A heavy cold during my last week's holiday of the year-typical. Today I was sufficiently recovered to do a day's training. Remember, all this exercise is new countryside for me. When did I last do a serious piece of walking? Probably when I was 15, doing Fell Walking with a school group in the Lake District. So 10 miles walking around Grafham Water at one go was a big deal for me. My wife, June, joined me and off we went. For the end of October it was incredibly mild, with the temperature at 16 C. I can see why some people rave about this walking business. The resevoir was shimmering in the sun light while several boats bobbed in the water as fisherman angled for Trout. We walked in and out of nature trails, enjoyed swans preening themselves, grebe's diving, herons taking off- and all for a two pounds parking fee! We surprised ourselves that we could manage the walk with some degree of competence. Our sandwiches and drink tasted divine; such simple pleasures. After completing the course around the lake we sat on a blanket with a hot drink and a last sandwich (kept for this final act of triumph) and surveyed our minor victory!

The Bishop of Ely's Publicity Officer has given me some excellent guidance about raising public awareness. I have spoken by phone to one of Norwich City's Chaplains, Reverend Arthur Bowles, who played football with my Dad after the war, and also did my Dad's funeral. It was good to get his moral support and it meant a lot. What a long way all this is from Africa, yet as we walked it seemed so near.