How does a certain drink conjure up a place, season or time of day?
Before I went to Mexico, my nephew quipped: “One tequila, two tequilas, three tequilas, four”. I now know why.
David Isaacs, Sydney, Australia
• When I fell in love with a Welsh carpenter and moved to Aberdare in 1998, I was converted to drinking tea with milk. My father says the British know how to ruin a perfectly good drink, but I like the richness of full-cream milk in black tea – a drink that warmed my bones in that rainy country. I remember it now as we – the Welsh carpenter and I – sip Tetley in Sydney on a crisp, autumn May morning.
Sarah Klenbort, Sydney, Australia
• In the footsteps of the late Queen Mother: “A martini? It must be 6pm”.
Marilyn Hamilton, Perth, Western Australia
• Beef tea is in my memory as the drink offered to help recovery from childhood illnesses.
Ursula Nixon, Bodalla, NSW, Australia
• A mango and pineapple smoothie means Costa Rica, with a 13-year-old granddaughter.
Avril Taylor, Dundas, Ontario, Canada
• A good cup of tea conjures up 4pm any place in the world where I happen to be.
Margaret Wilkes, Perth, Western Australia
• A pint of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord in any Yorkshire village pub. In any season, at any time of day.
Brian Kenworthy, Norwood, South Australia
• A jug of Pimm’s with mint and cucumber transports me back to balmy English summer afternoons, sitting on the grass at home with my family, under the cedar trees.
Jenefer Warwick James, Paddington, NSW, Australia
• Gin to begin and a tequila sunrise, wine at nine, punch for lunch then schnapps with naps.
Roger Morrell, Perth, Western Australia
• By heightening the powers of imagination.
R De Braganza, Kilifi, Kenya
At Her Majesty’s pleasure
What privileges are badly behaved citizens entitled to?
Justice. No more, no less.
David Turner, Bellevue Heights, South Australia
• The pleasure of Her Majesty.
Margaret Wyeth, Victoria British Columbia, Canada
• One bowl of gruel, and no seconds.
RM Fransson, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, US
• In a truly just society, life and the ability to seek the welfare of all.
Neil Johnson, Birmingham, UK
• Free board and lodging in the local nick.
Charlie Bamforth, Davis, California, US
• The privilege of living where there are quality-of-life laws to protect them from each other.
Richard Orlando, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
• Accurate and accessible press coverage of their misdemeanours.
Sue Dyer, Downer, ACT, Australia
OK, let’s lower the boats!
Would we expect to find lifeboats on the Ship of Fools?
Of course. Inflatable rafts, made of biodegradable plastic.
Carolyn Kinsley, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
• No, but there would be a frantic re-arranging of the deck chairs.
Wayne Burtt, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
• Yes. Cardboard dinghies.
Lynne Weinerman, Fort Bragg, California, US
• Yes. But no davits.
Jim McPherson, Mount Coolum, Queensland, Australia
Any answers?
What is a sensible, dependable topic with which to begin conversation with first-time dinner guests?
William Emigh, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Can love save humanity?
Burkhard Friedrich, Berlin, Germany
Send answers to weekly.nandq@theguardian.com
