Day 5887 & 5888 (14 & 15/02/2026)

We had a nice sleep and a lie-in, as we hadn't arranged for breakfast.  Then after we checked out we stopped off at the nearby Upton House for brunch. 

Luckily we were in a sunny area which was shaded from the very cold wind. 

Then home to relax and make a nice Valentines Day meal for the three of us. Starting with some tasty fish things and a baked Camembert.  

Then a few hours later I made a nice nice steak dinner, with a vegi option for Thomas. 

With some peppercorn sauce, and a nice glass of wine. 

We were too full for afters.

On Sunday I saw my parents for breakfast, then home to get ready to go back to Preston for the week. 

 

Day 5886 (13/02/2026)

Did some work first thing then got ready to go out for the day with my wife, then we went down to Poole, stopping off on the way for a nice coffee and a cake. We were staying in a PremierInn, which was really cheap, and handy for Sandbanks, where we had a table booked at Rick Steins, which was as lovely as always. 

We started with cocktails (well mine was a mocktail). and for starters we had a couple of Dorset Oysters each and some Oscietra Exmoor Caviar, served with blinis and crème fraîche. It was overly expensive but we deserved a treat. 

Then we had a glass of Rick Stein Rose, and shared a lobster thermidor, with chips. 

Which was a lovely treat and quite reasonable, when shared, in comparison to what we were thinking of ordering. 

Then we finished off with a nice coffee and some nice afters. 

Then back to the room to recover.

Day 5885 (12/02/2026)

It was an early-ish start as there was a possibility of the electricity being off all day but  thankfully it stayed on so I was able to get on with some work.  

I made a nice prawn cocktail for a late lunch for us.

 

Then I did some more work, then in the evening I made another Angela Hartnett / Dish meal, this time the sausage, with red onion & apple in a honey and wholegrain mustard glaze. 

It was really tasty. 

Day 5884 (11/02/2026)

Another busy day at work, thankfully I am nearly up to date. 

We had vegi burgers in the evening. 

Day 5883 (10/02/2026)

It was nearly a dry day, which was a refreshing change. Had a nice brunch, then did some work.  

Then we went to the tip, and went to a garden centre for a coffee and some very tasty cannoli. 

Then in the evening my wife made the Adsa ready meal, which was very nice.

Day 5882 (09/02/2026)

Back at work and really busy. 

We finished off the seafood pasta before I went online in the evening. 

Day 5880 & 5881 (07 & 08/02/2026)

The weekend but I can't quite relax as I'm so busy and had some online training to do but we had a nice brunch. 

Then after the training I went to do some shopping, and in the evening I made some tasty vegi-lamb koftas, to make a bit of a Greek kebab type dinner. 

They were very nice. 

Sunday I saw my parents for breakfast, then home to do some more work, then I made a nice mixed seafood pasta for dinner. 

Very tasty. 

I found a Christmas pudding in the cupboard, so we had that for afters.