The changing world (15) Jul to Sep 1970

Getting ready for packing and buying baby things. SUM conference at ANMC. Ian Tait promised to send us all new banner books published while we are in Nigeria. Left Ealing July 11th and drove to Skipton. Met Tom Brayshw my brother's future father in law. He was in the army and a guard at the Nuremberg war trials with interesting tales to relate concerning the Nazi prisoners many of whom faced execution.  Had a day delivering Betterwear with my father. He would canvass taking orders four days a week then deliver on Fridays. He was Cock o' the North, the firm's top salesman in the north of England despite his reduced mobility after the 1964 accident. Betterwear paid commission only no salary and they reckoned only about5% of recruits made the grade. Some would not live only on commission. Some had not the gift of the gab. Some talked too much. Some had wives who would not trust their husbands being out all day with other women. At one stage dad was promoted to manager whereby he received commission on his recruits sales too. But he made more money selling than recruiting so he reverted to being salesman only. This work was definitely God's provision for him. He had had to give up engineering due to contact dermatitis from a combination of arc welding and oil. In our area there were few opportunities for work except farm labouring which paid poorly. He answered an advert for salesman no experience necessary and took to it like a duck to water.
   Went to Paul Clough's wedding at Otley. sadly his bride died young. Holiday started by driving to Akeld just this side of the border in Northumberland and staying with Mum's relatives there. Had stayed while single and hiked the Cheviots. Next day B&B Doune via Tweed valley, Carluke, Airdrie and visited The Trosachs and Loch Lomond From Doune a 199 mile day to Beauty via Loch Tay Glen Garry, Spean Bridge and Loch Ness and Dingwall. Then a 104 mile day to Lybster , Caithness stating with the Davenports in the Free Church manse.  Learnt about the Clearances and the Disruption. Next day visited Wick and Dunnet head seeing the Old Man of Hoy. On the Sunday free church in Lybster standing to pray and sitting to sing unaccompanied Psalms. On the Monday to Lochinver via the north coast. Saw the Dounray reactor. Crossed Kylesku ferry and saw spectacular peaks like Quinaig and Sullven.
   Next day Strome Ferry to Oban with diversion avoiding Ballachulish ferry then via Glencoe. Next day 299 miles Oban to Stranraer. Friday 200 miles to Skipton via Gretna Green and High Force, Teesdale. Visited Bridlingon with the Sunday School outing and Bradford preaching. Helmsley and York visits. Down to Potters bar. Visited Chelmsford. Katy's parents' silver wedding. Visited and stayed Portsmouth and Newport. En route to Overends visited Churchill's grave at Blaydon. Stayed in Rugby. Visited Leicester en route to Wilmslow. Overnight in Leicester on way to Potters Bar. Visited Ealing. Stayed in Birmingham on way to Skipton. Sold car. Valedictory service. Aunty Joyce gave us a weepy farewell. Dad too us to Potters Bar and on September 15th to Heathrow for Nigeria