The Perfect Sunday!

Thankfully, the tradition of the North East ‘Lost Weekend’ is in the main a thing of the past. Before the relaxation of the Licensing Laws, many a family endured a routine revolving around Pub Opening Hours. No more so than on a Sunday, when ’chucking-out’ was at 3 o‘clock, before a brief respite of a late Sunday Lunch and a snooze, (it was also said that many a ‘bairn’ was conceived in those intervening hours), before a restart at 7pm.

Now, although I enjoy a drop of beer or a relaxing glass of wine like the best of them, the thought of a boozing merry-go-round certainly makes my head spin - anyway, same time, same place has never appealed. However this Sunday did start with a Dog, no not the Newcastle Brown Ale variety, but a Jack Russell Terrier and a favour for a friend.

Northumberland is blessed with some of the finest beaches in the world; ribbons of clean golden sand, which on the main you‘ll find pretty much isolated - probably something to do with the less than tropical climate, yet they offer the perfect repose to any Saturday night excess. So, what better way to ‘blow away those cobwebs’, than just me, my four-legged fury friend and a good brisk walk.

Feeling suitably invigorated, thoughts now turned to a spot of breakfast - Full English and a Pot of Tea for me, and water and a chewy treat for my companion. The later, easily sourced from the car, whereas I’d spied ‘The Country Barn’, a Farm Shop with Restaurant in the nearby Widdrington Village. I don’t think either of us were disappointed, certainly my choice of 5 items for £6.25, which included Tea or Coffee, was well up to the mark, my friend drifting-off into contented slumber while I dined.

Ahead lay a leisurely drive back into town, the ‘Coastal Route’ being highly recommended, but before departing a browse in the well-stocked Farm Shop was a must - like a ‘Harrods of the North’, with only the finest local produce on offer. Cheese from Coquetdale, Seahouses baked Bread, some nicely-matured Lamb Chops, and Alnwick IPA (based on an original 1800’s ‘Alnwick Brewery’ recipe, but now hand-crafted in Harrogate by ‘Daleside‘), was my basket of choice. What a treat lay in store!

Now, if it had been a Grand Prix weekend, a lazy afternoon in front of the ‘box’ may have ensued, but bitten by the walking bug, (and one or two other little blighters - must take the ‘Jungle Juice’ next time), my new best friend still chomping at the bit, we set out again in the direction of Newburn, this time on foot to follow the route of the old Wylam Railway, and as time elapsed, a much anticipated rendezvous with a well rounded and fruity blonde!

The ’Big Lamp Brewery’ is Tyneside’s oldest ’Micro’, having been founded in 1982 on the edge of the City, before moving to its current location at Newburn in the late ‘90‘s, taking over an old Grade II listed Pumping Station, to which they have added the ‘The Keelman’, their own Public House, with 8 Fine Traditional Ales on offer, Prince Bishop being my aforementioned reward for my endeavours - maybe ‘Hadrian & Border’s’ Tyneside Blond would have been a more aptly named metaphor, but I did manage to catch-up with her at the ‘Boathouse’ on my return.

Sharing our supper of Lamb Chops and Cheese, no I didn’t fancy your ‘meaty chunks’ either, I slowly sipped on my Alnwick IPA, (see www.alnwickbeerfestival.co.uk for September‘s Food and Wine Festival), reflecting on ‘The Perfect Sunday’, my thoughts drifting to those Lost Weekend’s of yore . . . no this would be one to remember. Thanks Paddy, we must do it again sometime!