Food and friends and wine and hot baths

We've been having a pleasantly sociable time, though that's pretty much all I have to say about it. D.'s visit last weekend, lunch with friends on Wednesday, friends to dinner on Thursday - two couples, thanks to one of those last minute inspirations (why don't we invite --- as well?) which don't always work but did on this occasion. And tomorrow another house guest, someone we used to share a flat with in London and haven't seen since - so obviously I'm a touch nervous about it.

This afternoon we slipped out between showers and visited Binchester Roman fort - not a lot to see compared to the Wall forts, though in its day it was extensive: the largest fort, they said, between York and Edinburgh. Most of it is unexcavated, though work continues, and the portion that has been excavated includes a remarkably well preserved bath house. Some of the tiles have the letters NCON, which apparently identifies the troops stationed there:

This was lying on a table in the museum / activity area - can it really be an actual Roman tile?

And home via Tesco's, if not exactly under the arch of the rainbow then past both stubs of its broken bow.