My morning routine

When you think that you'll start a blog, and then you realise that you don't have anything to say. Or worse, that you can only think of dull things to say…………………..

On the topic of the mundane, would you like know what my typical week day morning routine looks like? No? Ah. Well, don't read any further.

I set two alarms, one at 06:20 and one at 06:40 but usually wake up at about 06:00. Once I have roused sufficiently to face getting out of bed (this usually takes quite a few cuddles from Meryn), I open the curtains and assess the view. I'm not sure what I'm looking for, maybe it's just impossible to break the English habit of checking the weather every morning? The weather is generally the same here. At this time of year, the sun has risen before I wake up and it's easy to tell that the weather is going to be sunny.

Then I go straight downstairs and make a cup of coffee. Meryn comes with me and begs for the breakfast that Matt has already fed him an hour earlier (and which is usually still on his plate).

While waiting for the kettle to boil, I again peer into the garden. This time to assess the state of the plants and check up on the activity of the birds. The plants seem to swing from the extremes of either thriving or dying. Either way I fret over them. If there's no food left on the much loved bird table, then the pair of grey collared doves will be sat on the fence staring at me. The pair of bulbuls will be chirping loudly and flying from one side of the garden to another. I take some food out to them. They have trained me well.

Then I'll take my coffee back upstairs. During the hot months I'll get back into bed with it but the weather is just getting cool enough to sit outside on our balcony. Meryn comes out with me as he seems to approve very highly of this routine. He lies on the balcony wall and surveys his lands.

This is my time all to myself. I'll check up on emails and messages, write in my journal, listen to a book or sometimes just stare into space. By 07:10 it's time to get ready for work. I'm usually out the door by 07:40. As I leave, I'll put on some washing, feed the fish and kiss Meryn goodbye. By now, Meryn will have taken up his position on the end of the living room sofa, ready for a day of cat napping.

As I walk past the plants at the entrance I'll water them with the watering can I keep handy. Then I jump into the car, hoping that the traffic won't be too bad today and that not too many people try to drive into me. I remind myself to breathe.