I’d forgotten how pleasant England can be..not by experiencing a shopping expedition to Sainsburys, something that brings to the surface psychopathic tendencies that lurk deep beneath my psyche but having Sunday lunch in a small village pub.

Luckily we got the supermarket out of the way on Saturday without committing involuntary manslaughter and set off for The Bay Horse on Sunday. Billed as a ‘gastro pub’, an unfortunate term if you added -enteritus, however the food here is superb. Traditional roast beef and Yorkshire pudding etc. though at a higher level than normal. My pork belly course was exceptional and the sticky toffee pudding, just wow!!

Today, we drove into Durham and queued up (for 20 minutes) to park in the Prince Bishops Centre. Access from here to our lunch date was pretty easy and our window table at Bells was waiting. It was lucky we had reserved ahead, Bells does a roaring trade each lunchtime, there was a queue out of the door!!

Without doubt this is the best fish and chip restaurant locally with huge portions, super friendly service and that all important North East charm.

Luckily, it’s a short drive from Durham to my Mums and while two people sleep off haddock and chips, washed down with Fentimans drinks I toil away at the keyboard bringing you this latest episode of gourmet adventures.

We’ll probably be ‘in training’ tomorrow…all will be revealed in due course.