Stops throughout the United Kingdom

This is Dunnotar Castle in Scotland that we toured with Janet and Bill Smith last September.  As you can see it was built on a high rock outcropping on the coast of the North Sea.  It was a bit of a hike to arrive but very well worth it.  Walt received a phone call from a missionary in England and he was able to conduct some needed business from this prominent historic site.

Speaking of Scotland we recently joined the missionaries and staff at the Missionary Training Centre for a celebration in honor of Scotland's favorite son, Robert Burns...also known as "The Ploughman Poet".   Widely regarded as the National Poet of Scotland, he was also a lyrist.  Below you will see pics from that evening.

This is Chris Pattenden, who is the Bishop of our Church congregation and is employed as the head of the Missionary Training Center. He served his mission 6 years ago in Scotland and is in the full Scottish dress. (He mentioned that it takes about an hour to get every item on and straight!)  He is presenting the one item of food we had all heard so much about HAGGIS.  And just what is haggis you ask?  It's a traditional Scottish dish, and considered the national dish of Scotland as a result of Robert Burns' poem "Address to Haggis of 1787".
It's a kind of savoury pudding (not dessert, more of a wrapped casserole) containing sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs) mixed with onions, oatmeal, suet, spices and salt; then combined with a stock and traditionally encased in animal's stomach and simmered for approximately 3 hours.  "Although it's description is not immediately appealing, haggis has an excellent nutty texture and delicious savory flavour" as quoted from Wikipedia.  Actually, it wasn't bad, just something I'd never spend time to prepare even though my heritage is about a 1/4 Scottish.

This picture is priceless because it shows Sister Williams on the left looking at Sister Walker as she tries the haggis...note Sister Walker is storing something in her right cheek pocket!  Then to the right of President Walker is Bishop Pattenden who is making sure President Walker follows through with his bite!

Shall we move on to Wales!

Conwy Castle in North Wales was built in 1283-1289 during King Edward I's 2nd campaign in N. Wales.  It's built on a rock promontory to prevent undermining by the enemy and to guard the entrance to the River Conwy.  The  3 bridges are relatively new structures.  The middle suspension bridge was built by Thomas Telford in 1826.  Telford was born in Scotland in 1757 and raised in poverty by his mother because his father died shortly after Thomas' birth.  He was apprenticed as a stone mason and worked for a time in Scotland but then moved to London after connecting with 2 well respected architects of the time. He became a master bridge builder.  We've seen the Iron Bridge just west of Birmingham in the town named Telford.  He built over 40 bridges in the county of Shropshire alone! (This info is specifically included for our son Luke who is a
civil engineer with the original desire to build bridges!)
TaTa For Now,
Elder & Sister Hales