Foggy in Sidney until the afternoon. Bowled at Juan de Fuca in sunshine. Helped weith setting up the clubhouse/greens for Saturday. Pizza bowl in pm, a cold fog breeze came on then in the evening the fog rolled back in. 15C and fog at the moment.

The train left on time and they once again quickly became familiar with the clacking of the steel wheels on steel rails. Evidence of bombing raids was very visible and twice they passed the burned remnants of railway engines. Proceeding north east they soon passed out of the city and into the green English countryside, Doctor and Mrs. Pearce watched raptly as the farms and villages came and went. They made quiet remarks to each other reminding themselves of the earlier times before they took up the call and went to China. The children sensing their parents nostalgia remained quiet and refrained from asking questions.

  The trip lasted just over an hour and a half to the outskirts of London, then it slowed to a crawl as they proceeded through areas of horrendous damage that remained from the air raids of the war. Some construction was in evidence but for the most part the order of the time seemed to be the final demolition of destroyed buildings. Finally they slid to a stop at Waterloo Station, disembarked and once more gathered their bags together.

  Doctor Pearce said, “Everyone wait right here while I look out on the street, they said that they would try and have someone meet us and take us to our lodging.”

  Perhaps fifteen minutes later he reappeared wearing a slight frown and a look of exasperation. “Come along everyone, no one is here to greet us so we will take a taxi.” Outside on the street the doctor engaged a taxi to take them all to the Hand and Flower Inn.

  

Chapter 6.

  Once settled in to a comfortable suite, Mrs. Pearce and Jean went looking for a grocer. As they were leaving Doctor Pearce said, “Don’t hurry, I shan’t be phoning anyone, they know when were to arrive and where our lodging is, I have decided that the next communication shall have to come from the diocese. I will see if I can purchase a newspaper in the lobby.”

  Almost two hours later as Mrs. Pearce and Jean arrived back, the desk clerk sent a note up to their rooms saying that an important phone call was waiting for the Doctor at the desk. Doctor Pearce followed the bellman down the stairs and picked up the phone that was indicated. After identifying himself he listened quietly to the voice on the other end of the line. Finally he said, “My good fellow, my wife, my four children and myself have been now on a journey for a period lasting well over a month. We have been on trains and off trains, on two sea voyages in numerous hotels and today looked in vain for the promised lift to our present accommodation, will you please inform your director of missionary services that we shall be resting for the two days and I will attend his office at nine o’clock in the morning the day after tomorrow. Good day.” He hung up the ear piece.