Like a cereal box toy for grown ups, Dilmah is giving away tiny terracotta elephants in specially marked boxes of tea to raise funds for a Sri Lankan elephant conservation.

Dilmah, in partnership with the MJF Charitable Foundation, have launched new promotional packets of green tea, english breakfast and earl grey tea, proceeds of which will go directly to villagers of Mankada, in south Sri Lanka, to help residents create a sustainable livelihood and continue their ongoing efforts in elephant conservation.

Mankada is situated on the border of the Udawalawe National Park, home to hoards of endangered Indian elephants and the thrid most visited national park in Sri Lanka. Dilmah and MJF have provided pottery facilities, equipment for a new arts and crafts facility and training to the residents, who use their traditional artistic practices to produce artwork that can be sold for the benefit of the whole region.

Three elephant figurines, hand crafted by the villagers of Mankada, are included in every marked pack of Dilmah tea. Three seems an odd number. I'm sure just one would have encouraged me to change brands of tea. But hey, why not?

Thank you, Hobart Noodle and Tea, for being less than 100 meters from my house.

Lucy summed it up pretty well. "How could you say no?" she said, "It's just at the end of the street, and it's only eight dollars!"

I think my household are the most frequent Hobart Noodle and Tea customers.

Eat in or take-away, get yourself a bowl of steaming hot noodles, made on site daily. All vegetarian, all around the $8.50 mark.

Choose your noodle, green tea, hokkien, udon, among others, with great sauces or soups accompany.

This is a very family business, with the owner's gorgeous little children popping their heads around to see what is going on at regular intervals, and a clear view from the counter to the living room.

My recommendations are: green curry noodle soup, seven chilli noodle and satay noodle. Actually, I recommend anything on the menu. I have been slowly working my way down the list, and I haven't been disappointed yet. All for piggy bank change. Bargain.

Hobart Noodle and Tea
Corner of Smith and Letitia Streets, North Hobart
Open Monday to Friday, 12:30 - 2:30 and 5:30-8:30

I thought I would amuse you all with some pictures of this splendid tea cup my housemate bought in Sydney a while ago from a second hand shop. It is so bizarre, I just love it.

I don't think I will be using it though, this is purely a decorative item. Especially considering I am want to break things just by looking at them.