Yeah, good thanks, you?

We cradle cups of tea

as radiators spring to life for
the first time in 10 days.
We ask and answer questions on
the usual theme:
how was your Christmas?
Yeah, good thanks, you?
Don't go into detail -
the moment has passed.
Luckily, the sun is a white gold presence today
and the office brims with light.
There's still tinsel,
which feels futile now,
better take it down before the bad luck kicks in.
I'm drinking green tea and guzzling water,
being the good-girl best version of myself
resolute, or trying.
A colleague has brought in a mountain
of home-made pakoras. Deep fried and glistening. 

I break instantly -
they go so well with a cup of tea. 

Emails arrive, 

we pick up where we left off.
It's good to see the good eggs again.
A half-week
to ease us in,
back on the treadmill
but our minds
still on the sofa,
chomping marzipan,
under blankets -
we trudge on,
but somewhat
gilded by the break.