:  “A martini.  Shaken, not stirred.” Flailing their arms about “Give me ten men like Clouseau and I could destroy the world.” 

MRS. SHAW’S TEA

• Boil water in kettle.
• Pour the hot water in the pot to keep it warm. (If you use a tea cozy, place the tea cozy over the tea pot)
• Pour the hot water from the tea pot into the cups. Discard the rest of the water
• Measure one level teaspoon Darjeeling tea for each cup and put it in the tea pot. (If Broken or Fanning - crushed leaf - Grades of tea are used, ½ Teaspoon of tea will suffice.)
• Once the water in the kettle comes to a furious boil pour the water into the tea pot. (cover with the tea cozy)
• Brew for 5 minutes.
• Serve with condensed milk