thinking about breakfast was better than thinking about other things , though , and for a time , he amused himself by envisioning the powdered eggs and soggy toast he 'd have got in the mess , then going on to the lavish breakfasts of his youth in the highlands : huge bowls of steaming parritch , slices of black pudding fried in lard , bannocks with marmalade , gallons of hot , strong tea ... an hour later , he found hadrian 's wall .