Another Thursday, another deep dive into the archives. This is the 5th ever post on James Proclaims and clearly I was on something of a roll in the early days, as I was still only 6 days into my blogging journey when this first went ‘live’.

This one is perhaps the first one I was really pleased with. It kind of reads almost like something I would write today, although it is probably trying a little too hard to be clever. I don’t think anyone would accuse me of trying too hard to be clever these days. Or of being clever. Or of trying too hard.

But I do still like Oscar Wilde. And being based in the town of Reading I frequently walk and drive past the decommissioned prison that served as his abode for a few years. In fairness I doubt that he was a fan of the place, or, by association, the town of Reading. There is a fairly pleasant public footpath near the prison known as ‘Oscar Wilde walk’. He probably didn’t get to walk along it very often though…

The other thing I still really like is breakfast. Nothing in the intervening years has stopped the most important meal of the day from being my favourite meal of the day.

Breakfast Is Brilliant

Originally posted on May 15th 2015

It’s always good to throw in an Oscar Wilde quote, as evidence of one’s own wit. It’s a strange vicarious thrill. I’m quoting Oscar Wilde, therefore I’m equally as droll as the celebrated 19^th century playwright.

On that basis, and to prove my own wittiness, I shall quote him now.

“Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast” is something he apparently said. I know this, not because I’ve read ‘The Importance of being Earnest’, ‘An Ideal Husband’ and ‘Lady Windemere’s Fan’ (all in one handy ‘omnibus’ style tome) and indeed seen at least one of the above performed on stage, thus making me, indisputably an expert on Oscar Wilde. No, I am aware of this particular quote because it appears on a novelty cup and saucer I own (I think a gift from the same aunt who bought me the plastic lightsaber I mentioned in a recent post).

Anyway, erudite and educated as I clearly am, I am certainly no genius first thing in the morning. Indeed there is something of the primate about me when first I stumble out of bed. So I can only conclude that anyone who is capable of being ‘brilliant’ at that time of the day must, as Wilde surmises, be exceptionally dull the rest of the time.

But one thing that is consistently brilliant at that time of day, is the breakfast itself. I love breakfast.

Obviously it’s a stupid word from an etymological point of view. Breakfast, as I recall being taught by an earnest teacher when in primary school (earnest by nature not Earnest by name, to avoid any Wildean confusion here) originates from the notion of breaking a fast. But it’s a bit of an overstatement to suggest that while I have been sleeping, I have been fasting. Fasting suggests a great deal more willpower than that which is required to lie horizontally on a comfortable mattress and loudly snore intermittently for six to eight hours. That takes literally no will power at all.

But in order to fully descend into cliche, which clearly is the only way to go when you start a missive with Oscar Wilde quotes, I firmly believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But it’s also the one with by far the most exciting options.

There’s the ‘Full English’ or variant thereof (known often as the ‘Full Welsh’ in my homeland – I couldn’t comment on what the Scottish or Irish would call it, they may have their own versions), you can go continental, with croissants, pains au chocolat and various other pastries. You can throw in American style pancakes, with bacon and maple syrup. Or, if dignity is not your thing, a cold slice of last night’s pizza.

Breakfast is wonderful and there are so many exciting options. I’m writing this using the free wifi in my local Wetherspoons pub having just eaten a breakfast wrap, comprising of bacon, sausage, a fried egg , a hash brown and cheese served in a wrap and very nice it was too.

Other breakfasts are available.