More Roman Around - Hadrian's Wall and Housteads Fort.

The day we went to Hadrian's Wall was very mizzly drizzly - all I could think about was those poor Roman soldiers with the wind blowing up their short skirts! Hadrian's Wall is pretty spectacular. It is amazing to think that so much of it has survived almost 2000 years - particularly when local farmers also build their walls from stone and would have no doubt "borrowed" bits and pieces of it for their own fences. It is a pretty steep walk up from the car park to the remains of the housteads Fort, but the view from up there is worth it. They say on a clear day you can see from one side of England to the other and I could well believe it.

Sea Houses - Home of the Kipper.

Our base in Northumberland is the village of Seahouses, reputedly the place where kippers (smoked herring) were invented accidently. There are still some smoke houses working today but the herrings are not caught locally anymore. What would have been the fishing fleet is now tourist based, running tourists out to the Farne Islands to see seals and seabirds.
We stayed in an old fisherman's cottage in the part of town closest to the harbour. The houses are all joined together and the "streets" are just narrow lanes barely two cars width. This makes it very quiet and restful and the kids had the run of the streets. Very close by was a tiny pub called the Schooner Inn which we made our local for the duration. We were made very welcome by the publican and other patrons and called in most days for a quick pint of something. We even made up a team for the Friday Night Quiz - and were severley and resoundingly thrashed by almost everyone else! Mr Dickwit and his mate will no doubt be very pleased to hear that!

Nine Go down to the Harbour!

I finalised the payment for Coble Cottage in Seahouses this afternoon. Just one small glitch with the internet and a moment of panic but I think it all went through OK.
Seahouses sounds so very "Famous Five" don't you think? I am feeling a sudden urge for sticky buns with lashings of lemonade, bought from a jolly farmer's wife! Louise and the girls are booked in just around the corner at Kipper Cottage. I am looking forward to our stay here - the information promises that we are just "a short stroll" from the pub. Sounds very civilized if you ask me - a DVD or game for the children and a quiet pint for the rest of us :-)