On this fine damp afternoon with light rain falling, myself and the family had a leaf strewn walk around the Durham Woods. As we passed the Houghall agricultural College houses we saw six piglets nuzzling away on a sow stretched out on the muddy ground whilst the little piggies were sucking away. When she noticed us she stood up and some of the piglets were still trying to feed. Next week we are going to gather up some of the acorns and feed the pigs. As we walked through the woods climbing up to the top of the valley I was waffling on to the boys about coppicing and how important it was for managing woodland, providing timber for fencing as well as charcoal for fuel. It just so happens that when we got to the top of the valley we walked down a semi-coppiced lane so I stood in front of this nicely coppiced tree with its seven or eight branches coming out of the ground and continued on with how useful this forestry technique was. Clifford was interested and respectfully listening but then he suddenly decided that enough was enough and he shook the tree which brought down a load of heavy rain drops which which were hanging on the leaves and made me very wet. We then proceeded to ambush each other as someone walked under a tree the other would shake it. The Saunders-Priem family has simple needs wandering the woods and getting up to antics. We proceeded up to Durham Cathedral and had our biscuit break in the Quad and then went to have a walkaround the Cathedral which was nice because there was an orchestra playing a 20th-century piece of music, very dramatic, somber modern and moving. I suggested to Fiona it would be nice to come back up in the evening and listen to the orchestra playing this music but she did not feel like it. Boo-hoo! On the way back to the car along the river it was good to see loads of the Durham students doing football, rugby, touch rugby, no touch rugby for the sensitive types, ball without the foot for the disabled lads and lasses and lacrosse. Yet again, there were lots of Chinese students and some of them were busily snapping photos of what to me looked like very ordinary bits of Durham. I have a sneaking feeling, that these bits of Durham could be the next great big purchases and investments of Chinese capital in our country. Or maybe they are just spies although I cannot think what industrial secrets are lurking in the sandstone of Durham Cathedral! Back home it was the usual meatballs, spaghetti and a yummy tomato sauce followed by no Star Trek for a change instead we're watching the miniseries "John Adams" which is absolutely brilliant and I recommend it. I've read the book once already and I'm on it a second time and the miniseries and the book complement each other although the book is way way better. Another lovely afternoon out with my gorgeous family and I'm feeling quite zany this evening!