[HPFGU-OTChatter] Brit Speak: Child in a Highchair Drinking Tea?

[Michael Chance]

From: "Steve" <bboy_mn at yahoo.com>


> I was on JKR's website, in her Biography section and she is discussing
> when she first heard that her book would be published. In it she said
> something strange, and I wondered if people who are familiar with
> British language and culture could tell me if she likely meant this
> figuratively or literally.
>
> "...It's definitely going to be published?' After I had hung up, I
> screamed and jumped into the air; Jessica, who was sitting in her
> high-chair enjoying tea, looked thoroughly scared."
>
> When she says '...enjoying tea...' does she mean that a child young
> enough to need a highchair was literally drinking tea? I know tea is a
> great part of British culture, but isn't tea for an infant a little
> too much. Or, did she mean, as I greatly hope, that the child was
> having a snack?
>
> Of course, not being there we can't say with absolute certainty, but
> certainly someone who is knowledgable in British language could give a
> likely meaning.

She almost definitely means that Jessica was her evening meal :) While one
of my mother's friends very English grandmothers did give her cups from when
she was about 4-5 years old, it is highly likely JKR means the evening meal.
(I've always thought of tea, meal-wise, as being a light evening meal when
you've already had your main meal at lunch time).

Michael