We rise early on work mornings which in our house run Tuesday through Saturday. Early translates into six am. I usually get up first on week days and get things ready and my wife takes care of the weekends when we sleep in somewhat longer.

The first thing I do is visit the bathroom. The second thing that I do is head downstairs where I put on the kettle, grind the coffee beans and put them in the French press.

My next step is to open the front blinds then the blinds on the patio door and then the door itself to feel the day. In winter that pretty much wakes me up.

Next comes a glass of water and a series of stretching exercises which are complete by the time the kettle boils.

I then pour the water into the French press put the lid on and go sit on the couch for ten minutes of quiet contemplation.

My wife is usually waking at this point and beginning her morning routine.

When the coffee has stepped long enough, we sit down in the living room and have two cups usually with half a banana and chat about the day ahead.

This quiet chat time over coffee gets us up to speed with what we are doing in our professional lives, ideas, dreams, wishes, and it is a great time to talk about anything that we need to discuss from holidays to household chores.

The quiet chat time repeats itself in the evening when she returns from work. Then we have a cup of tea rather than coffee, usually an herbal infusion such as a mint or a ginger and lemon blend.

We have been following this routine for almost 30 years and it is precious.

After the morning quiet chat, it is time for breakfast. Not that we stop talking but the pace picks up as it is time for her to get ready to leave for work and time for me to prepare to head for my home office.

Our mornings are long and leisurely and the time we take enables us to tackle calmly any issues that may arise.

Just as breakfast is the most important meal of the day so are our morning chats the most important moments.

We vary our routines in other ways but the morning and after work rituals have remained the same throughout our partnership and will continue to do so.