My father's mother was from Liverpool and she had this very beautiful English china. I only wanted to drink my cocoa out of my grandmother's cup and saucer.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
British passion for Chinese tea was unstoppable, but the Chinese had no desire for our offerings, however much we tried to sell them woolen clothes or cutlery.
I first came to China as a child on a visit with my family in 1978.
I'm absolutely delighted because I'm part of the process that has made Asians very much part of the mainstream fabric of Britain, whereas, when I first started, we were completely on the margin.
My Dad was from Liverpool, and he picked it up in the army. He'd often come out with this stuff.
My grandparents were far more English in their manners than they were Chinese. For example, we spoke English at home, had afternoon tea every day, and my grandfather, who attended university in Scotland, would smoke his pipe after dinner.
I liked being a teenager, but I would not go back for all the tea in China.
For people in London, Asian flavors are always part of the culture, more than in New York.
I would not call my family 'traditional Chinese.' We were more what I would term the Colonial Chinese.
I don't come from any great culinary tradition - I'm from London!
China traditionally has been a tea-drinking country but we turned them into coffee drinkers.