I’ve been missing coffee and sleep-ins for the past week and it’s set to continue until Friday night. This is when Mr Shallot returns from working in China on a climate change program.

Unlike the various surf trips he’s done, we’ve been able to speak each day on the phone. I haven’t missed him as much as when he’s been away surfing, partly due to this and probably partly due to me not being home very much over this time too. I have missed a number of other things though:

Sleep-ins – I’ve been taking the dog out all week and was up early both days of the weekend too because the cat can tell the time. Normally Mr Shallot would feed him before some weekend exercise.

Home-made bacon and egg rolls on the weekend – after Mr Shallot’s exercised, he is home around 11am and fires up the barbeque. This Saturday, I had a roll at the China Bear instead where I bumped into a few people I knew and then caught the ferry with them to Discovery Bay for dog plays and an evening bbq.

Nights off from cooking – I’m not a fan of cooking during the week because it has to be fast. My preference is spending time to cook something that can then be really savoured. This is one of the reasons why I think I prefer cooking desserts to main meals. Usually we alternate who cooks during the week. Instead, I’m cooking a few serves at once and the microwave is having a workout on alternate nights.

Car washing – Mr Shallot really enjoys doing this. I’m the opposite. The car was filthy, even though he had washed it prior to leaving, so I found the car washing sponge and the car is now shiny.

Coffee – Mr Shallot makes great coffee. He grinds the beans, puts it in the espresso maker on the stove, heats and whips some milk and makes me a cappuccino on Saturday and Sunday complete with chocolate sprinkled on the top. I’ve been drinking tea instead.

I’m looking forward to Friday. It’s the start of a long-weekend, we’re going to ToTT’s for champagne brunch on Sunday and I’ll be able to sleep-in on Monday – and have fresh coffee.

* Thanks to the Red Hot Chili Peppers for the title to this post.