Valentines Day

 Last week was another quiet week. I’m pulling together my work handover now for when I move to my new role at the end of the month, so work is quite focussed and before I know it, my days are over and night has fallen. Cold nights generally mean a reluctance to leave the house unnecessarily, although there was one mid-week exception when we went to the Hideout on the other side of town for early evening coffees

I also decided to take my new cookbook for a spin midweek and made a Shitake, ginger and miso broth. To tell the truth, given that Mum doesn’t like mushrooms, or dumplings and has never tried miso I was shocked when I offered for her to choose this week’s recipe, and she chose this one. 

As I cooked it, I thought it looked quite unappetising but actually it was delicious. My first try at cooking with tofu too, which went well. 

Friday was the commercial extravaganza that is Valentine’s Day. Does anyone know why it isn’t called St. Valentine’s Day anymore? Is it because the card companies don’t want to alienate the atheists? Call me sceptical. Nonetheless, a couple of days beforehand I’d bought little miss some goodies in my Lidl shop, and I wrapped them in pink tissue for her to open in the morning before she went to school. She was absolutely over the moon and ended up smuggling the little teddy to school in her bag. 

I hadn’t expected to see the chap since he was due to be heading off on holiday with his uncle, aunt and sister the following day. We hadn’t arranged anything, and so it was pleasant surprise when my doorbell went just before lunchtime and I found him standing there with a stash of gifts for me.

As well as roses, chocolates and prosecco he’d also bought me an absolutely stunning pair of linen pyjamas from a British brand I’ve been drooling over, Piglet in Bed. The quality of these is gorgeous, and he even got them monogrammed for me too. Beautiful. 

The rest of the weekend has been fairly quiet, pottering into town and splitting my wardrobe out between summer and winter wear. I used to do that before, and then stopped but it’s so much more manageable. I also received my new-to-me Instax camera, a Vinted purchase from earlier in the week partly funded by a coat that I sold. Cheap old cameras seems to be a special joy of mine!

With this coming week’s half term, and a few days off work, I’m hoping it continues to be relatively chilled although, I’d like it if the weather cheered up a bit, it might give me a bit more impetus to actually do something other than sit around listening to French cafe music.