A day of contrasts

This morning being Wednesday I started with our midweek service, there were twelve there today which is a good number. After coffee I went to visit a lady who I think is our oldest current member. She's 99, lives in her own house and is as sharp as a tack. I took her copy of bible reading notes to her and mentioned that the shop I get them in is closing but they could be ordered by mail order if she wanted. I commented that they were available in large print off that would be helpful, but no, she says, she can manage them just fine as they are. I had taken communion to her, one of the things I most like doing, it's such a privilege to share together.
When I got home afterwards I had time for a quick sandwich before heading out to get the bus to the Futures Institute where I was meeting my friend Miranda. She lives in Quartermile, so knows it well.
On the way I spotted my blip outside the Shelter shop. From the back the mannequin looks like Santa as she's wearing a long red cape with white fur trim. From the front she looks very elegant and is clearly not Santa! Clever shop display staff
We started with a coffee in Canopy, the entrance is in the extra and the Christmas tree is in there as well. I hadn't been in before but think I'll be going back for lunch soon, it was lovely.
We put the world to rights and caught up with each others family news - I first met her over 25 years ago when her son started at our school, then coincidentally Katy met him to during a summer job.
Since then we've both moved up a generation although I don't think either of us feel it yet! It's the old story of being found out to be an imposter by someone and told to go back to the "not a proper grown up yet" section! If you know what I mean. I wonder if I'll ever make it into those hallowed halls! Even my grandchildren think I'm not a proper grown up! Long may it last!
Miranda gave me a tour of some of her favourite parts of the building including the Spirit Case which is in the extra. It's made from recycled parts of the old building - including a little drawer filled with hand made nails which were found during the renovation - real people's history. The words are from people with connections to the old hospital building, more about it in the link here.
https://efi.ed.ac.uk/creative-work/the-spirit-case/
I had a lovely afternoon and the time flew by, by the time I came out it was dark and raining and I wasn't looking forward to a wait at the bus stop. To my delight though, my bus came within a minute of my arriving there so I got home dry.