Ministry in Australia

and woods framing the lakes, and fluffy sheep grazing, provided a peaceful atmosphere in the glow of the evening sun.

After five most relaxing days, Sheila took us to Oxford by car, where we stayed at Alison's niece Judith with husband Mark and their three children. Judith had been staying with us in Australia, while we were in Albion Park, and it was good to see them all. Lovely children. Oxford is indeed a University town and everything centres around it. It breathes history, and the beautifully preserved Tudor homes left an unforgettable impression on me. Alison and I went for long walks around the colleges, chapels and halls, climbed up Carfax Tower overlooking all of Oxford, and attended an evensong in Christ Church Cathedral, which was quite memorable. I even had a browse through Blackwell's book shop, through which I had ordered many theological books during my student days. I had never seen such an extensive bookshop in my life, I could have spent weeks there browsing! One day we went for a picnic with the children along the Thames, but the rain chased us home.

From Oxford by bus to London, then by train to Canterbury, where Mother met us with Robert. We spent four lovely weeks in Goldstone, doing the occasional bicycle trip to Sandwich and Sandwich bay, where we swam in the sea. It was good to be able to relax completely, not having to get up and go sightseeing or catching another train, bus or plane. Margie was also staying at Granny's during that time. Mother was just wonderful to us. We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and recuperated from our fairly strenuous trip.

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On 25 August 1987, Mother, David and Sybil took us to Heathrow in pouring rain. Since our last visit in 1972 the 'orbital' motor way around London had been opened and the trip to Heathrow took only two hours. At Cairo we were met by Gerda and Fawzy, who took us to their flat in Dokki, a suburb of Cairo. They had recently bought a second flat just opposite theirs on the sevenths floor. They made it their apartment for guests. We had a lovely and airy bedroom with our own bathroom. Fawzy used the lounge room as his study. From one window we could see the Pyramids, early in the mornings, before the pollution enveloped the city in a thick haze.

During our two weeks stay we lapped up the wonderful hospitality of Gerda and Fawzy. We couldn't have wished for better hosts and tourist guides. The Cairo Museum has an unbelievable treasure of ancient exhibits. One can virtually immerse oneself into the most ancient history and culture of this world. A stone tablet mentioning the Israelites (Habiru) in the days of Jacob and Joseph, more than three thousand hears ago, and the treasures of the tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amun. I particularly liked his

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