I woke up to a cat in the face. Reeve wanted his breakfast. At least there was purring.

I had lunch in Ealing with venta, Martin and Chris C. There was a ham/gammon roast (we're not sure which). We then did Writers - our last one of 2018. However, we've already scheduled the first couple of months of 2019.

Now I'm writing my end of year entry. I'll finish it tomorrow, but as I've got other things on I thought I'd start it now.

For Birthday/Christmas, one of the things on Bea's list was a book. She wanted something she wouldn't normally read, a recommendation from me (she gets book recs and borrows from Dom usually). This was rather hard. I've recommended and lent her things before. I know she isn't into romantic tales and so my previous suggestions have included The Screaming Staircase and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. However, she finished neither of those. (She's also struggling with Jane Eyre which someone bought for her, but I never thought that was a good idea...)

I discussed the prospect with Dom and he suggested something decent, but that wasn't quite in the Literature Reading Lists department (I've got plenty of such things from my OU degree). So I ended up buying two books: Chocky and Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow, as one Christmas present. She's now read Chocky. (Note: For anyone who doesn't know it, it's a short book published in 1968 by John "Day of the Triffids" Wyndham about a child's interaction with their imaginary friend. There was a TV series or three based on it.)

To my relief - she liked it. I'm not sure she'll necessarily read more Wyndham, or even if it's a good idea, but I was pleased to finally recommend something she found readable. I also wonder if she'll finish the other book.

Happy Christmas everyone! I've got many, lovely edibles and several new computer games (Martin bought me Mass Effect Andromeda, Detroit Become Human and Pillars of Eternity II) and two books (The Sudden Appearance of Hope from Dom and The Ivy Tree from Liz). Also, I might post about my main present from Dom as it gets created.

Christmas dinner went very well - it helped that I prepared it whilst playing The Black Mages - a present from Krystyna from previous years.

Today I wrapped almost all the remaining presents. I finally put marzipan and icing on the Christmas cake. Plus we went for a walk in the nearby park.

And I got to see a familiar face from a computer game of long ago.



This is Nigel Danvers, protagonist of The Lost Crown. The sequel has been due out for nearly a decade. This isn't quite it - it's the first section of a mini-game that he's also worked on (called Silent Night), but it's good to see, all the same.

The advent window was a snowman. Actually Xmassy!

Today's advent window featured a man riding a horse.

In other news, I did my last day of work in 2018. I now have a couple of weeks off.

We have a new, weekly award in our team. The idea is that you nominate fellow teammates for it on the basis of having done Good Stuff. I won it for a presentation I gave last Friday. This means I get the cactus on my desk for the working days between now and the next team meeting.

Today was the team Xmas meal and trip to Gingerbread City at the V&A. The meal was Thai and the starter was good, but sadly the main was a Green Thai curry that was probably the spiciest Green Thai I've tried - which I didn't enjoy.

The City was really good though. Here's a picture from the City.



Today's window was a Christmas Tree.

Today's window was a postbox.

It was a reasonable day. Work has its ups and downs and I got stuff done whilst more things showed up. There was an issue with South Western Railway - but it didn't affect my journey home. Reeve wanted - and got - a warm, dry lap.

And only a week to Christmas Eve.

Today's advent window had horses in it.

Bea and I went shopping in Staines this morning for some warmer trousers for her. When we first went outside, we nearly turned round and went home again it was so cold. There was a biting, wet wind and it was really nasty. However, we stuck to the plan and Bea now has a couple of pairs of new trousers. And we hibernated for the rest of the afternoon.

The advent window showed a boat on a muddy river.

I went to see Ryan's play this evening - The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I enjoyed it, the students had adapted the script (added plenty of jokes) and chosen the music (including various bits I recognised). Ryan was the narrator for it and did well.

A church was behind today's advent window.

I'm now counting down my last ten working days. I had a decent day - I got to work on a mini-project I've been enjoying. Also, it's good to see more and more Xmas decorations go up on my journey in. Although I still find the idea of putting lights on the outside of houses a very new thing.