My day in cups of tea
WE ASKED WRAPPING PRO KIRSTEN WESTLAKE TO DESCRIBE HER DAY IN CUPPAS
Morning! Easing into the day or cracking on?
There’s no gentle start to the day. My first cup is English Breakfast, made while the children have breakfast. I put it in a keep-cup to drink on the go.
Tell us a bit about your work
My company, Wrapsody, does bespoke giftwrapping. Around 80% of our wrapping is done in the last two months of the year. In the build up, we wrap empty boxes as scenery for TV shows and the phone rings constantly with enquiries for Christmas wrapping. From November to Christmas, I run a team of ten people and, as well as keeping the workshop open, we go all over London wrapping for brands like Liberty and doing pop-ups in stations and Christmas fairs. It’s fun but exhausting. By the time I get to my own gifts, I can barely bring myself to tie another bow!
Blimey, sounds like you need a cuppa.
Builder’s, milk, no sugar for me. Just what I need mid-morning to give me a boost.
Who are your favourite tea companions?
There’s nothing like meeting up with a paper designer and discussing designs over tea, or taking five with the team to chat about looks to try out for Christmas.
Ever had a tea- (or egg- nog-) based accident?
Once a wonderful company in Japan had sent me a selection of beautiful Furoshiki cloths.* I opened them in my kitchen and, at that moment, the guinea pig escaped! In the rush to catch him, a cup of tea got spilt. I replaced the cloths with my own money using a pseudonym, as I couldn’t face the embarrassment of telling the company.
We’ve checked and the guinea pig is firmly secured. What’s your last cup of the day?
I love a really good hot chocolate – my favourite is Paul A Young’s Aztec Hot Chocolate, a spicy, intense blend.