Xmas Cake made and DSB Decorations put up

Normal day at work again, although I did need to take Mum to the JR for a scan because she’s been getting stomach aches. The idea was to rule out anything serious like cancer. I set myself up in the Pret inside the JR and worked there for a couple of hours, then moved the car and carried on working in Northway until it was time to collect her — the whole thing took about three hours.

Thankfully, they couldn’t find anything concerning. It was still an invasive procedure though, with a camera, and she said it was quite painful at times. But at least it’s been done and we’ve got some reassurance. I dropped her home and told her she was welcome to come over for dinner later if she felt up to it — no pressure.

She did decide to come, and later Charlotte arrived too — she was coming anyway — and got to work on the Christmas cake and the house decorations. The cake looks good, and we all made a wish while stirring it. After dinner we headed out to the bar to sort the decorations in there.

It was really good fun. I had a few beers while we were working on it, and once everything was sorted Mum and Charl headed home and Tash went to bed. But I had a bit of a “taste for it”, so I stuck some records on and carried on drinking.

It turned into a great evening — just me relaxing, listening to my old albums, sinking a few beers. Time absolutely flew; suddenly it was 2.00am, and I nodded off before eventually dragging myself to bed around 4.00am.

I’d like to say it doesn’t happen often, but it does — and I love it. I’m very fortunate to have the space and freedom to sit out there, listen to music, and enjoy a few drinks in my own company.

Reflections:
A day that started with worry but ended in warmth. Getting Mum checked was important, and the relief afterwards made the evening feel even nicer. The decorating, cake making, and music in the bar had that perfect mix of family routine and personal comfort. There’s something grounding about those quiet, late-night solo sessions — a reminder that simple pleasures are often the best ones.