All that matters now is the finish line.

I'm focussed.

I'm dogged.

This is what I do.

I take 20 pages of hand-transcribed 6502 downstairs, put Metamatic on and spend hours tracing the flow at night.

But I'm the happiest I have ever been.

I see the machine state in my head like Neo sees The Matrix, I don't even know what this reference means, someone from the future claiming to be me told me to use it, that people would understand.

Alan Maton is at the door. He's visiting me on home ground. This is a big day. My mum has asked my sister to make some tea and put together some food. She obliges. We're all so deferential.

'I can't believe Alan Maton is in my house. Such an honour!' I purr. Alan's gracious, relaxed and happy about how things are going. He takes a build away and his visit passes without incident.

….blur….blur….blur….blur…. ….blur….blur….blur….blur…. ….blur….blur….blur….blur…. ….blur….blur….blur….blur…. ….blur….blur….blur….blur…. ….blur….blur….blur….blur…. ….blur….blur….blur….blur…. ….blur….blur….blur….blur….

Ready to face the final boss?

And then, unbelievably, 24 days after I began, I've done it. I've finished. I hope my name will be etched on the cup I worked so hard for this time.