Weeknotes #152: lights, pies, and platforms

Festive routines, thoughtful volunteering, good food, trains, lights, gentle cheer.

Week commencing Monday, 15 December 2025

A close-up of a frosted window platform divider at Victoria Station. Bold black text reads "Celebrating 200 years of the railway." To the right, a stylised red logo displays the number 200, with the British Rail double-arrow symbol integrated into the design. The words "Pullman" are visible on the dark coach work above the window, and people are faintly reflected in the glass
The Pullman dining experience on a platform next to The Inspiration Train

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 3/7 and Move 7/7. (81%). Morning walks: 0/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 2/5. Total steps: 64,664

Life

  • I started the week by chopping veg for a beef casserole and setting it going in the slow cooker. I was keen to make something that felt at least marginally healthier than the previous evening’s dinner, so I stacked it with extra vegetables and kept the meat ratio relatively low. It looked promising for most of the day, but when I checked it later, it had turned a bit watery. I thickened it up and added some mushrooms in the final hour, which rescued it nicely. In the end, it was lovely.
  • We eventually decorated the Christmas tree, but went for more lights and fewer baubles than usual. I really like it, although I am glad we did add some decorations, as it looked a bit sad in the daylight.
  • Tuesday’s technology team meeting was accompanied by coffee and mince pies. My colleagues didn’t win, even though they were nominated.
  • Related, we don’t know what they were nominated for, so we don’t know which award they lost out on. But it was nice that they were recognised for something.
  • Wednesday, I took a volunteering day, where I helped out at the Merton Memory Hub’s Christmas party. Four of us from work were there to help set up and serve snacks. There was a choir, and we sang Christmas songs together. Everyone was lovely, and it felt good to be involved in something genuinely worthwhile.
  • Thursday, the usual bar was closed for a private event. So we found somewhere else, and my round was still nearly £30.
  • Friday, I thought the Post Office would be rammed, but I was helped really quickly, and the package was, indeed, delivered on Saturday. After last week’s frustrations, perhaps my faith in Royal Mail has been restored.
  • That evening, to Soho, where the Christmas lights are based on drawings by a local primary school. I think they’re charming. Apparently, only six designs were chosen from more than a hundred entries, making them feel even more special.
  • Saturday, I took a regular commuter train to London’s Victoria Station. But there were three special trains in the station that morning. I was there for the Railway 200 Inspiration Train, which was on a platform right next to the British Pullman dining train, where guests were being serenaded off on their voyage.
  • And sensibly, a few platforms away, Santa’s Steam Express was being readied by the elves. If there hadn’t been adequate platform separation, there might have been a clash of Santas.
  • After Saturday afternoon’s Christmas lunch with friends, we tried to find somewhere nearby for a drink, but most Wimbledon pubs were already full. Eventually, we found a table at The Alexandra that was free for an hour before a booking was due to arrive, which was enough time for a drink before we all went our separate ways.

Media

  • We watched Spirited again, the 2022 Christmas musical comedy loosely based on A Christmas Carol. Obviously, the Good Afternoon song was still funny.
  • A bit more Stranger Things. I’m starting to enjoy it.