Years ago we went to Bath for the weekend not realising it was Valentine's Day. We couldn't get a table in a restaurant anywhere in town and pounded the pavements all evening. We ended up in McDonalds! It really put me off going out/celebrating Val Day such a commercial occasion where we all behave like lemmings. McD was delicious BTW.

Hello Tom, Well I have to call my cat Bob to her spot on the bed..... which is half of it... Otherwise she wakes up in the middle of the night from the chair in the living room and wails.. if not the wailing... She creeps like stealth to hurl herself onto my back...purr in my ears in the middle of the night with claws a plenty.. ......... Or...... I get a face full of whiskers and an aroma of red salmon, flaked tuna and kibble... : ))

I only remove fresh items from fridge but leave jars etc I tidy but don't clean I usually put fresh linen on bed day before we leave so come back to a nice bed I arrange all the blinds / curtains so open but not fully open I set all the light timers I leave a key with neighbours and let a SMALL number of neighbours know As we are about to leave I put bleach in all the toilets If it is a taxi firm we don't know ( try to use same one each time) as I leave I talk to and wave at imaginary children and then discuss imaginary children with husband when we set off "will they remember to ...hope they visit .....etc" As we are about to leave I put bleach in all the toilets

Thanks for your votes so far...I wonder whether the crisp autumn air affects our yearning for a sumptuous cocooning place to relax!