Best Tea Time With T Cross Podcasts (2025)

Send us a text Hello and welcome back! I’m so sorry I’ve not been with you for the past few days. I will publish 3 episodes today to catch up and because I’m in wonderful Canterbury, where there is so much to share with you. I hope you are well and thank you for your kind messages of support. 🤗 Support the show Love Gretel 🌝…

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Early English Churches; Early Cornish and Irish Christianity; and Archbishop Mellitus 58:52

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5d ago58:52

58:52

Send us a text Good evening and welcome to tonight’s episode. Thank you for all your wonderful support. I really value it. 🤗🥳 Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Norbert’s Day; Pepys has Diaper Napkins; and Pevsner describe Sherborne Old Castle 33:44

6d ago33:44

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Send us a text Good evening friends. I’ve found out that podcast rankings are influenced by how often episodes or the show is shared by listeners and I wondered if you have the time and energy you might consider sharing it from time to time. Maybe with a friend or family member. I know I shouldn’t be bothered about rankings, but it’s been lovely to…

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A Wessex Poem; Poor Boniface is Murdered as an Old Man; and Pepys falls out with his Wife 31:22

7d ago31:22

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Send us a text Hallo and thank you so very much for joining me. How are you? Are you able to find peace and contentment or is it eluding you? Ideas from a simple Dorset lady: 1. Read in bed a real book for the first and last 15 minutes of each day 2. Make a point of being extra warm and kind to everyone you come across tomorrow 3. Buy a packet of l…

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Hardy’s poignant poetry; and Pepys hears Organ music in Westminster for the first time. 30:36

8d ago30:36

30:36

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Saxon Crosses; Hardy’s education; and a Rainy Tuesday 31:24

9d ago31:24

31:24

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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We discover Iona was called Hii; dear Walter Scott woos our hearts; and Pepys ruefully clocks the severed limbs of ‘traytors’ 31:58

10d ago31:58

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Send us a text Dear friends. I’m on a huge wave of happiness tonight thanks to an afternoon spent with a friend. Friends are SO important are they not? People who are on our side and hurt for our hurts. Thank you for joining me as ever, including to dear Gretchen for her kind email. I will read some out tomorrow. It’s fascinating to hear about peop…

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Pepys watches the death of a Regicide; we ponder Egdon Heath and celebrate a clutch of Saints 32:32

11d ago32:32

32:32

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Pepys is taken aback by grand Clerical Vestments; we commemorate poor Jeanne D’Arc; and we visit Thomas Hardy in his home 28:46

12d ago28:46

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Send us a text Good evening, how are you? A very warm welcome to newcomers or old comers; to regulars or to drop-ins. I’m here every day so that you’ve always got a place to go if you need some comfort and companionship. Let do our bit to make larger the space in the world that protects people from unkindness, crassness and loneliness. It was so lo…

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Possible Ghost of Emma Gifford sings in her old Church St Juliot’s; Witchery in Boscastle; and Bloodlines 28:52

13d ago28:52

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Send us a text Good evening and thank you so much for joining me on my last day exploring the north Cornish coast. Today we visit the place of Thomas Hardy’s courtship of Emma Gifford as well as the Witchcraft Museum in Boscastle. On Monday I’ll be posting something small to my paying subscribers, so do leave an address in my DMs or email: gretelle…

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Pepys drinks his first Cupp of Tea 🫖 while we take a walk among grasses and graves. 24:24

14d ago24:24

24:24

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Cornish sounds; Hengist and Horsa; and an evening visit to a cliff-top Church 22:28

15d ago22:28

22:28

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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The Venerable Bede: a Celebration 58:53

16d ago58:53

58:53

Send us a text Hello and welcome to today’s episode where we celebrate the life of our Venerable friend. With very best wishes and thank you so much for joining me. Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Origins of Oratorios; Saint Augustine’s Feast Day; and Pepys discusses whether True Argument is at the Heart of a good Tragedie 47:12

17d ago47:12

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Send us a text Good afternoon and thank you for taking the time to join me for today’s episode where we end with some Handel to celebrate the word ‘Oratorio’ and its saintly origins. Do get in touch and tell me who you are, so I can say hello to you on tomorrow’s episode. [email protected] Best wishes 🙋‍♀️🪿🕯️ Support the show Love Gretel 🌝…

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Saints, Celtic Christians, a thieving Servant, and we make a start on the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 28:35

