There were several trips by train or coach to see friends (mainly friends of my mother's, from when she had been a student in London in the thirties.) And of course tours to such places as Coventry and Stratford.

Then it was off to Scotland. I went by coach to Manchester, where I stayed with Mike O'Donoghue's parents in Salford. With them I went to Blackpool for a day. Then I continued my journey to Glasgow where I stayed with relatives. While there, the UK had a general election (this was when Harold Wilson first got in.)

I went on to Edinburgh.

I had written to "Cousin John", my mother's cousin, from London, saying I was coming to Edinburgh and would like to meet him.... His reply was "You appear to have come to this country well prepared even unto the remotest degrees of kinship..." Well! I decided I would not bother with him, but I did phone when I got to Edinburgh and although he was insufferably pompous his wife was absolutely charming and very welcoming and I had a wonderful time there. They led a very social life and every meal was an occasion.

From Scotland I returned to London until it was time to move on. I had booked to sail home from Gibraltar, and planned to visit Spain on the way.