Janette out and active with old contacts of yesteryear. Leaving Glasgow on the Wednesday we stopped off in Hamilton to look up Agnes Hislop who goes back to 1955 in Multan so a long way!  Then on to Strathaven to a Hong Kong contact couple. He would have preferred to have remained in London but the needs of a daughter who lost her husband at age 39 have overruled and brought them North again.

With Alec and Flora an interesting visit to New Lanark.Back in the early 19th Century an enlightened reformer named John Owen established a model cotton spinning factory which protected the interests of the workers to a degree unknown in other parts. The exhibition is very well put together. http://www.newlanark.org If there is a lack it is in making the link between the Christian conviction and influence on John Owen which resulted in the desired results. The projection is largely in humanistic terms as would be expected.

Gallashields, in the Scottish border area was reached by passing through Peebles a former wool spinning town, note d for Colin by finding a somewhat pricey but hopefully more enduring pair of corduroys! Our hosts in Gallasheils kindly introduced us to the history of the region. Sir Walter Scott lived here at Abbotsford. . He is known by all students of English literature along with Shakespeare, Robert Louis Stevenson and others. Milton our friend, was also keen to introduce us to the Celtic heritage of Abbeys and ruined monasteries strewn around the area - Dryburgh, Kelso, Melrose etc. My father in the good old days, dragged by his friend Stan Harper around these historic monuments groaned saying once you had seen one you had done them all! Milton's house is large and cold but his heart and hospitality very warm! He has a granny flat which he was encouraging us to come stay and visit around in the area. For another incarnation!

A midday stop in Edinburgh found us at the home of Brian and Margaret Ringrose, former Interserve directors in Scotland , Janette's right hand woman for the wedding in 1990. Brian has recovered well from a stroke suffered a few years ago. I had hopes that we might have lunch at Goblin Haw a old inn in Gifford but Margaret opted for a very pleasant lunch in their flat.

Perth

Over the famous Forth bridge an hour up the road and we are at the home of Michael and Betty Roemmele long known to us both through Interserve connections. For their retirement returning back to their roots in these parts. The daughters are very fond of Aunty Janette through long associations. Catherine and her 3 live children live here. Sunday, a visit to their Community Church in an industrial building adjoining a housing estate which they are seeking to reach out to. In preparation for the coming Alpha course a social evening called a Ceilidh (Gaelic for dance)  was being held which produced 90% outsiders which was encouraging. The Sunday service a lively presentation on real discipleship complete with a large wooden cross as a useful prop.

In the afternoon we enjoyed a walk in a very pleasant park area adjoining a salmon stream. Big larch trees planted a century ago by the Duke of Atholl, anticipated the need at that time for  tall spars for sailing ships.

Monday morning out on the town. Perth has developed its city centre with a accessible parking building and then pedestrian malls which keep the down town alive. Tesco have a large facility near to the Roemmele home but to date the big box stores and malls of Canada are welcomingly absent. A newly built concert hall and a new Town Hall are all adding into the rejuvenation of the older areas. The river Tay flows by the bridges providing the access needed for their thriving market town. Beyond is Scone (pronounced Scoon in the dialect) the origin of the famous coronation stone now kept in Edinburgh castle but taken by the British to Westminster in history. Janette seated next to a statue of a famous character in ne of Walter Scott's novels ...................... Colin opted for the replica of the Optimist in a local poets diction.

Driving back to Glasgow we made a nostalgic loop to the Drover's Inn on Loch Lomond visited on our honeymoon trip in 1990. It seemed a small place on that wet dark night but proves to be a much larger smallish hotel in the daylight!  A place full of deer heads, stuffed animals, wood fires and old world atmosphere.

Back in Glasgow an important meeting up with old Hong Kong friends Cameron and Ishbel Tallach now settled in her home town in the island of Skye. They were back from a holiday in Crete stopping off in the Holiday Inn where we enjoyed a very full and wholesome breakfast. Janette then left for a visit to Edinburgh traveling in the train to meet up with another Hong Kong contact who was passing through!

Back then via the Easyjet to London, Luton to spend the last few days of this memorial tour.  Friday spent in another cross London train journey leaving Amersham at 09.30 arriving in Caterham 12.15. Lunch with Bill and Dorothy Thompson (links with India and literature days) Bill looking considerably older but remaining fervent in spirit. On to Paul and Joanne Marsh associated with the early start in Pakistan 1954-1958 before the arrival of the twins.

Saturday with Margaret, a pub restaurant lunch then on to a dip into English history at the heritage sight linked with Benjamin Disraeli the famous Victorian Prime Minister. His home the parish church where he is buried now open to the public giving an introduction to that important period of history when the Empire was forming and at its height.

Sunday our old friends Linda and John Ball (linked with the Bible Society in Hong Kong) now proud grandparents to a newly arrived grand daughter.