Berwick Bridge

August 23

Thanks to who ever has set up a wi fi connection on Berwick North Bridge.
Maggie and I are sitting on the bridge watching the salmon netters, seals and swans as the sun gently sinks over the Tweed bridges.
We have finally moved into the flat in Berwick after a hectic week visiting Sheffield, Grimsby and picking up our last remaining things from Hull. Today we have had a visit from our neighbours from Hull Dave and Di and spent a relaxing day showing off our new neighbourhood.
Berwick is all that we hoped it would be friendly, quiet with plenty to see and visit. We only have 4 weeks left in the UK and are due to spend another week visiting and saying last farewells to family and friends. As Sept 21st approaches we are beginning to get down to deciding what we shall actually be packing. VSO have arranged missionary tickets for us so we will have an extra 23k baggage allowance each.I have never thought of us as missionaries but the extra baggage will be helpful. I expect from the collection of things we want to take that we will have to hire another Jumbo to fly out with us. How do you decide what you will miss and need in Uganda.

The final countdown

Starting the process no anaesthetic required.

There was no going back
Exposed

Shaving as a spectator sport.

Tuesday was my last day at New Hall Surgery and lots of patients past and present turned up to wish Maggie and I good luck. The highlight of the morning was the shaving of my beard of 36 years. I had never thought of shaving as a spectator sport but over a hundred people waited to see whether I really was a chinless wonder.
It was all a good humored affair and entirely painless thank goodness. Every one including Maggie and me were surprised to see what was under all that beard.
Maggie had been worried after all these years whether she would remember what I looked like.
It was a good way to finish 28 years at the surgery. Every one had a great time and I got to say a final farewell to lots of old friends. It was very disruptive of the work that day but once in a lifetime for me. I am now trying to grow the beard back.