tea and coffee are not interchangeable

Why do people assume that you take the same amount of milk/sugar in tea and coffee? They are clearly entirely different drinks and each requires its own special treatment. I have just been presented with a lukewarm cup of coffee with 2 sugars and milk. No, not even milk, soya milk, which curdles in coffee, I find, and tastes disgusting. I am still waiting for my teenage daughter to 'get it' that you don't earn any sort of brownie points if you make an incorrect beverage, and saying, "fancy a brew, mum" isn't, in itself, a meritable act. (This could also go for certain other personages in the household, but we won't go ino that right now.) I suppose you could call me awkward, if not drinking milk is awkward. But as far as I see it, its simple: Nothing in coffee, apart from perhaps a bit of sugar, if I'm in the mood, which I usually am, as need for coffee ofen goes with need for sugar; and soya milk in tea. I mean it's perfectly acceptable to have coffee without milk, right? In fact, to put the milk in without asking is like putting ready-buttered bread on the table, ie: not very continental. And tea, well it's not really tea without milk, is it? and I just prefer soya milk, that's all. I don't think it's too much to expect somebody who has lived with you for 17 years to remember. And somebody with 3 years waitressing experience! How on earth does she manage? Aparently, the "Italian" restuarant where she currenly works serves instant coffee. And no-one has complained. Is this Halifax for you?

There. that's the rant over. I'm not going to tell you what I've been doing as most of it involves sellotape and spending too much money. Yawn. Apart from this: The 8' tree that I ordered came while we were out and is over 10' high.(they didn't have any 7' and last year's 7' tree was about 6'). I don't know anyone who lives in a house big enough to accommodate this tree. It is now in the living room, slightly bent over at the top. We had a debate about cutting or bending down the top, but couldn't decide which was worse, considering it is supposed to be alive when we give it back, so I just hid it with a big star. We just had to bring it in, contrary to my plan to leave it outside for at least a week, as once it was here we got hassled night and day to decorate it, and they were even more annoyingly over-excited when we did bring it in. Next year it is going to be different: We will have a very small tree in a pot and/or make a tree.

Xmas: have ordered food, but can't get my head around cards. Found out my dad's not going to be in hospital in Xmas day after all; I was planning on driving down to Wolverhampton for the day to visit him, much to the children's dissaproval. Well it would have been different. None of us can face going to my parents' house as so many of my annoying siblings will no doubt be there.

O, and I've just been sweetly offered a cup of tea. How nice. I feel awful now...well, actually, no, there is evidently still much to be learned about teapots and brewing and patience... here we go again!