A wonderful British seaside break and frightening undertones.

 For years Alnmouth has been a tantalising green blue river with a hint of sea glimpsed from the train, but I did not manage to get there when just up the road in Alnwick, yet when my friend LM asked me to join her there I first demured - after all I had been nearby twice before recently. However, it is nice to be asked and it would mean finally finding out what the village and sea beyond really looked like so I decided despite the cost to go for it.   And thank goodness I did.  When LM last visited the HF house there she had dreadful weather and the walk plans were curtailed but this time the weather was stunning.    Is there anything nicer than soft sand under ones feet and a beautiful beach?  And being Northumberland apart from some intrepid families wrapped up against the wind and some ecstatic dogs,  the beach is relatively empty.   

LM was walking the Pilgrims Way,  I headed inland the first day and went to the Ad Gefrin museum in Wooler.  The bus times made a long visit impossible, but there is not a huge amount in the museum and much of it is a recreation. so, in some ways visiting from far away does not make sense but if you are in Wooler it is a great addition.  There is also a little distillery on site and I was lucky enough to be given a glimpse of the shinning new coopers.  Lovely.  And then I was back in time to loll on the beach and paddle.  

The following day was even sunnier.  I caught the bus to Amble as a local had suggested the market there.  I was not sure how far I was capable of walking and felt quite tired as I walked along the river to Warkworth Castle.   But scaling the stairs and the ins and outs of the castle revived me and I did then manage to walk back along the coastal route to Alnmouth with plenty of breaks on the beach reading.   Absolutely lovely.  Some idiots had almost set fire to the brush by the beach but luckily they put it out and so I have learned how good sand is for that purpose, in fact better probably than water as it was nearer to hand, but it is scary how easily a fire can catch hold.  

Greece and Canada have been aflame, and Europe in scalding temperatures, England has been aflame for different reasons.   The far right are on the march.  I did not hear anything untoward in Northumberland but all over Weardale there were whispers of protests and back home I heard that the local hotel where there are some refugee families ,there is extra security.  

Meanwhile I am not the only one complaining about the appalling customer service with Booking.com.  Two programmes of You and Yours have covered problems, but still not addressed the questions I have raised. It is probably too late to write to them to raise my issues, but if I have the oomph I will.