“Masclus to Cerialis his king, greeting. Please, my lord, give instructions as to what you want us to have done tomorrow. Are we to return with the standard to the shrine at the crossroads all together or every other one of us … most fortunate and be well-disposed towards me. Farewell. My fellow-soldiers have no beer. Please order some to be sent.” Masclus Vindolanda Tablets.

We rose late after a decent sleep in helped by the evening before’ s late finish. After cereal and tea we set off for Chester. We were to walk the Roman wall. We found a spot in Ye Olde Parking Building and headed out around town. We explored The Rows which are medieval double decker shopping lanes. Basically, there are shops at street level and a second street front on top of the roofs of the shops below. We found a café for some brunch and had coffee, toasted sandwiches , omelets and chips. We then wandered across to the edge of the old town at the back of the cathedral and mounted the old Roman wall. This wall is mostly intact, and we set off along the raised up fortification. When we reached the Roman Gardens, we came across groups of school children who were on some ‘active learning day’ and were being drilled by gentlemen dressed as Roman legionnaires. They were formed into squads , each holding a padded floppy sword like protrusion and a plastic shield. The legionnaires were having a ball whacking the hell out of the kids as they crouched beneath their shields in formation. Much shouting, and excitement ensued.

We continued on around the wee inner city being passed by dog walkers and the modern day inhabitants of Chester who now use the wall to get to work or back from the hairdresser.

After walking the wall we headed to The Brewery Tap which is a craft beer bar and outlet for a local brewery set in a Jacobean banqueting hall. Like Galbraiths the architecture demands a certain level of church like reverence. They had Thornbridge Union on cask, the beer brewed in the Burton Union they got from Marstons. I had a pint, and it was so good I had to have a second.

We drove back via a ritzy farm shop in the Cheshire countryside. I weighed us down with English cheeses . The Cornish Yarg aged in nettle leaves was particularly delicious.

We then stopped in at Derick’s local pub for a quick pint of Landlord before heading home to collect Lisa. Then it was out into the countryside to a rural pub which has transformed itself into a successful and sizable restaurant. We dined on delicious food. I ordered a posh prawn cocktail and particularly good Cheshire cheese, potato and onion pie. We ended the day back at home with dessert and whisky.