18d ago28:35

28:35

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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We remember David of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿; Celebrate France 🇫🇷; Ponder human nature; and eagerly anticipate tonight’s episode where we begin… 25:31

18d ago25:31

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Send us a text …. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 🕯️🤓🥳 Hello! We’re having two episodes today, to catch up with our Saints and to fit in this evening our start on the Anglo Saxon Chronicle, which will run alongside Pepys. Nothing’s too tricky for we band of merry, curious folk 🤓 Support the show Love Gretel 🌝…

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A tour inside a 1533 Chancel that’s lost its Nave; Why the Lord Chancellor sits atop a Bale of Wool; and we hear Swallows, Warblers and Long-Tailed Tits 34:28

19d ago34:28

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Send us a text Good afternoon and welcome to today’s episode where we visit on foot a tiny chancel that once had a nave; built in the Tudor times just before the Reformation with a still visible coat of arms of Henry VIII above the East Window. I find a dusty old love poem of sorts, an ancient kneeler, and delight in the swooping swallows that gath…

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A Litter of Puppies for Pepys; The Abingdon Manuscript; and good William of Rochester. 15:22

20d ago15:22

15:22

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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The Winchester Chronicle, The Court of Pleas and Pepys buys Lobster 🦞 19:20

21d ago19:20

19:20

Send us a text Hello and a very good afternoon. I hope you are well. Thank you so much to my seven kind subscribers who help pay for my tea and cake as I zoom about the country. Next week I’m looking forward to taking you back to St Gennys in north Cornwall when I will be digging deeper into the relationship between Cornish, Irish, Welsh and Breton…

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A Deep Ponder on Universal Trials of Life 39:01

21d ago39:01

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Send us a text Do feel free to ignore this if you only come for the history; this is a reflective episode on life and its universal challenges. 🌻 Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Hares, Saints and Rain 18:56

22d ago18:56

18:56

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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The early 19th Century Microcosm of London by Pugin and Rawlinson; Mr Wren accompanies Pepy’s Diaries 24:43

23d ago24:43

24:43

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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The Restoration was about restoring Parliament’s Sovereignty, says W Churchill, brilliantly; and we reflect on the great St Dunstan 42:49

24d ago42:49

42:49

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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The Sherborne Abbey Fire of 1437: Townsman against Monk; A Fateful Font Fight 42:20

25d ago42:20

42:20

Send us a text Good evening and thank you so much for joining me. How are you and how is your Sunday? Today I read an Extract from the Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 1985 - The Fire of 1437 and the Rebuilding of Sherborne Abbey, JHP Gibb. Associated diagrams I’ve uploaded to X and BlueSky. I need a website! Can anyone make one f…

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Grief; Saint Madron; Birdsong and a fretful Pepys 30:34

26d ago30:34

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Send us a text Photo is the beautiful parish church of Corton Denham, Somerset, taken this evening. Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Brendan the Navigator, Carantoc, Peregrine of Auxerre and Simon Stock; meanwhile Churchill discusses pre-Restoration power-play; and dear Pepys’ wench takes abed 34:38

27d ago34:38

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Send us a text Good evening and thank you so much for joining me. I’m a little under par this evening and low after receiving a low Apple Podcasts rating. If you enjoy what I do even a little I would be so very grateful if you would give me a nice rating. There are lots of places you can go to it: Podcast, Apple, Buzzsprout, Podchaser, GoodPods, Ac…

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Early English Gothic; the Psychiatric Innovations of Gheel; and Pepys returns to his Wife’s warm bed. 30:36

28d ago30:36

30:36

Send us a text Photograph is of St Dymphna, Gheel. Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Emily Dickinson; Matthias the Apostle; and poor Pepys awakes Bed-Wetted and missing his beloved Wife 19:32

29d ago19:32

19:32

Send us a text Photo from E Webb ‘Literary London’ of 17th century Fleet Street. The gable-ended building is the Devil Tavern, frequented by Pepys and destroyed in 1787. Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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King Charles II arrives at Dover; his long trials at an end. General Monke and Charles play these Restoration days exquisitely. 25:55

1M ago25:55

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Send us a text Benjamin West’s painting of the King receiving General Monke at Dover; though in truth, brilliantly, it was the other way around. Through such subtleties the Constitutional Monarchy weaved its way into a stable future. Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Winston Churchill tells of the build-up the The Anarchy after an Old King loses his beloved teenage son; We ponder the possible suppression by Lanfranc of unorthodox Celtic Saints; and Pepys discovers ... 39:04

