We’re away for a few days, well, a week in fact. First stop was my Mums on Saturday for her 89th birthday. She’s doing really well (hello Mum – waves), and lives with my sister in a little village near Northampton. Then Sunday we drove 20 or so miles northwards to Rushton Hall, a 16th Century Grade 1 manor house. It’s gorgeous, all warm stone, oak panelling and extended lawns.

Mike said something to make me laugh just before he pressed the shutter, hence the funny expression!  My sister is on the left, Mum in the middle.

We ate here the first night , wonderful food, all Masterchef if you know what I mean.

We had an amuse bouche of celeriac veloute

Tender scallops with apple, and that little dot is an intense balsamic reduction

Sea bream with agrettia, a delicious sea vegetable that I’d not come across before

Lemon meringue for pudding. The lemon part is inside the meringue egg and made to look like the inside of an egg, ingenious. And the sorbet is basil, I would never have thought of putting basil with lemon meringue

Then coffee and petits fours in the lounge.

I was trying to take the pictures surreptitiously, and the light wasn’t very good, but I think you can get the gist.

Had a stroll round the gardens in the morning, a swim in the Spa pool and a spot of lunch. We booked ourselves in for dinner again in the evening. I could get used to this

Today we are generally lounging around. Reading the papers, chatting, completing the odd crossword clue when we can be bothered.

Back to real life tomorrow. But I’m enjoying every minute of our break from it.

Tomorrow we drive further north to Newcastle for a few days, on business. Premier Inn this time, so not quite so luxurious, though perfectly comfortable.

Has anyone tried any sparkling water bread yet, or indeed the beer version? I’d love to know how you get on with it, and any variations you come up with.