On Sunday N had planned a surprise trip, so he and J came over on the Saturday night (we ate the Moroccan feast I had prepared the previous day – all the recipes from the earlier post, with the somewhat less frugal addition of a Chicken, olive and lemon tagine).

Then we had fireworks and a bonfire – unlike the previous year it was a beautiful night. Off to bed after a game of ‘Britannia’ (I did not roll well) for an early start the next day. The cats had made themselves comfortable on J’s bed.

I hadn’t been told where we were going, only that it was three hours drive and that I might get my clothes wet (J had thoughtfully brought me a waterproof poncho from the Valhalla ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach).

It was a lovely morning – unfortunately I didn’t get a photo of Glen Croe as we went through it – but it was incredibly beautiful, with mist nestling all along the bottom of the valley. The view from the house was good too though.

I don’t know how, but we were through Carlisle before I realized that our destination was Hadrian’s Wall and Vindolanda Fort. This should have been obvious because I have been reading a lot about Roman Britain recently, and had in fact mentioned that I wanted to go several times. Anyway, we couldn’t have had a better day for it, the weather was superb, and it being November, neither the museum nor the fort itself were that busy, which made it much more atmospheric.

It never ceases to amaze me how sophisticated the ancient Romans were as a people; in fact it always saddens me to think how once the legions marched away, the barbarians moved right in and the lights basically went out for five hundred years.

Anyway – a great day, so thanks to N for planning it, R for doing the driving and J for managing not to break his leg when he slipped down that bank.