I was making a cup of tea for my mate Ash when I learnt my buddy is a bit of a whacko. Ash Robinson dunks his tea bag exactly 43 times for every cuppa. It seems a lot of jiggling effort and energy for the reward. But I love a little extra panache when it comes to our coffee and tea.
My mate Jenny B has honey in her coffee. Jen swears it is delicious, even if I think it is a bit strange. Elly has a scoop of ice cream in her coffee at work at 3pm every single day. That, to me, seems outrageous but it is like a party in her cup.
My Mimi has a thin slice of lemon in her breakfast cup of tea. And Tiffany has always been decadent and loves real cream in her coffee. My sister is partial to a nip of Baileys in her hot drink on a Friday night. Whatever gets you through the night, I say!
I am a basic bogan and leave the teabag in after I slush the hot water into my cup. I am all about speed and I never focus on making a quality cuppa. Then, I top up the same cup with the same bag throughout the day. It is an efficient habit. I am particular about my cup: it has Queen Elizabeth II on it and takes me to a happy place.
My 14-year-old daughter just got her first job and it is at a cafe. Avalon has not graduated to making coffee or tea yet and oversees washing the dishes and making the odd milkshake.
A customer ordered a health milk drink with dates in it. The hiccup was that no one told Avalon to take the seeds out of the dates before whipping it all together in the blender. That drink was returned to a red-faced teenager who is still learning the ropes.
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My new favourite thing to do on a Saturday is to sit in the cafe and watch my daughter in her black Doc Martins and black shorts as she clears tables and runs coffees to customers with her mop of blonde curls going everywhere. How did my firstborn grow up so quickly to now be working in the wild on weekends?
My darling, who I have loved fiercely for so long now, has to deal with actual adults and I pray they are kind to her. I have been given strict instructions by my daughter that I am forbidden from crying with pride as I watch her. I have to be cool.
I hope my mate Ash never goes to this Buddina cafe and orders his unusual cup of tea because it will be dark before the staff dunk his tea bag 43 times.
Sami Muirhead is a radio announcer, blogger and commentator, wife and mum of three.
