….have been greatly exaggerated”, as Mark Twain is often misquoted as saying.

An old friend from schooldays read the last blog entry and wrote today wondering if I’d already made the journey.  Obviously not.  I’m sorry if anyone else has been thinking that way.  I should have done another post as an update.

There’s more bureaucracy to get through, and I’ve still not asked for a date in Switzerland.  When it’s arranged I’ll say.

There’s also been a bit of banter with someone else, who said he’s always taken comfort from the biblical assurance “In my father’s house there are many rooms”, and he therefore assures me that “You will be most welcome at my family’s kitchen table for endless coffees, G&Ts, pâté, cheese & crackers & an eternity of warmth and affection.”

To which I replied, “ How generous. Do get out the ouija board and thank your ancestors for me.  Myself, I rather like the phrase that Trollope and other Victorians use: “When I am gathered to my fathers”.  I’m an only child, so there’s not much in the way of recent ‘family’, but there will be lots of Peace fathers going back over the centuries.  That could be VERY interesting.”

All mildly humorous, folks.  Let’s keep it light.