shewhomust | A rainy Gala day

Saturday was the Gala, the annual Big Meeting of the Durham Miners - and, these days, of anyone else who cares to attend. This year it was cold and grey and rainy, and our attendance was minimal: blame lack of stamina as much as the weather - or perhaps they go together, because it wasn't a day for taking a break, finding somewhere to sit and watching the procession go by... Instead we called in at Elvet Methodist church, open for coffee again after missing several years, and agreed that neither of us wanted to go much further. We did linger a little longer in Old Elvet, and then cut through to the river, crossing Baths Bridge and walking along the riverbanks. The procession was still crossing Elvet Bridge when we reached the Boathouse, and we could hear the bands all the way: the usual tunes (YMCA, Sweet Caroline) and some less usual (was that really Raglan Road?). I didn't hear Gresford at all, though.

Tomorrow we set off for a week's jaunt: driving across country and seeing people. No, of course I'm not ready. Bedtime now, though.