London to Scotland, then Southampton 1976

London 7 September 1976

We spent 6 weeks in London - lived in a bedsit in Lancaster Gate, and I did various temp jobs including with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme, for lawyers in Holburn and for entrepreneur brothers from the UAE.

London 20 October 1976

I got to work (Freedman & Co.) to find the telephonist was back at work, so they had to find me something else to do for the day.

Arrived back at Lancaster Gate about 6pm and met Ian in the Mitre pub. We had a counter meal there and then went to Earls Court Motor Show in the van which Ian had loaded with all our luggage. We spent a couple of hours there which made it rather rushed, but when they closed at 9pm we left and headed north. Stopped at one of the service centres about 11pm for coffee and pulled into another about 1.30am where we slept the night in the back of the van.

Awoke about 8.30am to find it was raining solidly outside, so we got going straight away to warm ourselves up. Stopped at about 10am to have breakfast and then drove fairly steadily to Glasgow, leaving the motorway for part of the time which made a welcome break and allowed us to see a bit more of the countryside.

Glasgow 21 October 1976

We negotiated central Glasgow, and after asking found our way to Fortrose Street, Ian's Uncle Bill's (Bill Gallacher). He was there waiting with Aunty Greta and Uncle Andy and we were given a warm welcome (about 3.30pm). After a nice tea we talked until after 9, when A. Greta and U. Andy left and we went to bed about 11pm.

Glasgow 22 October 1976

After a really good night's sleep we spent the morning unpacking and sorting. I cooked breakfast for the first time in months, and again we sat and talked for ages. In the afternoon we went out to the shops and then went for a walk "up and around" Partick, and U. Bill showed us where the Gallachers were all born at 349 and where they went to school etc. which was all very interesting. After I cooked tea, we talked and read and watched TV (colour) till about 11pm, then went to bed.

Glasgow 23 October 1976

Late again getting up. It will become a habit to cook a late breakfast and forget about lunch! After a lazy morning we went for a walk about 2pm up to Kelvingrove where we went all through the Art Gallery and Museum, which was interesting. Had a cup of coffee there until it stopped raining, then crossed the road to the Exhibition Hall where they had a Modern Homes exhibition, again very interesting. We spent a couple of hours there too and arrived back home about 6.15pm. I cooked tea, and we sat up quite late. I was making chicken soup at 1.00am!

Glasgow 24 October 1976

A nice day. Had breakfast and lunch quite close together - had my chicken soup, and then about 3pm we went over to Aunty Greta's in Uncle Bill's car. We arrived in time for afternoon tea, then spent the rest of the afternoon looking at photos which were amusing as well as interesting. Aunty Greta served up a beautiful meal and afterwards she and Uncle Andy played the piano and accordian and sang for us all the old scottish songs. We had a really nice evening. Went home after supper about 9.30pm and went to bed.

Glasgow 25 October 1976

Did all our washing in the morning though it wasn't a very nice day. Then went down the shops for groceries. In the afternoon I did some baking - rock cakes and scones! Wendy rang about 3pm - found the van had a flat battery so we had to go on the bus to meet her. She and her friend Christopher came back with us for afternoon tea and stayed for dinner - then we all went out to the "Three Pigeons" for a drink with some other girls who had worked with Wendy at Eriska. Wendy went home with Marjory and Ian and I bussed and walked home.

Glasgow 26 October 1976

Late breakfast again. Wendy rang just after 11am and Ian went to get her (the battery in the van had been recharged). They arrived back in time for toasted cheese for lunch, and then we talked and talked for the rest of the day, stopping only for dinner and cups of tea/coffee. We had lots to tell each other and photos to show etc. Late night.

Glasgow 27 October 1976

Up about 9am and at 10.30 we all went in Uncle Bill's car on a sight-seeing trip to Callander which is the town used for the filming of the TV series "Doctor Findlay's Casebook". It was really beautiful and we spent quite a bit of time looking at the shops (which were full of souvenirs). Went for coffee and scones and then went for a look at "Arden House". Drove home through Perthshire - the autumn colours are beautiful. We got fish and chips for dinner which were lovely, and Uncle Bill made Eve's Pudding. Talked for a while after dinner.

Trip to Callander - Wendy in the car and Arden House

Pitlochry 28 October 1976

After breakfast, while Wendy and Ian went on a shopping expedition, I did some ironing, tidied up and packed up a few things. We had toasted cheese for lunch and then the three of us left in the van for a trip around Scotland. We drove up through Stirling and Perth and got as far as Pitlochry where we cooked our meal in the back of the van on our little gas cooker. Then we drove to the local pub where we stayed till after 10pm, and then we drove to a big car park and slept the night.

Aviemore, Inverness and Loch Ness 29 October 1976

Awoke about 8am and we drove to the small village where we got some water and cooked our breakfast. Then we went on to Aviemore and had a look round the tourist centre there. Went up to Loch an Eilein where we got water from the stream and cooked up soup etc. for lunch. It was a beautiful scene for a picnic. Went and had a look at Coylumbridge Hotel with a view to working there and then drove on to Inverness and had a look at the job situation there. Had a cup of coffee then continued driving down Loch Ness. Had tea in Fort William and drove on to Taynuilt where we slept the night.

