So, suddenly, an opportunity, to find something more personal. "As it happened" ( how often in my life has that been true), we were due to be at a day's training event in Ruchazie, where we had lived when Jennifer was born. I skipped out at lunch-time and did a reccie of Hogganfield Loch, which sits on the north side of the scheme. If Jennifer had lived, we no doubt would have regularly pushed her pram round the path, pointing out the swans, relishing the beauty and the fresh air. Needing a bench for the photograph, I found one that was ideal, patches of green paint still covering some of its metal structure, providing some colour.
Two weeks later, our middle daughter's father in law, an amateur photographer, drove me back to Hogganfield Loch with his camera and tripod. Safe in a little cardboard box, I had a pair of exquisite little pink booties, knitted especially for me by the lovely Kimberley of Heidihouse Crafts. I also had brought pink roses which had been sitting in a vase in our house.
We attracted a bit of attention, Robin focusing his camera on the booties and flowers on the bench, me standing around trying hard to look inconspicuous. Dog walkers, of which there were many, stopped and chatted. Warm, friendly, kind, curious, taking an interest in the story of strangers, reminding me again of the warmth and friendliness of the Ruchazie people. Nurturing the confidence I would need in the following weeks to renew decades-old contacts as I sought permissions for the book. As it happened. God is good.
