I scheduled my usual winter week in Northumberland a week earlier than normal to pick up the best tides. This meant I couldn't stay in my favourite cottage but I found a delightful place in Low Hauxley which was only 100m from the beach. There were building works across the way which could have been a nuisance but weren’t at all. In fact the chaps working there couldn’t have been more helpful when I needed help clearing snow and de-icing my car.