Last Saturday with the family we had a great 2 hour walk around Durham. The River Wear continues to drop and is very low but this did not stop a Universities Boat Race happening which was fun to watch as we walked along the riverbank. York Uni. boat team were there as well. On Sunday on the way to visiting Fiona's Mum we walked around Cautley Spout in The Howgills under a threatening sky but it was beautiful as usual and there were many birds out . I saw a Goldfinch and a Wheatear and of course many Sky Larks. The lads had an hour to get up Yarlside and back and we saw them stepping briskly up the side of the valley heading for a mini gorge which I thought was not on the shortest route up Yarlside . Go Miles because he was in charge. Still they got back to the car in 1 hour and 20 minutes which wasn't bad for a 4 mile walk and a 1500 foot climb up. They jogged back down ! Good lads. We met a nice hiking man from Appleby who's back window looks out onto Cross Fell where we were last week . Small world . I gave him my address card and I hope he gets in touch. Fiona's Mum was in good fettle and we had a really good laugh . She really enjoys the wordplay and humour as well as loads of photos that we showed her . It is a privilege to visit her and the boys really enjoy it . When we got back I got a call from my Mum telling me that a friend of mine Alan Riley had died . He was the drummer of the first band I ever played in in 1972. We had remained in touch ever since and I'd seen a lot of him when we lived in Richmond but not so much when we moved to Darlington. He was a great musician , good man and good friend . I will miss him . You have a great day out and come back to some sadness but there is no avoiding it . A great weekend but with a thoughtful ending . I will be going to his funeral next week.