Tea is a very popular drink in Ireland and for good reason. You have a cup when you’re happy. You have a cup when you’re sad. You even have a cup when you’re talking about having a cup.

You get the point; tea is the greatest thing ever. But there are a few occasions when you curse that cuppa of yours. These are the 12 trials the tea-drinker faces....

1. The empty cup

You’re in work, it’s still early in the morning and you reach for the cup only to peer into it and see it’s empty. Worst. Thing. Ever.

2. The forgotten mug

Equally annoying is the cup that time forgot... okay, it’s the cup that you forgot and it pains you to see it sitting there all cold and unloved.

3. The spill

Our hands! Our poor hands!

4. The stain

You’re right, that is NOT going to come out easily.

5. The burnt throat

Why didn’t we leave it to cool a little while longer? Now the rest of the cup is going to be ruined as well as anything else hot we had planned to eat that day.

6. The empty milk container

The kettle is boiled. The teabag is in the cup. You’ve even got the spoon ready in your hand. Then you open the fridge to find that you have no milk. Damn you cereal!

7. The options

If you’ve been brave enough to branch out into Earl Grey and herbal teas, you may also find that you’re not quite sure what type of tea you fancy.

8. The broken biscuit

It was going so well until you held it in there a moment too long...

9. The bad tea-maker

Yes, a cup of tea sounds delightful. That is until you take a sip of the too milky/ not milky enough/ too strong/ too weak cuppa. Moral of the story: make your own next time.

10. The tea overload

You’ve had too much. You are at risk of having heart palpitations. Do not boil that kettle.

11. The summer

You love tea but it’s just too warm to consume your normal daily amount. Don't worry, it's Ireland, it won't be long until the cold weather returns.

12. Empty kettle

All you need is enough to fill one more cup. It's going to be enough, it's going to be enough... rippin’.