A budding romance...with rich tea biscuits

Rich tea biscuits have long been the ‘loser’ of all biscuits.

Contentious statement, I know.

But if given the choice would you rather have a chocolate digestive or a rich tea? A custard cream or a rich tea? A bourbon or a rich tea? Hands down, every time I would NOT pick the rich tea. I like variety, I like interesting tastes and trying different things. The standard rich tea biscuit, although consistent and perfectly ‘dippable’ does not ‘turn me on’ (such an awkward phrase, I don’t know why I used that) instead it encompasses everything boring- in a biscuit.

However, today I headed off for a run a little later than anticipated. So thinking that my porridge I’d had earlier to keep me going for my run, would have ‘worn off,’ I searched for a biscuit.

Absolute dilemma, all I could find was this packet of rich teas:

What a mare. So reluctantly I had one (or maybe two) and flip, was I surprised. They may be dry and not particularly aesthetically pleasing, but they hit the pre-run-snack spot. So, I take it back, rich teas are better than I thought. Rich tea, you have completely changed my precious conceptions about the biscuit world.

A lot of things have been broadening my perspective recently. This weekend I was away with a group of incredibly inspirational people as part of a Tearfund 'Emerging Influencers' course. It was an incredible experience to be with like-minded people, with a heart for justice and a vision for a better world.

Often, so much of what we see and hear about in the world can make us completely shut off, become apathetic and disillusioned with ideals and unequal, exploitative realities. Yet, I have come to believe that this indifference to creation, and our global and local neighbours, is much more harmful and ‘pointless’ than any difference we could make for good.

This may sound ridiculous and idealistic, believe me I know. Lots of the studying/reading I have done this year shows that theoretically, many development ideals are flawed or too Western orientated. However, getting bogged down in all of this theorising, has a negative effect, it makes us feel helpless.

The impact that small actions can make, like buying a Big Issue, acknowledging and chatting to the homeless in Oxford or signing petitions that call for the protection of human rights in different countries, is much bigger than we give them credit. It is my belief and central to my faith that to love my God and to love my neighbour is essential to how I live. I have hope that those living in unjust circumstances will see justice, and hope to dedicate my future to helping and loving those who may feel hopeless, have no voice or feel trapped by their circumstances. Whatever you believe, we live in an increasingly connected world. We are global citizens. Our actions affect each other.

I passionately believe that we can often over come what we thought was previously impossible. I was not born a runner. I only started running when I was about 15 and wanted to get fit and lose weight. I wouldn’t have dreamed about running a mile let alone 26.2, but fast forward to now and well, we all know what’s happening in April! Sometimes even the unimaginable may become reality, my hope and prayer is that we may grow in faith of each other. We would become more empathetic, and stirred into actions rather than apathetic to the problems we see in our neighbourhoods and in our world.

Today on my run I saw this:

(minor panic thinking someone may be in there and that I'd have to go all Baywatch on them and jump in...)

Sometimes it can feel that issues facing humanity today: climate change, poverty, the financial crisis, global conflicts/war, oppression and much more, are causing the world to be a sinking ship, a disaster. We are the captains of this fate, doomed to go down with our ship. I dispute that. Let us be a people of hope, thankful for today, and for our history, but ever expectant of a brighter future. Running for amnesty and raising this money, may not make the difference required for globally protected and enforced human rights. Yet, it will do something, and it will be a way to show brothers and sisters in different places that I, and the people who have donated, care.

As D. L. Moody once said: "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And that which I can do, by the grace of God, I will do"

This blog post isn’t intended to guilt trip everyone. And it is definitely not meant to pass judgement. Rather I hope it’s more of an encouragement. Much of what we see in the news is not good, I’d like to see more stories of ‘what was thought impossible, became possible.’ Just like rich teas have miraculously gained some respect from me-the self-proclaimed, staircase 18, biscuit connoisseur.

Training this week:

-8.26 mile run yesterday

-2.75 mile run today

-5 miler on Thurs another run on Sat.

-Cassey from blogilates, yay for crunches…

As always, thank you so much for your support and donations so far. I am incredibly touched by everyone’s generosity!

Lots of Love xx

P.s. sorry for all of you who saw the title and thought the ‘budding romance’ was an actual romance. Grandparents, aunty(s), friends and everyone else who seem to be holding out for it to happen, I am still single. When the right person comes along, I will let you all know about it.

P.P.S. Let’s be honest, I’d probably call you all up and blog about it.

P.P.P.S. And yes Nana, I am taking a ‘good look round…’ (award for coolest Nana goes to Beryl for being online and reading my blogposts, and having facebook. My grandparents are down with the (grand)kids, fo real.)