Breakfast order

 

    There has been much talk in the media over the last few days about breakfast, sparked by Seb Emina, author of The Breakfast Bible, and his advice on starting the day as given on the Today programme. He says you should take your time over breakfast, have the radio on, read the paper and not talk, and for what's it worth that's rather the pattern in this house as generally, being first up, Mr. C. and I eat alone together with Radio 3 and the newspapers for company, and the only talk apart from the need for chivvying whoever else should be up betimes, is to comment on the music that is playing or to remark on something of interest in the news.

    If you're in London in mid-March you can attend a 'breakfast evening' with Seb Emina and Dr. Kaori O'Connor, discussing the history and rituals of breakfasting, and here's a nice piece by Oliver Pritchett in which he talks about "toast and telepathy" and the Pinter-esque breakfast table conversations he has with his wife. (Click the link and scroll down for his bit on paint colour names, too - "Haughty Porridge" and the rest!

    The plate is from Emma Bridgewater's Black Toast range.