Day 5852 & 5853 (10 & 11/01/2026)

Home for the weekend, to relax but with a few chores to do in the office. 

Made some vegi-chicken satay in the evening. 

Saw my parents for breakfast on Sunday morning and bought my wife some fresh flowers.

Then I made a tasty smoked salmon & prawn pasta diner, in a cream & lemon sauce, with cappers, with fresh penne. 

Then a long drive, in non-stop heavy rain to Preston. 

Day 5851 (09/01/2026)

Day five in Preston, and we seemed to have missed the worst of the weather. I had breakfast at the hotel, then checked-out and went to Uni for the last day of the course.

We only had a quick break for lunch, then I was able to be on the way home a little after 2pm, so got home by about 5:30pm, which weas result.

We had a nice stew in the evening.

Day 5850 (08/01/2026)

Day four in Preston, I had cereals and a sausage sandwich for breakfast. 

Then I had a hot chocolate, with some fruit for lunch.

I thought the course was going well but today after lunch, the room seemed a bit quiet and empty. We had gone down from the original 48 students to only 24, which seemed odd and slightly short sighted from the students, who even if they thought the subject wad easy, missed the opportunity to see the techniques in practice etc. 

After Uni I went to the gym, which was knackering. 

Then I ordered a Hawaiian pizza, some fries, a salad and some wings. I expected the pizza ans fries to be smaller, so I didn't eat it all, and it wasn't that great anyway.

Day 5849 (07/01/2026)

Day three at Preston, it’s still quite cold but thankfully all the ice has gone now. I had some cereals and really small croissants for breakfast.

Then a cup of tea, with a banana and a fruit & nut bar for lunch. 

After training I walked back to the hotel and went to the gym, then had a Mexican for dinner, with some tasty tacos and some fully loaded nachos, with a large green tea with lemon (not Mexican) to drink, rather a fizzy or alcoholic drink, what a nearly healthy week.

 

Day 5848 (06/01/2026)

Day two in Preston, I had cereals and a toasted fried egg sandwich for breakfast. 

Then off to the classroom, in the icy conditions. This week is going a lot better than last years course, I think for a number of reasons, including a better room, so not so easy for people to talk in large groups, and I'm being a bit stricter with the timings, keeping them working. For lunch I had a tea, with a banana and a biscuit for lunch. 

After work, I walked back in the freezing rain, then went to the gym at the hotel, which was knackering.

Then the evenings Deliveroo was a Subway jacket potato with cheese & tuna with salad, and some hash brown and chicken dippers, all very tasty.

Day 5847 (05/01/2026)

I slept quite well, and was up and ready in time.  I had a nice breakfast at the hotel, then walked up to the classroom.

I had a banana & a biscuit with a cup of tea for lunch, I didn't feel the need for a sandwich or a meal. 

After the training finished I went back to the hotel, and went to the gym for a 45minutes workout. 

Then I ordered some sushi and a katsu chicken curry for dinner, which was very nice. 

Day 5845 & 5846 (03 & 04/01/2026)

We were up and out fairly early on Saturday morning, as my wife had an appointment with the optician, so as we were already out, we had a breakfast wrap from McDonalds, with a cup of tea. It has been an unhealthy start to the new year, with far too many take aways, but sometimes life is just too busy to be able to cook. 

I did some bits in the afternoon, finished off everything for the course, then we finished off the Chinese in the evening.

I saw my parents on Sunday morning, picked up their car for Preston and went home to pack and make dinner for later.  Did a nice spaghetti bolognaise, with a tasty caprese salad. 

After dinner I drove to Preston, which was mixed, as it seemed quick, as there were no road works, but when I was about 60 miles from Preston, the snow was coming down so hard, that the motorway was down to 25mph and all in single file.  Thankfully it only lasted for about 10miles.

There was only a lite dusting of snow in Preston.  

I managed to get into a renovated room, which just meant it had been repainted but was basically the same, but I was in time to watch The Great Pottery Throw Down before falling asleep.  

Day 5844 (02/01/2026)

Had a nice brunch with my wife.

Then did a few final things in the office for next weeks course.v Then in the evening we had fish & chips from the take-away, which was veery nice but very filling.