Shirley Tart: Be like Meghan – make time for tea

To enjoy it to its fullest, though, you need to discard any guilty feelings because you had lunch and might be expected to also eat supper.

I’m not a big eater anyway so a choice of something scrumptious is perfect.

These thoughts were prompted by our newest Princess Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who loves our teatime traditions but sweeps in with some very different ideas – like avocado on toast and truffles.

I shall try it and unless I am very wrong, give it royal recommendation.

In my time I have enjoyed some fantastic teatimes from Tea at the Palace (Buckingham) – which was perhaps served on the second best china – to the most fun occasions with battered Tupperware and shared with pals and dogs in a harvest field.

Just plucking a couple of the more unusual teatime companions at a pair of London’s smartest hotels and just made for tea, how about the daughter of my favourite author Enid Blyton as we marked what would have been her 100th birthday.

And the charming sister of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who had just published one of the many books about the great man and his work for the nations and the world.

“You wouldn’t want to spoil supper though would you,” persisted today’s dedicated foodie anxiously, “what would you do about that?”

“Eat the left-over bits from teatime,” I said cheerfully. “Every lovely crumb!”

Ant and Dec - the likeable lads

Ant and Dec, saviours of the entertainment world? Rubbish!

Despite the fact that they are probably overpaid, I’ve always supported them as a pair of likeable lads who work well together and whose fan base includes the lot – from grannies to schoolchildren.

There has been a lot of sympathy for Ant during a tough year dealing with alcohol problems, depression and in some parts, humiliation. Of course people sympathise and forgive.

If a bit of the polish falls off the image, well, that’s part of the price you pay.

As for this week’s National TV awards, what sort of clanger was that?

By all means honour Dec for battling on and certainly applaud Holly Willoughby for stepping in and doing a great job partnering him Down Under in particular.

But if at all, surely, there should have been a special Holly and Dec award for the duo for last year.

Anyway, after 18 years as winners, are we really saying that no-one in the entertainment world can touch Ant and Dec, even when one of them is not even there? ***

Thank goodness somebody has found Rafael Nadal a pair of white shorts which actually fit him. I quite like the fetching orange vest for the odd occasion as well, Rafa. Oh, and the tennis is not bad, either.

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I’m adopting a resolution which I just heard aired by a radio optimist. She said she wasn’t interested in being against things, she was very positively for things. Try it, it does make for a sunnier outlook on life.

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And finally : “Of course, every generation faces fresh challenges and opportunities. As we look for new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view; coming together to seek out the common ground; and never losing sight of the bigger picture.” The words of Her Majesty, the Queen.

She likes afternoon tea as well!