Writing about the regular and mundane

Do you take joy in the simple things?

Do you take time to appreciate "the regular and the mundane"?

My colleague Li commented that I seem to only blog about the exciting events or the special restaurants I go to... She said I should blog about "the regular and the mundane".

Sitting in the food court of one of the 'dingy'-er local shopping centres in the area, sipping a cup of Muffin Break soy latte (no, not BBB, St Ali or Outpost this time), I take time to observe the people around me... One guy in 3/4 pants and polo top - his whole outfit splattered in paint; an overweight middle-aged man in casual clothes and thongs (flip flops), shaking his leg under the table (as people often do when they are impatient); retirees with a trolley of shopping resting at the tables, and another old lady pushing her trolley, slowing going about her shopping routine; kids in school uniform, skipping along next to their mummy, no doubt getting an afternoon snack... The decor of the food court is simple - mainly white and grey, with tables and chairs that are probably an ill match with the rest of the colour scheme.

Is this the regular and the mundane?

Thoughts of me on the train home last night, in my gym gear, lugging about my gym bag... There were three guys with a Burmese/Laos background that sat opposite where I stood. The three of them took turns to glance at me. I quickly averted my eyes.

Do I have something on my face? Do I have sweat patches on my T-shirt? Do I look funny wearing yoga pants and a grey t-shirt on a train at 9:30pm in the evening? .... No idea!

Is this the regular and the mundane?

Or walking along Collins Street from the train station to work in the morning - seeing men in suits, women with high heels, all trotting along towards their workplaces - damn, I'm late again... Then seeing Peter Costello sporting a frown on his face - knowing that many a mornings and many a people on their way to work sport a similar frown on their faces. Frustration? Anger? Perhaps, or perhaps not. It's just a frown.

Start with a frown a day, and you'll have wrinkles in a decade. Not me though. Not yet anyway. My eye cream and hydrating skincare must be working well..

The more I think about the regular and the mundane, the more I don't know what is regular and mundane in my life anymore. It could be something that other people regard as unusual, spectacular, fun or silly; and yet, the regular and mundane in someone else's life may spark a smile of curiosity on my face. (Like now.)

So then I bring my cup and saucer back to Muffin Break and ask the owner - "what brand of coffee do you use?"

His reply: "we use our own blend - there's a guy in Reservoir that goes overseas a few times a year to buy the coffee beans from overseas."

"Oh ok, what countries?"

He goes on to list five or six countries, including South America, New Guinea, and a few in Asia...

"Oh ok. The coffee was really nice. Thanks."

And with that I left. He must have been thinking - what a weirdo.

And yet, it's a question that I'm used to asking now, as my interest in coffee increases.

-> St Ali and Outpost uses St Ali coffee;
-> Cumulus Inc uses Single Origin (from Sydney);
-> Brother Baba Budan (BBB) uses Seven Seeds;
-> C.O.T. (aka Cup of Truth - a new "hole in the wall" cafe recommended by Jamie @ St Ali; it's in campbell arcade in the underground subway to Flinders St Station near Degraves) uses 5 Senses;
-> Two Fingers (where I get my regular work-day coffee and tortilla for breakfast) uses Genovese;
-> Zest 89 (new-ish cafe in my suburb with great brunch) uses Veneziano.

Anyway, I've decided I'm going to learn more about coffee.