1M ago39:04

39:04

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Pepys organises the painting of the new King’s Arms 18:11

1M ago18:11

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Send us a text The obsessing over signage by all people and institutions in May of 1660 is so fascinating and so relatable and explains why so many English pubs are the King’s Arms. What quicker, surer way to reassure people of your loyalty to the new King? Signs and symbols matter because we use them to be noticed by others who we know will know w…

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Fascinating Irish Saints and a happy May Day in 1660 London 16:45

1M ago16:45

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Send us a text A second episode, so we keep our momentum going with dear Pepys and his diary. The photo here is the beautiful parish church of Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds, where I am staying for the weekend. A very good evening to you. Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Tom Holland talks Podcasts, Donald Trump, and the joys of cricket 15:18

1M ago15:18

15:18

Send us a text Good evening and welcome to tonight’s episode where, after talking to an enthusiastic audience about his book Suetonius, historian Tom Holland spared me ten minutes to chat about this, that and cricket. 🏏 I’m so grateful to him for his time. Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Cerne Abbas, spilt wine and Pepys plays ninepins 15:51

1M ago15:51

15:51

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Pepys’ Progress and a Blackbird 🐦‍⬛ 19:30

1M ago19:30

19:30

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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A Sombre Wednesday; Painting for the first time as an Adult; and Pepys commemorates his Stone Operation 23:29

1M ago23:29

23:29

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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National Treasure and priest Angela Tilbury chats about grief and her new book; and author Andrew Heavens discusses his fascinating book The Prince and the Plunder 23:41

1M ago23:41

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Send us a text Welcome to a second episode today where I have two informal conversations with fascinating people I met at the book launch of Bijan Omrani’s ‘God is an Englishman’ yesterday. I also take you round parts of Temple Church in London. Back to Pepys’ diaries tomorrow 🤓 The best things in life are unscripted 🌝 Support the show Love Gretel …

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An Interview with Author Bijan Omrani who discusses his book God is an Englishman: Christianity and the Creation of England 30:01

1M ago30:01

30:01

Send us a text Good evening. Thank you for joining me as I chat to Bijan Omrani about the vital importance of Christianity in the development of England. Thank you Bijan for your time as we perched in the nippy wind outside Temple Church in London. Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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An introduction to the author Bijan Omrani and Pepys worries for his Wife in preparing for his Sea Voyage 25:55

1M ago25:55

25:55

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Dear Samuel Pepys tells that all London doth now toast the health of King Charles 23:23

1M ago23:23

23:23

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Pepys toasts the King, as the Restoration appears inevitable; and we touch on dear Bede once more, to explore his early Influence 31:05

1M ago31:05

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Send us a text Good evening and a very happy Saturday 3rd May. We have now finished the first two months of 1660 and I hope you are getting a feel for Pepys’ character. Thank you if you have joined me for tonight’s episode. Do come back. I’m here every day, with new readings. Best wishes 😊 Support the show Love Gretel 🌝…

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Welcome to Friday evening’s progress with Pepys, the Saints, with a bit of live Bach. And - huge joy - the swifts have returned! 24:07

1M ago24:07

24:07

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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All of London joyfully watches and applauds every step of General Monke. 40:38

1M ago40:38

40:38

Send us a text Good evening and thank you so much for joining me. Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Pepys talks of wine, General Monke, unpaid soldiers and huge buttocks in today’s episode; To pick up the ashes or not? 36:01

1M ago36:01

36:01

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Garden birds, Saint Catherine of Siena and we finish Pepys’ first month 32:15

1M ago32:15

32:15

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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Pepys takes us into his world where it is a cold and frosty January and no-one knows how the country will be governed. 34:20

1M ago34:20

34:20

Send us a text Support the show Love Gretel 🌝By Gretel le Maître

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The Diary (wonderful, fascinating and joyful) of Samuel Pepys. Day One: let’s go 🤗🤓 28:42

2M ago28:42

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Send us a text Hallo dear friends and a very good evening. It’s a hot (I would say but it’s only 20 degrees so an American would say mild 😆) day in merry England. I’ve planted many hollyhocks of all colours, a rose bush ‘New Dawn’ given to me to help with grief by my best friend Victoria, some ornamental poppies and wisteria. We also planted the un…