I'm British - we believe tea is appropriate for drinking in all weathers and all circumstances :P

Your life in your last years in Poland sounds wonderful. I think you did right by taking that time out to live as you wanted.

People in general seem less available to hang out these days. Everyone seems so busy, busy, busy - plus, with the advent of mobile phones and email, it seems like everyone is happy to cancel plans on the flimsiest of excuses, since they can reach you so easily to do so. I feel like it's made meaningful social interaction much harder to find.