Day 98: Expecto Custardem!

 aIf you work with as many people as I do, statistically every so often you're going to come across a few stinkers.  By 'stinker' I mean someone who is probably very nice underneath, who is loved by friends and family, and who may even give to charity.  But who, on the surface, appears to be utterly without a redeeming feature.  Cold, negative, humourless, insular, superior, hateful.  Someone who poisons a room just by walking into it.  A Dementor.  Fortunately it's a very rare occurrence , but I met one on Tuesday, and unfortunately had the unpleasance of his presence again today.  Truly horrible.  Afterwards, I felt headachey and hollow and drained.

Home in a catatonic daze on the train.  I come out of the station to see 'The Pudding Stop' van in the car park.  This belongs to Johnny, who was one of the finalists in 'The Great British Bake Off' last year.  Since then, he's been making and selling puddings locally, at beautiful old Redbourn Mill.  And has hit on the brilliant idea of a little mobile trailer full of his wares, which he sets up, with serving hatch and chalkboard, outside the station to tempt people as they make their way home.  When you feel hollow and drained, there is something incredibly uplifting about a cheerily-lit van, full of puddings, made with love and care.  A beacon in the gloom.  The restorative property of Chelsea bun-and-butter pudding with homemade vanilla custard cannot be underestimated. 

Home through dark streets, slippery with black ice and hard snow, carefully cradling my prize.  Sweet salve in a brown paper bag.