Coffee with lemon tea – Becoming The Muse
If you were having coffee with me, I would be happy you braved the cold to visit my tangle of words, it’s a tad nippy outside, allow me to offer you warming beverage with lemon perharps?. Our neighbouring country South Africa experienced snowfall the other day, a very rare occurrence which last happened a decade ago and before that in August 2012 brrrr. ❄ 🥶
When life gives you lemons, you squeeze them into your tea. There is something I find fascinating, almost magical, about the way tea changes colour when you squeeze a few drops of lemon into it. I honestly believe some of life’s challenges can be solved by a hot cup of lemon tea.
Ever wondered why tea changes colour when you add lemon to it? Black tea contains pigments called thearubigins that give it that reddish/brown colour. They are very sensitive to pH level and so introducing an acidic agent such as lemon which has citric acid, changes their structure and lightens their colour. If you were to add something alkaline like baking soda the tea would darken (but that tastes horrible 😂)
Now that we have had fun with the science behind a perfectly brewed cup of lemon tea, I would ask if you think having lemon in your tea counts as having had a fruit. Lets say a doctor wants to know if you have been having fruits in your diet… Do you think lemon tea works as a weight loss tonic because it makes your insides lighter? Hmmm
If you were having coffee with me, I would tell you that we have our harmonised presidential elections in about a month from now and I must say I dont particularly feel the election spirit, people are very guarded on their opinions while some simply ask whats the point of the elections.
A survey by the AfroBarometer has the president with an 8 point lead to win the election even though majority of survey participants indicated the country was going in wrong direction.
The narrative of an uneven playing field has started as the main opposition party has been experiencing trouble with getting the required authorisation to hold campaign rallies. When they do get the rallies authorised they are complaining of strict conditions on how to conduct the gatherings, while the other contenders do not seem to experience similar constraints.
After the rally for the Citizens Coalition for Change Party’s in Bindura failed to get cleareance there was public outcry which led to the police issuing a Press Statement to explain how they had come across the decision.
Looking at the communication and weighing in on how according to the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act the police as a Regulating Authority have the power to ban a gathering but only when a gathering carries definite threat or risk of violence or disruption and no other conditions can be applied to remedy that possibility, their reasons dont seem to quite meet that threshold.
After more public outcry over the recent spat of bans on the opposition party rallies, the police seem to have made an about turn on their operations. An internal communication to commanding officers reminding them that for elections to be free, fair and credible the playing field will need to be even and to allow for peaceful activities was leaked to public.
The police have confirmed that the document is genuine although it was not meant for public or media. Looks like someone saw that the situation was moving into a territory which harms the integrity of the electoral process…
Some say that was the whole point to first have a bit of a rough patch and then our listening president will sweep in and remind the people the gospel of peace and tolerance. Handshakes all round… speaking of handshakes…
Did you know royal people have their own set of etiquette and you are not suppose to touch them unless they initiate contact. I only knew this fact because the American president was said to have broken protocol when he met with King Charles… Apparently the King didnt mind and they are friends and peer heads of state and royal protocol is exaggerated.. the world wont end…
Whats been going on in your neck of the woods?
~B
Becoming The Muse 
Your thoughts.. if you will?