Albert's new trick

Returning home from the shops I found that Albert had left his key in the door and I could not get in.  I telephoned him to no avail and was invited for a cup of tea by a neighbour who consequently returned home with me to check the door situation; suddenly the side gate opened and Albert rushed out asking what I was doing and the gate locked behind him.

There we were both locked out of our own house!

Albert had been cutting the grass and blamed me for the fiasco.

How did we get into the house, by borrowing a long ladder from another neighbour and Albert vaulting over the gate?