A very special friend

This is my friend Maureen, who is 75 today. She is a very keen walker and a good advert for knee surgery. She had a new knee 11 years ago.

We met through the walking festival and subsequently on the Wednesday walks. After a few months, Maureen suggested that I should join the committee and we have worked together on festival matters ever since. This is her last festival on the committee and tonight we celebrated her birthday at the festival Social Evening.

There were 75 people at the event. We had a hog roast which was served very quickly and efficiently, despite the pouring rain outside. We walkers can cope with that of course.

We had speeches and a wonderful poem in her honour. (Well done to Steve for composing that.)

By anyone's standards it was a good "do"

The day dawned fine, although heavy showers dominated the two festival walks later on. I was in Haltwhistle to see both groups off. The reporter from the local paper did not show up, nor did the paper include anything about the festival yesterday, so I am not happy. For once, a really good news story and they ignore it.

I was at home for the rest of the day. Sharon did Mum's lunch. The other Marjorie brought Jenny and her daughter, Sarah, to see Mum this afternoon. Jenny's dementia worsens, but she is very happy in any moment, which is good to see. Her happy mood is infectious.