The pair were trying to cajole me into going to the pub to listen to one of the locals tell tall tales over a drink or two and they wanted me to take Ned along, too.

‘But it’s the first full day of opening up here tomorrow,’ I pointed out, ‘and I’m sure Ned would prefer an early night.’

Theo shrugged, but Wren wasn’t giving in so easily.

‘A pint or two would help him relax,’ she astutely pointed out. ‘He’s been wound-up all week and I can’t remember the last time I saw him in the pub.’

‘But what about Bandit?’ I frowned. ‘I’m not sure how long he can be left home alone.’

‘He can come too,’ said Wren. ‘They’ve got a dogs welcome policy which I know for a fact extends to include beautiful Bandit.’

‘Well, in that case,’ I caved, ‘I’ll ask, but I’m not making any promises.’

To my surprise, Ned agreed to the impromptu excursion and later that evening he, Bandit and I, with me driving so Ned could have a drink, arrived at the packed pub. We were a little later than planned because my old jalopy had taken a bit of encouragement to turn over. She didn’t much like standing idle and I had to promise I’d pay her a bit more attention before her engine reluctantly spluttered into life.

‘Crikey,’ I said, as we crossed the threshold and our ears were assaulted by a barrage of noise I hadn’t been expecting, ‘it’s packed.’

‘It’s tall tales night,’ shivered Ned, more the result of my car’s intermittent heater than the outside temperature. ‘It’s always popular.’

‘There’s Wren,’ I said, picking her out as she stood up and waved in our direction. ‘She and Theo have got a table. Why don’t you take Bandit and go and thaw out and I’ll get us a drink?’

‘All right,’ he agreed, pulling his furry friend a little closer to his side.

Bandit wasn’t fazed by the noise at all, but he was nose to nose with an enthusiastic Jack Russell terrier. Thankfully both tails were wagging in greeting.

‘I take it they’ve met before?’ I asked Ned, nodding at the dogs, before he moved off.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘The terrier is Skipper. He belongs to George who will be regaling us with all manner of myths and legends tonight.’

I was relieved to hear the dogs were happily acquainted. There was barely room to move, so a canine scrap would have caused mayhem.

‘Thank goodness for that,’ I said, bumping into Ned’s side as someone squeezed by. ‘Sorry,’ I flushed, trying to move away but finding I couldn’t. ‘I think I’d better try and get to the bar. What do you fancy?’