The election campaigning begins in earnest

The sharp eyed amongst you will have spotted blipper, Shaaamie, in the thumbnail. I met him in Hexham this morning, where the Labour party had a stall and were talking to anyone who would engage with them.

I stayed in Alston last night after the meal with the intrepid tea trailers. Today they are completing the route -as I type - and I'm meeting them back in Hexham for a celebratory meal. Arth and Aggie are in disgrace for not allowing me to walk too!

I drove to Hexham hoping to see the Donald Trump lookalike who was wandering the streets there yesterday as part of a demonstration by local traders. A large charge has been levied on them to try to improve business growth in the town as part of the Business Improvement District Scheme. He was nowhere to be seen but there were a few protesters. (NB Kendall - we occasionally have demonstatrations here!!)

I attended today's Hexham Debate, entitled "How to turn your child into a killler". The speakers were John Bourton & Daniel Lenham from Veterans for Peace. They spoke about their own experiences of being in the military and their concern about the effect that basic training has on the young people who join up. They also talked about the concept of moral injury which is a new term to me.

It was fascinating and there were good questions at the end. It wasn't a debate however. I think that everyone in the room was on the anti-war side of the arguement, so we never discussed the rights of the individual versus that of the larger society in conflict. Lots to think about.

Mum started with a husky voice yesterday and chest pains today, so she is on antibiotics to try to nip this in the bud.

Time to put on the glad rags and join the weary walkers for an Indian meal.