Morning Brew

Welcome to a cloudy but warm South Manchester. I’ve just returned from a three day break with friends in the beautiful island of Anglesey in North Wales, where the summer weather smiled on us the whole time. It was lovely sitting and watching the sun set over the Irish Sea and star gazing at night time.

Obviously when I woke up each morning I was ready to seize the day so it seems fitting that this week’s Sunday Stealing hovers in an around the subject of morning feelings and rituals.

Let’s dive in, shall we? 

1. What do you typically have for breakfast?

My breakfast depends on the day. Usually from Monday to Friday I am well behaved and have fruit accompanied by a nice hot steaming mug of decaffeinated tea. My fruit of choice is usually banana, apple, orange and perhaps a peach, nectarine or some plums.

At the weekend, I tend to be a bit naughty and have an omelette, sometimes on it’s own but normally accompanied by toast and a sausage or two. And of course a big steaming mug of decaffeinated tea and a glass of orange juice mixed with apple juice. 

2. What was your favourite breakfast cereal when you were a kid?

I used to eat Cornflakes, Frosties (which are basically Cornflakes with crusted sugar), Weetabix or Sugar Puffs. In the winter, I would occasionally have porridge. I haven’t had porridge for decades, thinking about it. Mrs PM likes porridge in the winter so maybe when the cold weather comes I might try reacquainting myself with it. 

3. Orange juice, tomato juice or cranberry juice?

I usually have orange juice mixed with apple juice as I said above. I hate cranberries so the thought of drinking cranberry juice at any time fills me with nausea. I have never fancied drinking tomato juice either (though I do like tomatoes). 

4. What time is your alarm clock set for?

What is this "Alarm Clock" object of which you speak?

HA HA! 

My alarm clock isn’t set at all since I retired. 

Actually that’s not quite true because I do set it when I have something planned, for example, having to catch an early flight. 

When I worked, the alarm clock was set for 5:55 am. I smile now when I think of this because at that time now, I am so deep in sleep that a wild gorilla couldn’t wake me up. 

5. Do you have any tips for preventing stress and making the morning go more smoothly?

Yes. 

Just retire. 

Or go for a walk. 

Since I gave up caffeine some years ago, I find that a walk will always wake me up. 

When the walk starts I am like a shuffling zombie but, five miles later, I am wide awake and smiling – even when it is raining. 

I do not miss caffeine at all. I have actually had it accidentally once or twice and the effect is quite startling. I can see now why people rely on it. The problem is for me that being wired is stressful so I would say just give it up – unless you like that feeling of course.