mess

 A sense of weakness, dizziness, and an insensitivity to the cold in the room now all add up to a almost complete lack of Christmas spirit. Wake up, realising that it is bright and late, and go downstairs. The kitchen has no clear spaces or surfaces left, the wife is fiddling about making coffee. It is late and she is early. 

It is strange being awake and yet not at all present. It is like being both observer and subject at the same time. That what you see is not real, but still the left over coffee in the pot is really burning hot.

Ask the wife whether she still wants the dregs, the pot needs to be cleaned out before fresh coffee is made. She grunts from the sofa, the television is showing morning news. Understand the grunt, bring over the coffee maker, she stretches out her hand with the cup in it for filling. Fill the cup, then wash out the coffee maker under the kitchen tap. Use cold water to cool the hot device down, there is no need to burn the hands.

The water is boiling for the eggs, crack the eggs on the edge of the saucepan and put them into the water that already contains salt and vinegar. Finish filling the coffee pot, and put it on too. Two slices of toast, into the toaster. These things are all not difficult, it is just the fact that all the left overs and unused and used utensils from last nights cooking are all over the place and there is nowhere to place anything. The work surfaces of the kitchen are all occupied.

The butter dish needs to be rinsed in hot water, a fresh package of butter is placed under the glass lid.

Then all is done, the buttered toast and the poached eggs are on the plate, and the coffee is nearly done.

Balance it all on a plate, and take it all upstairs, to enjoy the simple meal in the mornings peace and quiet. Let all the abilities dormant during sleep gradually resurface in their entirety and regain their capabilities to deal with the day.

The bells in all the church steeples around the old town sound, ringing more than they usually do. It is Christmas day, and the faithful and the faithful guilty come into town to pray.