SO,

It has been a long long while since my last post here.  Quite a bit has happened since then; I had another child, went on leave, completed some courses towards a certificate...but it is funny when I think back to this time particularly in relation to coffee I remember one thing: I terribly terribly missed Starbucks!

It sounds funny eh, you would think I could just go down to the local Starbucks and get some java, but I live in a part of Quebec where the nearest Starbucks is a little more than 40 minutes away.  Tim Hortons on the other hand, well I couldn`t throw a rock without hitting one.  Rather depressing actually, being surrounded by every opportunity to buy the absolutely worst cup of coffee, especially when you know what a good cup tastes like.

Which brings me to the first topic of this first post...my LOVE for the Verismo.  Because darn, don`t I wish I had this beauty when I was on leave.  There is nothing like getting that craving for a cup of wonderfulness and having to go just as far as your kitchen counter.  Add a four year old who loves pushing buttons and hey!, you've got a mummy-son moment.  Thank you Starbucks :)

In other news, one of the reasons to post today is also to announce the begining of my Re-Certification as a Starbucks Coffee Master, and it is also a great time to remind everyone that if you are a Starbucks Coffee Master,you must re-certify every year (the documents are now available on The Partner Cafe.)  It`s been more than a year and I can`t say I have been putting my knowledge in practice since I was on leave (my husband is annoyingly not very interested in coffee), so I am in desperate need of a refresh and a resetting of goals.   My goals this year I know are going to be pretty challenging as the SME for Coffee Master in Canada, actually I am a bit anxious, but I will post them here when they are made, and I invite anyone else to do the same.  A goal written is a goal more likely to be attained after all.

As much as I am looking forward to phase 2 of this journey, I am especially hoping to hear even more from everyone who was on this journey since we launched. Some of you may have recertified, I know some of you have helped others through their certification, and one in particular has had an interesting visit to Costa Rica. Do let us know how you have been sharing your love of the bean over the past year!

Sarah