We are up and on the road by 4am. It is a long drive down to the southernmost tip of England, but the roads are fairly empty at this crazy time and we arrive at 8am, just in time for breakfast. There is the added benefit of the surrealism of nighttime, which always makes the start of a holiday more exciting.

We are the only people staying at Landewednack House , and our stay in the 'Coastal Coach House' - a little self-catering cottage on the side of the main building - is nice and peaceful, complemented by the resident chef's amazing meals and the fresh bread each morning. The food is all locally sourced and as the only guests we really feel special when we are asked what we would like to eat before each meal is bought for us. I do have a moment of terror when, after explaining my hatred of fish and seafood, I am asked so shall I treat you as a vegetarian? Fortunately, the steak we are fed shortly afterwards is absolutely amazing.

Nothing is open this time of year, so we spend our time walking around with a day at the Eden Project, a day walking up the coast, exploring the fog and visiting lots of garden centres to stock up the garden. We find little ports and harbour towns we've never seen and even the walk to St Michael's Mount is a good day although it's closed. It is all very restful, if a little eerie with all the closed gift shops and cafes and only the briefest of encounters with other humans.

I manage to find some fudge for the traditional workmate appeasement, but as soon as I go back to work, I am struck down and have to spend three days in bed with a cold.