Dead Ringers

I don't know if it is a symptom of being in unfamiliar territory or simply that on holiday you have more time to observe things around you, but over the last few days we have seen no less than 3 dead ringers for football celebrities.

First there was Wayne Rooney in the middle of Newcastle. Not as tall or beefy but none-the-less surprisingly convincing.

Then there was Rafa Benitez at the Jet petrol station, waiting in the car park for the RAC van to turn up.

Most bizarrely, however, was bumping into Steven Gerrard in the kitchen at the restaurant we went to last night.

Telling him he looked like St Stevie of Me proved to be a good move as after that he seemed keen to impress us, including taking us into the smokery to see the fish hanging over burning piles of oak shavings ("I'm not really supposed to do this but you seem like nice people").

Best of all though was when he showed us how to hypnotise a lobster.

You take it out of the water and being careful not to get caught by its snapping claws you tip it upside down and rest it on its head. Then you stroke it's back until it eventually goes to sleep.

Being on holiday is an education.