After reading yesterday’s comments again, it suddenly dawned on me that two other people doubt my ability to make pastry. Cheeky sods – they’ll not be getting an apple pie either.

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It’s been a bit up in the air as to whether we’d actually go away this weekend, but I’ve been bullied into booking a room – which I only did half an hour ago - 11.00 p.m.

My friend Tracy’s dad died very suddenly Thursday night from a massive heart attack and I didn’t want to leave her; Himself fully understood and didn’t push it. Which may seem strange as it's not my family that suffered the loss, but she’s like a sister and we’ve been through so much together – she helped look after my mum, she sat with me whilst mum was dying. When things go wrong, even if we’ve not seen each other for weeks, we instantly turn to each other. My friends are the siblings I've never had, I couldn't even begin to explain what they mean to me and I worry and fret about all of them at different times.

Unfortunately I was out at work’s Halloween party and she couldn’t get hold of me until a lot later – its sod’s law that the one night I go out she needs me. She’d left the house in a rush without her mobile, so didn’t have our mobile numbers and my dad didn’t hear the phone; he has his telly up really loud. By the time we’d visited her mum and brother and had then gone to see her, it was turned two in the morning when we got into bed. I spent time today with her and her mum, and she made it very clear that there was nothing I could do to help over the weekend – she would be very upset if I didn’t go away as planned. She also knows a lot about my family and just why I need to get away on occasions.

Himself wanted originally to go to Blackpool to see the illuminations – I personally didn’t fancy that. Nothing against Blackpool, but I didn’t fancy the hustle and bustle of the crowds or the noise. So we’re off to Ilfracombe, Devon, instead and we are spending our anniversary night here - this time I booked a room with a double bed; not catching me out on that one again. It’s amazing how many places are fully booked, especially this late in the season - I had a hell of a game finding somewhere that wasn't going to cost £150 for the night.

We thought we’d visit Cheddar Gorge on the way down and I’m looking to see what National Trust properties are down that way and still open – may just squeeze a visit in.