Sayonara Production Meeting

And there goes the final production meeting of the show. There was enough leftover food to have made all the work for this week worthwhile. The drop in temperature and frost on the grass got everyone feeling warm and fuzzy, I got asked about Christmas plans loads today as my own thoughts turned to the season. I found myself mulling on what it means to feel Christmassy and recalled my own Quest for Christmas many years back. My own interpretation of how to achieve that feels more true with each passing year - what you put into it will give unto you. Maybe I need to make a greater effort this time around.

One More Pret

We did our last ever tech recce today which is a hell of a milestone. A big element on these ones is doing the coffee run for 30-40 people, we opted to try a new cafe this time close to our location, we had only a small window to get all the drinks made and handed over today so we really needed this cafe to be all singing, all dancing. Imagine my initial shock when I noticed the place was dressed like Christmas corner at a garden center. Looks can be deceiving though and everything went off without a hitch. Bonus points to me because I got to visit my beloved Pret once again for a big old lunch buffet platter... By that I mean I raided their shelves leaving incredibly little for the actual patrons. At least my team were all happy. So surreal being on the other side of the recces now, only thing left to do now is crack in and shoot the last few episodes.

Early Christmas Coffee

Did the penultimate coffee run at Costa today. I didn't have a loyalty card to take advantage of while buying 40 hot drinks so I offered it out to the queue behind me (felt like I owed the public something for watching me slowly order all my coffees). A chap walked up, swiped his card and sheepishly said 'Merry Christmas'. Tis approaching the season to be jolly I suppose, I'm just trying to share the love. Back at the office I continued treading water in my own little way, inching the needle further to the job's end. The reality is starting to hit all of us that this one is beginning to sunset, which summons bittersweet feelings. Still got a ways to go but it'll be over before we know it.

Modest Monday

Started my day at our favourite greasy spoon to collect breakfast baguettes for the first day of our final wave of tech recces. We got everyone packed up onto a bus, we waved them goodbye and marvelled at how much extra work we got done when the grown ups are out of the office. I'm mostly back into script reading territory now as I enjoy a spell of calm before the shoot planning starts up again. 

In the evening though we went out to meet Jamie and his partner. Jamie's in town for a job interview tomorrow morning so we didn't go out for a mad one, instead it was a modest Monday pizza with a single table beer as we talked until they put the chairs up around us. Always nice to see and hang out with them both and catch up - his PhD is coming to an end now is the biggest headline, and he's looking relieved. 

Mastic Magicians

Mum was still in town so it was the ideal opportunity to rope her into help us re-apply the mastic around our bathtub. It was much more taxing than we expected but we had a bit of a laugh while getting it done. Fish and chips was the lunchtime reward for us all, followed by sweet treats from the nearby bakery. Rebecca and I had the rest of the day to ourselves where we decompressed fully from the week before and watched the new Frankenstein film which was just ok.

Arts Trail 2025

Rebecca gently roused me from my deep, half drunken slumbers, just giving me enough time to freshen up before heading out to see Mum. She visiting because it is once again the weekend of the Arts Trail, we hit up all the usual stall, venues and artists. We're the proud owner of a new coffee themed print and Rebecca got a very fishy mug which we're still figuring out where to store in our crockery cupboard. I rustled up a Shepherd's pie for the family while Rebecca did a pumpkin pie which was a runaway success. The whole day I was fighting the urge to fall asleep after last night's bender, cannot WAIT to have a long old snooze.

YMCA

Another Fiver Friday down, this one being impeded by the rain of the day. In spite it all we got everyone in the crew involved and eager for the lottery draw. This came at a somewhat detriment to my workflow as I found myself wishing I hadn't agreed to take up the mantle on this occasion, but I just about managed to cram it all in. There was a healthy appetite to go out in the evening after such a jam packed week. I told myself I wouldn't be out too late, then there I was doing the YMCA at 3am.