Sunday 4th January 2026

I had been home alone for 23 hours.

My alarm went off at half five, and Mulder came to see if I was awake.

He jumped up onto the bed, onto my feet, then walked up my body to sit on my chest, and in the dark look me in the eye, and:

Meow.

After a few more meows, he got off and sat beside me, gently pawing my arm to encourage me to get up. Before licking me.

Morning, Mulder. I says.

I get up.

The routine is simple: go downstairs, check Scully's blood sugar. Give her insulin. Feed Mulder. Feed Scully. Feed Cleo and Poppy.

Wait.

Then go round gathering the bowls so that Scully doesn't grave them, including the forbidden crucnchies.

Once all that is done, I can make coffee then relax a little. Turn on the computer and check the world, and the local weather.

I had an hour before I wanted to be out, at the gym for more phys.

I left at ten to seven, getting to the sports centre in about five minutes.

The dashboard said it was minus two point five degrees, though didn't feel too cold as there was no breeze.

I sat for a minute or two then walked to the entrance and waited with the other gymrats for the door to be opened, then up to the gym and to the bike.

I rode around Paris again, I think it's my favourite ride featured on the bike, so enjoyed a sunset peddle down the southbank into the setting sun in summer.

Its good to be leaving the gym when most are still arriving, a few pass the time of day, and I respond.

I get a message from Jools to say they had left Bury, due to poor weather coming in, they had to be over Saddleworth Moor by midday, before the snow arrived.

That achieved, I shadowed their progress along the M62 to the A1, then south towards Newark.

Meanwhile I had breakfast, cleared up and so all was ready for Jools's return.

Outside it didn't get above freezing, but did look glorious in the bright sunshine, even if the low sun did cause Jen trouble as they turned south, and right into the sun.

I did go out for another plant hunt, but it was so cold, I turned round at the junction with the path over the fields, went up to Collingwood, and then back home. No new plants seen.

Sunday was a day full of football, rather than Saturday, so with games starting at midday, I was ready.

Birmingham were hosting local rival Coventry, who were still top of the league. A great game, that had produced three goals in the first fifteen minutes, Birmingham 2-1.

It ended 3-2 to Brum, but by then Jen and Jools were back, so I went to Whitfield to drop off a pint of milk, and to bring Jools home.

Between all the football, we had pizza for supper, while it grew dark and bitterly cold outside.

Mulder was overjoyed that his favourite person was now back, but would mean I would sleep uninterrupted.

Swings and roundabouts.