So I go into the Peninsula on Chillingham Road. For some reason whenever I start to get better after illness I crave Chinese food.

I swear I haven’t been in there for 10 years at least. Not since I last left Heaton.  Not since Vietnam.   Not since Nicaragua.

I order. Sweet and sour pork and chicken chow mein.

I pay and then nip out to the DVD shop while my food is cooked.

Less than 15 minutes later I am back and a bag of food is waiting for me.

The owner hands it to me and says: “You been away then?”