Steve remains the lord of the manor continuing to show hospitality in a lavish way, great generosity and very good high class food. We have enjoyed a big barbecue, lamb roast, salmon and the like along with lashings of vegetables in British style. Life has not been the easiest as Steve has had sleep problems which then impact on the balance of his life quality. One of his major interests being the Chairman of World Vision, UK which provides lots of interest, international tours as he is also on the International Council of WV. Steve is also into speculation building on the side and now has four houses on the go. The property downturn has not helped him so he needs to get sales to release his capital. His Church links continue as before. Concern is for his children who are doing well but not gaining much spiritually. Daniel, the son is employed and into school teaching. The big event in this area being a wedding planned for August 1969 the service in a nearby Church, the reception a garden party type at the manor house here which has large lawns and lots of scope. All you need is good weather for the marquee and catering. Emile, the daughter, still in University now planning on a year in San Diego to give an international component to eventual qualification in the History of Art. Our association goes back a long way to Hong Kong 1984, we were elders together of Ambassador Fellowship so have lots in common and a continuing mutual support in our present lives which is great. Life has bequeathed a number of these high quality friendships linked to shared ministry and life development. The only challenge being that they are largely international rather than local and require periodic servicing and updating to be real. But to date this has been possible. May it long so continue!

Old friends from Karachi days – Tim and Monique Baynes Clark. Into the period of seeing daughters married. Last weekend one of them and coming up ahead the other. The first a more regular event but the second with higher drama as the two of them are in Shell planning to work in Dubai. Ishaad a former Karachi high school contact now a believer. An unusual event but Tim and Monique are happy about this link with their period of ministry in Pakistan. Their personal plans are to go on into France, (Monique’s home) and develop further a ministry they are now in of bringing life and vigor into Church involvements increasing effectiveness in outreach.

90 miles down M4 and we arrive at Reading assisted by a Google map. Much needed as Reading is an older well established town with myriad roads and one way streets. But without too much problem we turn into Woburn Close, find the key in the back shed, admit ourselves make tea then set out for London town like the famous Dick Whittington who saw the mouse under the chair of the monarch.

It costs money but the train is fast reaching London within half an hour. Down into the Underground with one change and we emerge at Green Park to set out for Berkeley Square and our old friends Air India. It is too much to expect all to go like clockwork. Sure enough they had phoned to say that we could come and pay our penalty, change the ticket but they still do not have the confirmation of the leg from Mumbai to Chennai. They did allocate seats 8A and B good window type and said we could finalize the payment at the airport on the 15th! We wanted to blow up but wisdom says to be very thankful and polite and graciously exit! Consumer Reports ranks Air India at the bottom of its ratings with good reason! But we are thankful that despite the collapse of friend Wesley and his travel agency in Vancouver where we booked things for a number of years without problem, we are still flying and Janette can now take up the opportunity in Chennai with YWAM while I go on to Malaysia. A sausage and eggs breakfast in Bristol had held us together but an inviting supermarket saw us buy some goodies to eat in the Park at Berkley Square under the big 300 year old trees there.

There is lots of auld lang syne and nostalgia here as Tony and I were colleagues in HKG for 10 years or so. Tony is still mining the good ideas we established there. First in Africa and now in South America as with the down turn in fund raising potential Bible Societies need to go to move to a more dynamic trading, entrepreneurial model. Daughter Rachel in her closing years at High School, brother Mark into a GAP year in Bangladesh following in the footsteps of his father.

Argyle Community Church has its roots in a Brethren Assembly but is now seeking to remake itself with outreach to the Community around with many programmes aimed at different age groups. The strategy is to become involved in social concern to make contact that will expose them to the message of Jesus. A doctor friend went along to lunch. Jonathan was a contemporary of my old friend Howard Harper having been in a medical student hostel in London during the 1959 period when Howard married Monica with German background. Jonathan married a girl from Denmark!