DECEMBER Week 52

Christmas Eve - That evening

Right.

For the record, and I want this noted, the shed protest was a matter of principle, and it ended on our terms. We came back in at approximately twenty past eight because the temperature had dropped considerably and we had made our point. Mack says we lasted twelve minutes. He is wrong. It was considerably longer than that and also the duration is not the point, the point is that we went. Principles were upheld.

Anyway. She seems to have forgotten about the money entirely, which is typical, and is now in quite a decent mood actually which is reassuring. Right now, there is something happening in the kitchen. Something in the oven, low heat, slow, the kind of smell that arrives in stages. Mack clocked it first but he's not saying anything, which means he thinks it's good. When he thinks it's nothing he'll tell you at length, like yesterday but that’s another story.

Now, I have it on reasonable authority (Ronnie saw the bags going in) that tomorrow is going to be significantly better than today. Significantly better. I am trying not to build it up.

I know have, historically, built things up and then found the reality to be a lesser matter rather than a principle matter. But still. The signs are good.

It is, as they keep saying on that square thing, a strange Christmas. We are all reet though. We are all reet. Oh, she’s put Christmas music on!

Mule, I hope London is treating you well tonight. I hope your agent has done something appropriate for the occasion. I hope Robert and Big Fluffy are warm.