Richard Ord

1 week ago | shieldsgazette.com | Richard Ord

​If it wasn’t for the fact they’d probably charge you £40 a pop for the pleasure, a bucket of popcorn would be my preferred choice of inflight meal. ​Not, I hasten to add, as a main dish of the day, but just something appropriate to munch on while I sit back goggle-eyed at the spectacle of holidaymakers disembarking upon landing. What is the rush? Is there a medal for first off the plane? Honestly, you’d think the cabin crew were going to set dogs on everyone.

3 weeks ago | sunderlandecho.com | Richard Ord

​My watch says I sleep like an Unconcerned Lion. Sadly, I move like a throttled macaque and heal like a pensioned pelican? ​This new fitness watch of mine is, as expected, overseeing my steady decline in meticulous detail. Early doors, the watch was encouraging me to increase my steps, go to the gym, drink plenty of fluids and get that heart rate up. Like the obedient watch slave that I am, I did just that, with runs, sports, Olympic-level water gargling and adrenaline-pumping activities.

3 weeks ago | nationalworld.com | Richard Ord

If you’re looking to escape the rat-race and unwind in splendour, then we’ve found a medieval Northumberland hotel that has the poetic answer to your dreams. Supping a pint of Monk’s Mistake in the sun-soaked gardens of the Lord Crewe Arms I couldn’t help but reflect on the biggest error made by those holy men of old.

4 weeks ago | sunderlandecho.com | Richard Ord

​While Footy McFootbridge may never have been in the running, there’s a distinct feeling that the opportunity to give the new Wear crossing a memorable moniker has been missed. ​Underwhelming is a polite way to describe the anodyne choices being given to the Wearside public to christen this latest feat of engineering to grace the city. In case you’ve forgotten the three choices (and they’re easily forgettable) here they are in all their glory. Behold: Keel Crossing, Beacon Bridge and Wear Crossing.

4 weeks ago | sunderlandecho.com | Richard Ord

​While Footy McFootbridge may never have been in the running, there’s a distinct feeling that the opportunity to give the new Wear crossing a memorable moniker has been missed. ​Underwhelming is a polite way to describe the anodyne choices being given to the Wearside public to christen this latest feat of engineering to grace the city. In case you’ve forgotten the three choices (and they’re easily forgettable) here they are in all their glory. Behold: Keel Crossing, Beacon Bridge and Wear Crossing.