Thursday 12th December 2024

Its not beginning to feel anything like Christmas.

And yet, it comes.

So, we make the best of it.

A lot is done, though we're not trimming again this year. I asked Jools, and she wasn't keen. Neither am I, so we will put up cards as we get them, and in fact, it was on the 12th that we received our first cards.

I guess I only just sent ours, so it goes.

Jools took the day off to use the hours she had accumulated after working after a serious incident at work, but would make sure we was out of the house most of the day, going shopping, swimming and then an extra bit of splashing (aquacsise).

I carried on working, finalising my audit report from last week, ready for the closing meeting on Friday.

Outside it was another dull and grey day, no sun seen, so after putting the bird food out, I make a brew and breakfast and get down to work.

We have a virtual coffee morning with our colleagues in India, there are just five of us now after resignations caused by our previous manager, so we catch up and talk of our plans for Christmas and the New Year.

There is some Christmas in Chennai, and one has Christian friends, but they like the decorating and fake snow.

Its rainy season, with temperatures a chilly twenty degrees C, so feels almost like Christmas.

Jools comes back at just before one with fresh rolls, into which she slices the leftover kofkes and makes a brew as I talk to a colleague and hear her recount the pressures and stress she is under.

I listen, but there is nothing I can do.

Just after three we go out. We were going to visit both Sandwich and Deal, so I could take some night shots, so I drove us along the Eastry by-pass in the gathering gloom, we have to wait at the level crossing, then park behind the Guildhall.

We walk round for half an hour as darkness ends the blue hour, I take a few shots, but not as good as I had hoped.

We go back to the car, then drive to Deal, but find it barely four, so we go to The Green Berry for a drink, where I knew they had Harvey's Old Ale on barrel.

Traffic not too heavy, so we got to park outside the pub in Walmer. The landlord, Chris, is another Norwich fan, so we swap views while he pours me a pint.

Old is so good, I have a second, and I confide in Jools that I really wasn't that hungry, so didn't feel I needed a curry. And neither did she.

So we drove back home. Jools did, and once home I defrosted two tubs of jambalaya, warm them and serve some twenty minutes after we got in.

Just right.

I listen to Rangers v Spurs while drinking black cherry flavoured rum.

Can confirm, was good.