Reflections from the past (yesterday and tomorrow)

This morning I was out and about early with James, taking photographs out in East Lothian. I was lending my camera 'skills', as James' firm was in need of some images for a long-planned new website. Most of the shots were of James' handiwork, and of 'the shop': John Noble HQ. I liked some of the photographs I had canned (we'd only gone out seeing as the light was pretty good as we got up). But this one stood out for me in the set. We had parked at the foot of a grain dryer that James had finished wiring a few years back. It is obviously well used, as the ground is thick with the stuff. Having rained overnight, there was a thin sheen of water over the seed: Only in some places thick enough to form puddles. One of these enjoyed reflecting the rear door of James' VW Caddy into my waiting lens.

We headed to Ratho's boulder cave for the afternoon. It was my first boulder session of the winter: Long (5 hours or so), but laugh a minute. It's surprising how much strength you can loose after a summer just climbing routes! James didn't seem to have too much difficulty, beating Nat easiliy to a new black V7. To rub it in, both he and I beat her to a balancy V6 problem (okay, probably just because our instincts of self-preservation are less acute than hers...). This doesn't happen often, so is worth mentionning! Resting briefly on my laurels, this seemed a good moment to take the half-time coffees. It was my round, so I headed up back up to see Jenny in the cafe to order our energy boost- it was so sweet. A couple hours late, and to close things off, several guys turned up with some dry-toling leashes, and generously shared them round so that we could take it in turns risking our teeth on the easier problems.

But the day was not finished. Off to the Letby's for the evening. They are hosting an old friend, and visiting minister, Eunice Attwood, and had invited a small group (although large enough to make gathering around one table a real challenge!) of folk to entertain and be entertained by Eunice over dinner. We shared our visions and fears for the future, alongside the joys and frustrations of the present. As we spoke and listened, a familiar reference emerged- that of Wesley's Chapel in London, and of Lord Leslie Griffiths who ministers there. I have met Leslie several times, but it is the second occasion that I remember most clearly. It was about 18 months after we had first- briefly- crossed paths. Upon seeing me and without hesitation or doubt, he strode across with an outstretched hand and greeted me "Hello Will! Good to see you again, how have you been." As we spoke, it became clear that he had remembered out first conversation much better even than me.

I often criticise myself for not remembering a name- but that is just a symptom: not the cause. What I really fail to remember is the conversation. With Leslie, you are left in no doubt that your encounter is valuable to him. What I long for to be true is that every fresh human encounter leaves on me a lasting reflection. Then it is not a case of remebering a name, but of recalling the image of that person that was left imprinted on yourself.