Back in April, and somewhat unusually, we turned right instead of left and headed north on the A19 for an overnight stay in Northumberland.
First stop was Hexham for a browse in the shops (spotting a face off the telly in one) and some quiet time taking in the splendour of Hexham Abbey.
Then it was time to check in at our hotel, a coaching inn/country pub in the village of Wall (imaginatively named for its close proximity to Hadrian's pile of stones) and surrounded by stunning countryside.
But it was the hotel's restaurant that was the big draw and reason for our visit.
Hjem (pronounced 'yem', means home) is where Swedish chef Alex Nietosvuori and his small team, working in the open kitchen (much like in the film, The Menu), produced a tasting menu (vegan for me, vegetarian for the Boy) with locally sourced ingredients (they even grind their own wheat for the bread course).
There was just the one sitting with fourteen courses in all. Each was brought to the table by one of the chefs who provided descriptions of the make-up of each dish, some so small they came with the instruction to consume in one bite.
What can I say? Yes, Chef! It was outstanding. (And, as far as I'm aware, unlike the guests in the film, we all lived to tell the tale.)
After an equally delicious breakfast the following morning, we popped along to Chester's Fort, one of the 15 forts which were added to Hadrian's Wall and which was occupied by a cavalry unit until the 5th century.
The weather was glorious and there were so few other visitors we pretty much had the site to ourselves.
We paid a short visit (it being Sunday, most businesses were closed but I did find a well stocked bookshop and added to the book pile here) to Corbridge, once the most northerly town in the Roman Empire, before heading for home/hjem via an Angel.