On Friday 4th December twenty-four of us met for Seaham U3A Walking Group’s Christmas lunch. We were in West Herrington at the Stables Pub, which looks and feels like a warm and comfortable traditional country inn. It also has secured some very good reviews and it lived up to its reputation. The pub kindly arranged things so that the whole group was accommodated on two adjacent tables – one long and one round.  We chose from a surprisingly lengthy menu that included not merely the standard pub favourites, but also some more uncommon dishes from here and there. Most tastes were catered for – unashamed carnivores, fishy folk and vegetarians. Starters, main courses and desserts were all on offer and widely sampled. Everyone seemed greatly to enjoy their food and drinks. In summary, we all had a cracking good time. Thank you, organisers, and thank you, diners.