SUNDAY LUNCH...

... will actually be Sunday dinner today, as James won't get here until about 4pm.
Not that it matters, because Charles and I have had coffee and goodies in Morpeth this morning while we were waiting for the shops to open at 11 o'clock!
Foolishly we got there for ten, only to find that we had an hour to kill. But we spent a very pleasant hour with coffee and the Sunday papers, before going to purchase a supply of new books from Waterstones and a new heavy duty chopping board from M and S.
We've just heard that our worries about finding suitable accommodation for the pups during our New York jaunt my have been resolved. Our very good friend Paul (from our college days) has offered to come and house/puppy sit during our holiday. This is great news because Paul is very much a dog person plus it means minimal disruption to Lily and Rose. I don't know if the whole of Paul's family will come, although they are more than welcome. It will be a nice break for them too, because they live in Northamptonshire and always enjoy coming up to rural Northumberland. Paul is even a Newcastle fan (sad but true!) and he MAY be able to take in a home game while he's here. So, no more worries about pet hotels for us. Of course, as it gets nearer to the time I shall be an emotional wreck again, but I would have been doubly so if we had been taking them to somewhere unfamiliar.