Out for a stroll

Years ago I visited a museum in Newcastle upon Tyne. In the natural history section there was a stuffed sparrow and an explanatory note about how the museum had been missing an example of the common spuggie for many years. They were such an everyday sight that nobody had ever thought to add one to the museum's collection - at least till then. That's why I don't have a picture of anyone walking and had to use this snap!

Whenever we go on one of our little trips we encounter tens of people walking along the road. They can be anyone of any age but older people out walking alone or as a couple make up the vast majority of sightings. And often there appears to be no habitation for miles - goodness knows how far they've roamed.

Maggie's pal, Maria Luisa, invited us to stroll. Each evening she walks the 3 or 4km to meet her husband at his smallholding in the countryside near the village of Ivanrey. Maggie has done it several times before but, for me, it was a first.