Day 5985 & 5986 (23 & 24/05/2026)

We were up fairly earlier for us, as we were meeting family for lunch at a restaurant at Chew Valley. I had dressed up a bit, and Thomas pointed out that I was just coping him, from an earlier outfit. 

It was baking hot in Taunton and got a bit cooler on the way, but thankfully it was a lovely day at Chew Valley, and Woodford Lodge was really nice, so we had a lovely afternoon with the family, with some great food.   

After lunch we went outside, for tea & coffee. 

As it was a bit of a get together for Mrs Smith's Birthday, they bought her lots of lovely flowers, and paid for dinner, which was very nice and unexpected. 

Then home, to relax, and we didn't need dinner as we were still pretty stuffed all day. 

I saw my parents on Sunday morning, then home to do some work, then I made a nice salad for dinner, as it was still so hot. 

With some lovely chilled Pims.

And Caviar (well Tesco's Caviar ish).

All really nice. 

Day 5984 (22/05/2026)

We were up fairly early, as Mrs Smith had a physio appointment, then back home to do some things, before going out for lunch to The Worlds End, sat in the sun, with a cold drink and a very tasty but very filling fish finger baguette.

We will try to remember to only order one next time and share it.

Then home to do some things, then we had a relaxing sit down in the garden, with a cuppa and a cake, doing a crossword. 

In the evening I made a Chinese salmon & noodle meal, which was very nice, but we were stil quite full from our fish finger baguette. 

Day 5983 (21/05/2026)

Not too much work to do at the moment, which is good , as I have other things to do, and am thinking more and more about writing. 

Back to the gym. 

We had burger, chips & salad in the evening. 

Day 5982 (20/05/2026)

A little bit of work and back to the gym, after the week away, so it6 was slightly exhausting.  

My wife made a tasty salad in the evening.  

Day 5981 (19/05/2026)

A day off,  and we had a nice breakfast and then had a few things to do. 

In the evening I fried the leftover roast potatoes, and the leftover chicken with some beans for dinner, which was very nice. 

 

Day 5980 (18/05/2026)

Back to work, and time to catch-up, thankfully there wasn't much that came in whilst we were away. 

We finished on the leftovers from Saturday, so didn't need dinner. And poor old Thomas, who has to work all week, wasn't feeling very well at all, so I made him a quick cheesy tuna pasta. 

Day 5978 & 5979 (16 & 17/05/2026)

Another lie-in, just about recovered from the journey, and we had some nice salmon & cream cheese bagels for brunch. 

We had a relaxing day, and ordered from Efes in the evening. 

Sunday and my wife was back to work, and I saw my parents for breakfast.  Then home to do a few chores. I bought my wife some nice flowers.  

And I made a nice roast chicken dinner. 

Very nice, with some bread sauce, and a glass of chilled fizz. 

Day 5977 (15/05/2026)

We had a nice sleep and a lie-in, after getting back after 2am.  We had some brunch, then I went out to get some supplies, and we had a lazy day. 

I got some sushi for lunch. 

And in the evening I did some sea bass, in a tomato, pepper and butter bean sauce. 

It was very tasty. 

With a lovely bottle of chilled fizz. 

Day 5976 (14/05/2026)

Day Four in Amsterdam, our final day, so we were up a bit earlier, getting ready and booking out of the hotel, and then out for a nice brunch.

Then we had another wander around town.

Then we went to the Rijks Museum, looking at a few impressive and iconic pieces of art (possibly too much art in one go, as eventually you stop being impressed by Van Gogh's, Rembrandt's and Monet's) 

Then back to the hotel to pick up our bags, and back on the tram, to the train station to catch the Eurostar, with a nice meal, and a few drinks, back to the UK. 

Then back on the tube, and to our car and to drive home, after a lovely short break in Amsterdam but quite an exhausting day.