It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. We hit two malls. The first to remove a security tag from a jacket bought at H&M. We had a quick browse. Then I didn’t feel like being at home so we went to Westfield for some Christmas cheer!!

Westfield did not disappoint. We bought a few things but just took in the atmosphere and the decorations.

We got home at 6pm. I ordered a takeaway and went to M&S as I received a notification that Ocado didn’t have stuffing and lemons in stock!

After dinner we played scrabble which was great fun and we had Christmas music in the background.

I couldn’t sleep so ended up tracking my parents’ flight to Singapore. Bed was past 2am.

Finally Friday is here. I am positively knackered from 12 straight weeks of work, with long covid thrown in.

I speak to the bosses individually and they look worse for wear either the level of pressure they have been under. They are going to work between Xmas and NY and I hope I get the break that I’ve asked for!

After work, around 4pm, the best and I walk into town for a spot of shopping and we stop by at the dessert lounge for a snack. I don’t have colleagues or friends to have Christmas drinks or meet ups with unlike several years ago and am feeling a bit blue. The Bear and I enjoyed our food and we head back home.

I watch Bridget Jones for old times’ sake and it’s still as good as ever. I did laugh out loud several times.

Bed was late.

Happy Thursday.

We sleep in and I get ready to work from home at 7.45am. I am tired. The dark mornings don’t help. The bear stays in her pyjamas until 4pm!

I have a few calls to get through. For lunch I make us a roasted pumpkin soup. I serve it either soda bread and the bear likes it.

I hurry her along for her music class which is rescheduled for today. It is the first time we leave the house all day.

Dinner is chili con carne. Thumbs up from the Bear. I’ve lost my appetite but make sure to eat up.

I watch an episode of Gilmore girls and count down to Friday afternoon.

It is the last day of school before Christmas. I walk the Bear to school and then pop into M&S to check out the price of turkeys. I have one on order via Ocado and the prices are comparable. I remember queuing up for 1.5 hours to collect our booked Turkey from our local butcher and it cost us £100 in 2019. I don’t enjoy Turkey and it’s not an extravagance I want to spend on. The housemates agree.

Work is busy as usual. I have a few calls which take me to 1.20pm and I race to collect the Bear. She is happy as she should be. We walk back home and I resume work.

Dinner is broccoli pasta. The Bear likes it but I’m not a fan.

I catch up on the final episodes of season 19 Greys and call it a night after 10pm.

I pride myself for bringing independent but there is a part of me that wants to be looked after.

I bumped into a school mum earlier and she was heading back to Spain for Christmas. She was looking forward to not worrying about ‘doing Christmas’ here with the endless shopping and organising. She said her mum will have everything done. I felt so envious.

I drop the bear off to her minder and heard that several tube lines were running with delays. I drive home as no part of me wanted to deal with the tubes today.

I have a good day at home. The emails are quieter but I have a few calls to join.

I also spend 30 minutes on the phone to sort out fraudulent transactions on my credit card!

I make congee for lunch which warmed me up.

I collect the Bear who looks very tired. I urge her to change into PJs and we chill in my room once I log off from work. She has toast and I make a simple noodle dish.