The best way to keep reality at bay.

An enamel badge pinned on a blue and white shirt. The badge has the image of an open book in the bottom right corner and says - A book a day keeps reality away.

First work day of 2026:

Christmas decorations put away ✅

Final batch of 2025 emails filed away ✅

Q1 planning ✅

Booked a trip to Melbourne ✅

Planned some leave dates ✅

Time to go home.

Only another 247 work days to get through this year; at least until I book some leave.

My coffee machine stopped working and I decided not to replace it. I switched to pour over coffees again and it’s all I need at home.

Bought myself a new stovetop kettle and it’s so much better for controlling water flow across the coffee. I’m a simple man, little things like this make me happy.

A silvery metal kettle sitting on a red trivet on top of a kitchen bench. The kettle is shaped sort of like an inverted cone and has a long thin curved spout from the bottom. The handle is wood as is the round handle on the lid.

📚 Disappointed in my last book finished in 2025. Dawn of the Hunters by Ryan Wieser.

The trilogy really would have benefitted from tighter editing; allowing the author more time for interesting plot points rushed through in this book.

Having done something while away to kick off some sciatica, I find myself stretched out on the floor for the second time today. It’s actually the most comfortable spot instead of the couch or chair.

🛫 Getting ready to do the dignified dash to the plane. It’s raining and no aerobridges at regional airports.

Merry jolly red hat day! 🎅🏻🎄

Santa decided I made the Nice list this year and could have a present. He knew exactly what I wanted. 🖖🏻

#StarTrek #StarTrekTNG

The box for the Lego Star Trek Enterprise D set.

☕ Getting a coffee on the way to pick up mum and the one local place open on Christmas morning is doing a roaring trade.

🍻 Work is done for 2025. I have logged out of all of the things. I think I’ll have a cold beer and start my wind down mode.

🐕 This is Nala.

Nala knows she is not allowed inside.

Nala did circuits of the table under the house then rolled on her back for belly rubs.

A dog called Nala sitting on tiles with part of a room behind her. Looking up at the camera with big brown eyes she has dark fur on her upper body and big fluffy tail. A white underbelly and light brown fur around her face.