On the side of P.G. Tips tea boxes it boasts one of its selling points as being "your natural source of Theanine." That's fantastic... except... what the hell is Theanine? Is this a cultural mistranslation between the U.K. and the U.S. or is Theanine an actual nutrient or vitamin of some sort that the F.D.A. has cleverly suppressed knowledge of from my theanine-starved cells? Or... was I just not paying attention during health class in high school because I ditched fourth period to hang out with cute anarchists and listen to Morrissey. I don't know... but you know who does...
My ghetto sister, Wikipedia. Let's go ring her up and see what she has to say...
"Theanine is an amino acid commonly found in tea (infusions of Camellia sinensis). Theanine is related to glutamine, and can cross the blood-brain barrier.[1] Because it can enter the brain, theanine has psychoactive properties.[2] Theanine has been shown to reduce mental and physical stress[3], may produce feelings of relaxation[4] and improves cognition and mood when taken in combination with caffeine."
Oh, that sounds nice. I bet Judita already knew that because she's doing a Master's in Nutrition... but guess what? She's in Costa Rica on vacation so instead you get me Wikipedia-ing like a ninja. Did you like how I just turned Wikipedia into a verb? That's the hard core investigative journalism you'll find here at the Anglo Files. I expect the NME to ring me up any moment and offer me a job.
This blog was started because I have an influx of girlfriends who currently share my affinity for things like P.G. Tips, watching Extras, gossiping about Russell Brand's ardent sex life and complaining about the cost of international trips. I keep joking that I'm going to start Anglomania parties where we just get together and watch The Mighty Boosh and eat scones and cream. Do we have a problem? Yes. But considering our alternatives are: the NFL, Nickelback and no accents... we were really left with no choice.
My current obsession is Stephen Merchant from Extras. Ricky Gervais gets all the attention but seriously, Merchant is a hot, comic icon with brilliant timing. And I love that he complains about his "bulbous eyes" in real life, because that makes me feel soooo much better about mine which are (literally) probably twice the size of his (boo hoo). Anyhow, I figure the wedding invitations will have a picture of us holding hands but his head will be cut out of the shot as I'm 5'0" and he's 6'7"... who wants to come? Bring your umbrellas and famous friends, it's gonna be a hoot. And don't worry, all the proceeds from the subsequent photo spread in Hello! will be donated to charity... and Gucci. (By the way, I think I need to do a whole forthcoming entry about the magical majesty that is Hello! and OK! photospreads. Before I lived in the U.K. I had no idea such grandeur existed. The awkward posing, the strained looks of supposed happiness and reveling in excessive consumption...it is pretty amazing. )
This video has too much Jonathan Ross but look at Smerchie in that cute suit.
On the side of P.G. Tips tea boxes it boasts one of its selling points as being "your natural source of Theanine." That's fantastic... except... what the hell is Theanine? Is this a cultural mistranslation between the U.K. and the U.S. or is Theanine an actual nutrient or vitamin of some sort that the F.D.A. has cleverly suppressed knowledge of from my theanine-starved cells? Or... was I just not paying attention during health class in high school because I ditched fourth period to hang out with cute anarchists and listen to Morrissey. I don't know... but you know who does...
