Great romantic and thoroughly moving day. Walked around autumn coloured York for about 6 miles with my beautiful wife. Mooched around city centre and then headed off to university visiting a totally lovely lady who I have known over a period of 30 years: Angela Gardham. Lovely to see her and she looked radiant and beautiful as she always did. Lived just down the road from her for   two years 1994-1996 and my second son Clifford was born over this period. Amazing house and garden, and her kids, who are young men now, doing really well and I felt very complete talking with her again because she was one of the first people I noticed in York in 1983 with her family that gave me the idea I wanted to be in a settled and happy family myself. Which I have done thanks to my lovely wife Fiona. I felt so privileged to be sat in the presence of two absolutely lovely fine intelligent women one of them being my wife and the other one my friend Angie. After this, walked around University Lake and saw three Great Crested Grebes, the parents and   fledgeling. Back home at six for soup and rolls still feeling quite emotional about meeting up with Angie again. Must visit friends more north and south of Darlington!

Great day yesterday. Figured out recording my voice problem and arrived at solution. Can now crack on with writing the many songs that are in my head. Did Baha'i stall in Darlington centre several people interested. Took Miles and his friend Luke to The Works Skate park in Leeds for manic four-hour session. Had good walk around Leeds myself. Walked amongst a huge group of students and at least a half a dozen  languages  spoken. Love multicultural and cosmopolitan Britain. New building gone up called Broadcasting Tower. Lot like Angel of the North with its rusted exterior. Nice to touch and walked completely around it. Only way to understand a building. Miles awesome in skate park and Luke was brilliant as well. The manager of the skate park had become a father since last there. First child died shortly after childbirth and now everything is okay. Lovely fine, intelligent and resourceful young man with a smashing wife and baby.Getting to know people  opens my heart up to a lot of their hurts but I feel that is a big part of loving all of humankind as I do. Love taking youngies to skate parks. Will miss it now Miles is off to Durham University getting really serious about mathematics. Hooray. Love being a father!