Journalled on Monday, 10 July 2023 | Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 24 degrees, warm and sunny.

Monday marks the beginning of the week, and everything feels positive.

After a nice weekend, starting the week becomes easier. I have an early class at 7 a.m. The plan is to teach the class and then go out for a workout, since my next class isn’t until midday.

It is just Yasmin and me; Nalva went to São Paulo yesterday. I also want Yasmin to start the week well, so I went to the baker’s before the first class at 6 am. I journaled, had a coffee, and bought some rolls for breakfast there.

In Brazil, it is common for people who work outside of home to have breakfast at a coffee shop or bakery. The most popular breakfast option on the way to work is a simple bread roll with butter, either plain or grilled on a hot plate.

This generic continental breakfast should include fruit, bread, butter, ham, cheese, juice, and, of course, coffee. However, due to the rush of people going to work and dealing with public transport issues in big urban centres, many people only have time for a bread roll, coffee, and maybe a fresh orange juice at the start of the day.

This is a million miles from the traditional British breakfast, where almost everything is fried, and every bite has a thousand calories.

The English or British breakfast is supposed to have originated in the fourteenth century and reappeared during the Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth century, when blue-collar factory workers needed a strong, heavy breakfast to sustain themselves all day on the cold factory floor.

Lunchtime would only be fifteen minutes, just enough for a sandwich brought from home. Only at night would they have a wholesome meal large enough to nourish and maintain themselves. The British breakfast of toast, bacon, sausage, egg, tomatoes, baked beans, etc., and tea was created for the English worker to continue working throughout the day.

Eating habits have changed a lot since then; in many cultures, including Brazil, lunch is the principal meal of the day, replacing dinner, which is now relegated to a snack, sandwich, or smaller or lighter meal.

I think the tradition or culture of having an English Breakfast, a fry-up, nowadays, is more for tourists or special occasions. When travelling and staying at a good hotel, usually the option of having a British breakfast is real, and the odd or special occasions when you meet family and friends, instead of going out in the evening, a good British breakfast at a special place is something special for anyone to start the day well, and besides, you will not have to do any washing up too.

Even though it is not the healthiest meal, a British breakfast at the start of the day is very tasty and satisfying. At home, while Yasmin was getting ready to go to school, I toasted some rolls with scrambled eggs and put them on the table for her to eat before she left.

I gave the class, went out and exercised and gave other classes for the rest of the day. In the evening, Yasmin and I had to go out to buy something to eat. We sat, ate, and talked about life, teenage problems, and traumas at the local baker’s.

I asked her what she thought of me living with her and her mother for this short period. She thought it was strange but better than she had expected. Sitting there, just with father and daughter, was sublime. It was quality time for both of us; it was very nice!!!