What did the Irish ever do for us?…..

….well apart from supplying me with a grandparent and three great grandparents, they allegedly made the fast-paced, breakneck game of croquet popular in the UK.

Earlier, we nipped over the Rivers Teviot and Tyne to a shop in Gateshead to collect some sundries for the living-room decoration. It was such a lovely day we then headed up to Town Moor and the Wylam Brewery, for late lunch.

BBQ anyone?