Connel to Glasgow 30 October 1976

Had a look all round Connel and found a place to cook a picnic breakfast on the the side of the road at Bonawe. Then we went in the see the Isle of Eriska Hotel where Wendy had been working. Had a coffee there and then all went to the pub for a few drinks with some of the others from the hotel. Left at about 3.30pm and travelled through to Inverary where we stopped for afternoon tea, and then headed for Glasgow. Arrived back about 6.30, and as we were all fairly tired we just had sandwiches for tea. Ian went to bed early, though we stayed up till after 10pm.

Breakfast in the woods, a cold wash in the burn, then dinner in the Transit van.

Glasgow 31 October 1976

We were all up fairly late so we had breakfast and lunch all in one. After that we did the washing and hung it out as it was a nice day. I'm afraid it was wasted on us though as we stayed in and talked and read and played cards all afternoon and evening. We cooked roast lamb for dinner with rice pudding to follow and were all nicely full after that. Sat up playing Gin Rummy for a while then I went to bed. Ian and Wendy sat up talking till about 2am.

Glasgow My 23rd Birthday 1 November 1976

Had a cup of tea brought to me in bed and from then on I wasn't allowed to do a thing in the kitchen. Ian and Wendy kept shooing me out and making mysterious trips to the shops. I got four cards in the morning. I had my topaz ring from Ian, Uncle Bill gave me a necklace (beautiful Trivari that had belonged to his wife, Maimi) and Wendy gave me a pair of fun socks. They spent all afternoon in the kitchen, giggling and laughing and at dinner they brought out a lovely meal - melon boats for starters. They had decorated a cake with 23 candles and we had wine, sherry and liqueurs. Quite the most lovely birthday.

23rd birthday in Partick

Day trip to Edinburgh 2 November 1976

After a late breakfast and a late start at 12 noon we reached Edinburgh just after 1pm. After stopping at Tourist Information we went up to the Castle which was really magnificent. It was freezing cold though and we spent most of the time inside looking around, whereas we could have spent a lot more time there if it had been fine. From there we went to the Palace of Holyrood House where we were taken on a guided tour which I found very interesting. The history of Edinburgh is fascinating and it is a pity we could stay only a short time. We arrived back in Glasgow just before 7pm and had a quick tea of soup and toast before bed.

Edinburgh Castle

Glasgow 3 November 1976

Had a very lazy day Wednesday. We spent most of Thursday afternoon preparing the evening meal for A. Greta and U. Andy - the dumpling (spotted dick) was a success! Had a sing-song after dinner and it was a pleasant evening. The next day Ian and Wendy went shopping - a few things for the van, a coat for Wendy, and things for a special farewell meal to Uncle Bill. While I spent the afternoon in the library reading history books! Came home and cooked a nice meal for Uncle Bill and had wine - a nice evening again.

Day trip to Linlithgow 6 November 1976

We set off for Linlithgow about 10.30am. It was about an hour's drive so we went through to Queens Ferry to have a look at the two Forth Bridges. Then back to Linlithgow to meet Myra and Jim (Gallacher?), Ilza and Graeme. Had a lovely roast lunch and dessert. Then Myra took us through into town to see St Michael's Church, where Mary Queen of Scots was reputedly christened, and the Palace next door where she was born. It was really interesting and it was a pity it was such a hurried visit. We drove home after dark, despite Uncle Bill's not liking to drive at night!

London via the Lakes District 7 November 1976

Left Glasgow about 8.30am for Ayr and drove round there and then through to Alloway to have a look at Robbie Burns cottage. Then to Amman where we stopped and cooked lunch by the river. Stopped in Carlisle at Uncle Jim's (Gallacher) but no-one home, so continued on. Made a worthwhile detour from the motorway through the Lakes District which was really lovely. It got dark then so we stopped on the side of the road and cooked what we'd bought in Windermere. And then drove almost to London. Stopped at the last service centre and slept the night in the van.

London to Southampton 8 November 1976

Drove into London during peak traffic and got stuck in a jam! Went to Walkabout and picked up my mail, then to NZ House for breakfast and to pick up Ian's and Wendy's mail. Picked up my check from Central Appointments, then headed for Southampton. Arrived about 2.30pm and got the paper but there were no flats advertised, so went round some agencies to see about the job situation (I was almost broke!). Went to the pub for soup about 6pm and stayed there over drinks until 10pm, then drove around a while looking for somewhere to park the van, and slept the night in it. Very cold!

Southampton 9 November 1976

When the paper came out we rang up about flats and went to look at a cottage in Ringwood and though it was nice, and cheap, we decided it was too far away from town centre. We went down to Christchurch and had a look there though by this time it was getting dark, and then went through to Bournemouth. After driving through the town centre we stopped and had a meal and a big discussion. We decided we'd stay in So'ton and Wendy would go up to London on the bus tomorrow for a few days. Drove back to So-ton where we found ourselves a cheap bed & breakfast in Millbrook Road. Ian and I ended up staying in this B&B (with eccentic little Yorkshire landlady, Rosie Mann) for some months. Wendy came back and stayed with us for a while (until Rosie asked her to leave - said the neighbours were talking, us three living in the one room!) She then got a live-in job at a hotel in Lyndhurst. We too moved out of Rosie's and got a small 1 bedroom flat in Waterloo Road. We lived here until November 1977, when we returned to New Zealand.

I worked two jobs, by day as secretary at Lloyds Register of Shipping (Yachts and Small Craft) and by night/weekends as an usherette at the Gaumont Theatre. Ian had various temporary jobs, but couldn't find work as an electrician. He worked on the garbage trucks for a while, then with Schweppes where he met Dave (with whom he eventually embarked on a motorcycle trip from UK to New Zealand a year later).