Qingming Day marked the start of warm weather for the city of Beijing and many people went from wearing winter coats to wearing T shirts and shorts. It is wonderful weather to go out and enjoy the scenery. In this blog, I have decided to write about my important start for each morning in Beijing which I make before I begin each day's adventures. It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I certainly believe this to be true, especially since living in Beijing where each day brings new experiences. My morning in Beijing starts a little differently than when I am at home in Canada.
        Usually about once a week, when I am at home in Canada, I love to go out for breakfast at a local restaurant. I normally order eggs, bacon and home fries with some nice, fresh, toasted bread. Other breakfast treats at my restaurant visit might be pancakes or waffles with syrup, muffins or bagels.  Another breakfast treat is to have a coffee and doughnut at the local Tim Horton's which is a Canadian icon for both coffee and doughnuts. These doughnuts come in many varieties such as honey-dipped, chocolate or filled with creams such as lemon or jam. Tim Horton's also is well known for their great variety of muffins and the bagel varieties which are delicious when toasted and cream cheese added. I often use the 'drive-through' at Tim Horton's to pick up some delicious coffee, doughnuts or some of those other treats. When I visit in the USA, I always drop into a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop to pick up a dozen of these delicious treats.  Krispy Kreme doughnuts are especially good when they have just been made and are still warm. While traveling in the US or Canada, it is also always nice to stop at an International House of Pancakes (IHOP) for the different styles of pancakes with many choices of toppings such as: blueberry, or cherries or peaches and with any of the many varieties of syrups.
        Each morning, here in Beijing, at my home, I start my day with several cups of coffee usually made in an electric coffee maker. The electric coffee makers are rather expensive but can be purchased at many of the department stores around the city. I usually bring a Columbian blend of coffee in packages from Canada since I have found some packaged coffee, which I purchase in the stores here, is very harsh unless it is imported. The Chinese brand of Maxwell House or other name brands do not seem to have the same blend as those sold at home. If I do not make the coffee with the coffee maker, I use the small packages of Nestle Gold instant coffee which make a delicious cup of coffee and I always take some of these small coffee packages when I am traveling since the coffee packs in some hotel rooms are often not enough for several cups of morning coffee. 

        On weekday mornings, I need something to start my day as a breakfast item at home. I have found a real treat in having the packaged envelopes of wheat cereals which I buy from Jenny Lou's or Nick's. These packaged envelopes need only to be mixed with boiling water to provide a great, hardy meal to start the day. My great addition is to put sliced peaches and blueberries on the top. These fruits can both be bought in cans from Jenny Lou's or Nick's. These packages of cereal, which are available in Beijing, are in boxes made by Quaker or by Sunny Select and I also try bring many packages from home or from other locations when I travel since they are cheaper to buy abroad. When traveling, it is easy to remove the packages from the container boxes and spread the packages among the clothing for return trips and I also receive the packages of cereal among treats in 'care packages' which I receive from family and friends from home. (continued on next page)