Wednesday, Christmas Eve and I wake up to my partner getting ready to go and visit her mother. I take my vitals, which are all good and then I get up and make breakfast. There is a waiting game to be had. The oncologist is due to ring at 11 o’clock but of course he won’t. I get a message from a friend who tells me that an acquaintance from the therapeutic community days has died. A good bloke who had a keen sense of humour and was very good with the children he looked after. Soon after that another friend messages me to tell me that she is moving her husband from the hospital he entered on Friday to a care facility close to home with the hope that he can soon return fully soon. It would seem the world is being unkind at the moment. I scribble a few lines:

482
Its Christmas Eve,
I’m waiting for a call,
the oncologist.
He is going to wave
a green flag
to set my rechallenge
on its Boxing Day way.
A friend has messaged 
to tell me a colleague 
has died.
Another friend tells me 
she is retrieving her 
husband from hospital,
care home first
then real home 
if all goes well.
My partner is visiting
her ailing mother
and paying the carer.
I sit and wait 
watching the stack
of presents under the tree
and I wonder;
why anyone has faith, 
or: pick your own punch line.
						482 24-12-2025

At last the oncologist rings, not my usual one, which I find disappointing. There is nothing for him to say really. He tells me what I already know about my blood results and asks if I am good to go on Boxing day. He tells me to ring the emergency number if there is anything awry especially if I get a temperature. The call comes to an end and I then start to tidy up and hoover round as a final preparation for Christmas. Finally I pop into the garden and fill the bird and squirrel feeders. At that point I am done. I start to draft the blog having added my contribution to the growing nest of presents under the Christmas tree. All I have to do now is continue to drink copious amounts of water and to indulge in the festive spirit. So I wish everyone a Happy Christmas and hope everyone has a good time.