Further peregrinations

Wednesday 3rd March was appointed as the day to set out for my grandfather Jim in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Just as well that I had seen Claire 24 hours prior and not then as a line-side fire near Charing Cross was cancelling all services on the North Kent Line into London (affecting Gillingham to Dartford). As it was, getting into London Victoria was far from routine, with the increased rail traffic being diverted there. A delay of more than half an hour ruled out a trip to the Mongolian embassy as being too tight (though feasible) before embarking on the trip north at Victoria coach station.
That evening, as Altaa retired to the bedroom, my grandfather and I watched on the television England versus Egypt at Wembley. Egypt were far more organised as a team, which was not surprising given that they had played much more recently together than England (the latter’s last international being in November). Moreover, during January they had further forged team spirit by retaining the African Cup of Nations. Of those not attending the World Cup in South Africa this summer, only Croatia and Russia were ranked higher. A Torrid first half for England was further compounded by three of the first choice four defenders had been struck down by injury. Eventually though (and after a good half-time team talk), England’s quality proved itself in being decisive to the home nation’s 3-1 win. Altaa and I helped my grandfather around the house, including cooking and with his shopping, as he had the month before been involved in a car accident, which had made his car a write-off. We incorporated a visit to this part of the world by dropping in on Derek and Coral Hallums in Kibworth Beauchamp (pronounced Beecham). They arranged for us to have a lovely salmon, mash potato, chips and vegetables for lunch washed down by some of Derek’s vintage white wines, followed up by apple pie and custard. On Sunday we went twice to Hinckley Baptist Church. The morning was primarily family worship, with a recording of Chris Moyles getting an airing praising a British Pentecostal Church he saw on TV one Sunday morning; the evening was devoted to scriptural study with my grandfather’s close friend Dr Leonard Taylor followed by communion. Then the Grand tour was concluded by returning home on Monday 8th.