It’s not as simple as that. You have to tie laces, do zips and put on gloves. Even while in the hospital, I was planning ways to complete my ‘pilgrimage’ to Manchester while we have this good spell of weather. I was being over-optimistic, my sons warned me. I countered with examples of how paraplegics, far worse than me, compete in the Olympic Games. However, I could see that problems could arise if I was alone and needed to carry out some of the above actions quickly.

A chance phone call to a colleague, who had also, by chance, been trying to get hold of me to arrange a walk with friends. When I explained that I had just come out of hospital with a nonfunctioning hand, he suggested maybe some other time. But this was the chance I was looking for – a walk with people who could help in the unlikely scenario of me needing assistance.

“Pick me up in the morning.” was my response.

This morning, I spent half an hour lacing up my boots in readiness. There were four of us taking a simple walk on Longridge Fell tracks. I was in my element, being out and about again. As I said, I felt like a fraud being in the hospital, and now I could pace out as well as the next man.

We have known each other for 50 years, and the banter between us was of the ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ variety.

Our loop of the fell roads was non-eventful until we tried to connect with a path down to the road, which I had previously used in the opposite direction less than a month ago. I confidently directed us down a likely looking narrow path. It turned out to be the wrong one—mea culpa.

So we had a longer walk along the road than necessary, but no problem.

I didn’t take my camera out with me because I couldn’t operate it. I struggled to get these two photos on my phone.

The day ended pleasantly in I’s kitchen with soup, delicious homemade bread and a selection of cheeses.  That’s what friends are for.