Giselle Scanlon

“A couple of times a year I like to act all special and do my impersonation of a globe-trotting Vogue editor; New York, London, Milan, Paris, and most recently Listowel: I choose to fly economy (the tea in first class is never worth the upgrade) and I always pack my Barry’s Gold Blend because it gives me superhero powers. Whoosh! Yeah that’s me touching down to find things to paint and write about for my Goddess Guide series. I write and doodle books which track down the coolest fashion, beauty, travel and food trends before the magazines get to them. To cope with all that action I need many cups of Barry’s Gold Blend to keep my superhero powers working. My first book The Goddess Guide was fueled entirely on cups of Barry’s Gold Blend and my next book The Goddess Experience (published in October 2008) even more so. While writing this second book I realised that Barry’s Gold Blend should be reclassified as a superhero power drink, it has helped me do loads of cool stuff and that’s why I gold leafed my Barry’s Gold Blend teapot. Barry’s Gold Blend makes me go invisible, gives me super human strength, X-ray vision and the power to go all bendy. When I’m drinking my Gold Blend I think I possess all of these things. X-ray vision? I can peer through cracks in walls and investigate anything once I’ve had a cup of Gold Blend blend inside me… I caaaaaaaan! Super human strength? No probs; I can drag several shopping bags home in one go after a cup of Gold Blend tea. Going all bendy? Yes, yes, yes wait a minute, ouch what was that crack? Used to be a national champion gymnast me and I know the bendiness is still in there somewhere… and invisibility? That’s easy, peasy, at Paris fashion week I can stand there drinking a cup of Barry’s Gold Blend and no one sees me at all. The superhero power that I would love to have the most though is the power to fly and cycling is in effect a form of flying isn’t it? I said, isn’t it? Need some chocolate to go with your cup of Gold Blend? No problemo leave it to the Goddess, let me just fly off down the shops and get you one right away…ok, trainers, check, glasses, check, gloves, check, hoodie, check, superhero cloak, check and a few Gold Blend tea bags stuffed in my handbag in case I meet someone and want a quick cuppa and a nice chat along the way. Whether it’s Vivienne Westwood at Paris Fashion Week or a street cleaner in Tokyo I fish out my Barry’s teabags and share a cup. I etched some Goddesses into the gold leafed pot as a pattern because Gold Blend reminds me of the many emotions I’ve had while mulling over a cuppa. I planted flowers in my teapot so I could represent growth. Barry’s Gold Blend has grown up with me, so let the adventures continue fuelled by Barry’s Gold Blend tea. Whoooooooosh!”. Gisele Scanlon