# What do people drink in England? Grey tea

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-england-everything-gray
- Themes: humour, England, depression, weather
- Life situations: needing a laugh, winter blues

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Winter England gag: sky, buildings, coats all grey — punchline grey tea; stiff upper lip is just frozen weather.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

everything is gray and you know the punchline of this joke what do people drink in England oh Gray tea it's all gray no wonder people get depressed and it is a depressing time of the year can I remember that and that's why you know they say the British have got a stiff upper lip that's not voluntary it's just Frozen

## Teaching point

Sometimes the national character is just the climate with a reputation.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

English winters: grey sky, grey streets, grey coats. What do they drink? Grey tea. That stiff upper lip, Ajahn Brahm jokes, isn't voluntary; it's frozen. Even Thai forest monks lost energy in that drizzle. Dark seasons weigh on everyone. Be gentle with yourself and others when the light is low.

## Source

- [Interconnectedness | Ajahn Brahm | 29-06-2007](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dd38x5XqKA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 3:41 to 4:11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dd38x5XqKA&t=221s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Transcending Disasters | Ajahn Brahm | 25-02-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk49Udlvlbk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 43:34 to 44:21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk49Udlvlbk&t=2614s