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The Office Breakfast

I used to be VERY bad in the morning. I used to leave the house without eating breakfast.

In Toronto, I would walk to work and hit one of the two bagel shops on my way. One place made a great BLT bagel - I used to get that on poppyseed, well toasted.

The other place was better for a greasy egg and cheese. That was on a toasted sesame bagel.

Bagels don't seem to be as big a 'thing' over here. Actually, breakfast on the run doesn't actually really exist that much either. You can always get McDonalds but who doesn't have McDonalds?

Perhaps that's why I started adding in the 10 minutes to my routine to sit and have some breakfast. And of course tea.

Although they don't have the grab and go breakfasts I would find in Toronto, they have something even more quaint and homey - a trolley lady.

In Leeds, every morning around 9:30 am, the trolley lady would wheel in her goodies - cakes, chocolate bars, chips - or crisps as they call them here - and most importantly scones.

I thought this was a wonderful idea! Having tea and scones as a morning snack. I would always buy one - either date or cheese - and grab myself a cuppa to enjoy together.

I always remember her voice in her Yorkshire accent - "Trolley!"

In Belfast, it gets even quainter. We have a lovely lady who doesn't have the full cart but brings jugs of tea and coffee for everyone. She knows everyone's name, usually knows what they have, and dishes it out like a kind mom or grandma pouring you a cup of warm drink as if you were in her living room.

She sells scones too - just plain ones - but she bakes them...FRESH....in the kitchen that's located on the third floor of the building...EVERY MORNING.

So, every morning, instead of bagel man I am greeted by friendly Irish Granny lady with fresh scones and tea.

You can't get any more quaint then that.

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