The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 99

Sunday Nwt Journal, Wilmington, February 17, 1980 Trading houses gives taste of life in Scotland ri "rT 1 mi it v. R.JM MhatfW- JsStC. a fc w.k.afeni tion, overlooking a large playing field with swings and a see-saw at the far end, fields with cattle grazing beyond, and on farther the high hills called the Campsie Fells. Heather Avenue was not a through street, so there was relatively little traffic and it was quite safe for children. The neighborhood children missed the McCall boys, so they used Grahame to fill the gaps.

He was an American novelty and they would come to take him out to play and bring him back when they were ready. Alan, next door, who was 12, was very nice and protective. He intro- duced Grahame to football, (soccer), playing with trucks, writing with chalk, and candy. Grahame had a marvelous time. We made two trips north to my aunt's home.

There was a memorial service for my father, who is buried in a tiny cemetery overlooking Loch Etive. Born and raised in Scotland, he came to the U.S. in the 1920s, as did my mother, but both their hearts remained in the highlands, along with most of their relatives. Because of the relatives, it's been grand to visit Scotland, but the exchange of houses made it possible for us to have our own home base without disrupting other people's lives as much, as our numbers grew. It's harder to move about with small children and it was fun to return some of the hospitality we've enjoyed.

I was nervous about changing houses. I wasn't worried about things as much as I was our pets. One of the conditions of our trip was that the McCalls would take care of our elderly dog and cat and two middle-aged rabbits. They were in terrific shape when we returned, as was our house and everything in it. The McCalls thoughtfully left their eccentric dog with a grandmother.

It's harder getting ready for a trip when you clear out closets and bureau drawers as well as pack for a different climate. I ended throwing things haphazardly into plastic bags in the attic, and could find nothing quickly when we returned. Mary and I both cleaned like mad as well, since we didn't know what the other family would be like. And that was the odd thing about the exchange not really knowing the other people. We got to know the home and friends of the McCalls without knowing them at all.

Our families and friends at home wrote to tell us how they were enjoying getting to know the McCalls. We felt a great blank. It was a peculiar sensation for us all to be to close to each others' lives without personal contact. We figured out who was who in the photographs in the house, but we were glad to finally visit with the McCalls in person when we came home. I'd exchange houses again, except it could never be as successful a second time, could it? Fiona Paul Murray, a Newark resident, taught in Maryland for five years.

She is pianist and harpsichordist with the Newark Chamber Players. Next-door neighbor Alan, 12, visits Grahame, little sister Meegan and their mother, Fiona Murray. znjoy the good life FSoirMa. off TWA's away tours for as little as $49. With Continued from J-l gas stove, after I had bought a year's supply of matches.

It took several days to feel comfortable with the boiler, the hot water tank which could heat each radiator as well as the water in the pipes. I was ready to rip the insides out of the washing machine for about three weeks, since I could't get it to spin dry. After three weeks of taking wet and soapy clothes out of the washer and dripping all over the porch floor as I pitched them into the spin section of an older machine, I or raced outdoors with them to let them drip for hours, I discovered if I set the machine on the delicate cycle, it worked fine. (Never had I considered flannel sheets delicate!) The dryer I barely used, for I wanted to keep the cost of electric- ity down as much as possible. Things hung in the porch dried overnight, if spun dry.

The lawn mower looked like a lit- tie carpet sweeper, electric, and whirled around the neat lawn. The mower died, forever I'm afraid, during our last cutting. All of a sudden, the machines considered helpmates at home became adversaries, daring us to make the most of them. I couldn't take anything for granted. McCalls had left out instruction booklets for us, as we had for them, but the instructions seemed to be written by German-translating Italians, as ours at home would be translated from Japanese, by Japanese.

There was a comma in the directions on the front of the washer which stymied me it was in the wrong place and altered the meaning. And there was the telephone. I am afraid of telephones in other countries. I never cracked the code for using the phone abroad. Some people have three digit numbers, and some go up to nine.

Directory assistance does not always assist. I've had them assure me that no such people or towns exist, when I know they do. One day someone will say you cannot direct dial, and the next you can. It sometimes helped to hang up and try for another operator. I was stuck using the phone a lot.

and for me it was the most difficult part of the trade. It really took great concentration. Any accent is exaggerated over the phone mine, as well as theirs. I had to get everything right the first time, or else I'd have to make another call. That first cold night in.

Scotland I looked everywhere on the second floor for a hot water bottle. At the end of the week I found two beneath the kichen sink. It was a logical place to keep them since they are filled from a The McCalls searched for a can opener in our house. I don't know when they figured out that the little electric gadget on the counter was it. Cookbooks with metric measurements were intimidating, so we ate what I could remember how to do, lots of chicken stuffed with oatmeal, ground beef or "mince" and fish.

I asked people in the shops how to prepare things, too. I keep coming back to food, but for five weeks, children and food were the main concern for us. At home, you can have schedules and menus and juggle those, but go on to other things. We had lots of relatives and friends coming to visit, and the kitchen had to keep pouring things forth. As a rule, it was easier to have people come for a visit than to go to them.

For four nights we had ten people altogether. One glorious day, most of the ten went for a picnic on Loch The children, poor things, went into the cold water, but the rest of us sat and revelled in the warm sun and I ate endless potato scones with garlic sausage. It was a beautiful day in a beautiful place beneath Ben Lomond. The house was in a lovely, loca- Old Arizona town restored as 'star' Continued from J-l the-scenes glimpse of movie making, and admission to the film, "Hollywood on the Desert," are all included. Visitors can browse through stores rich with memorabilia of the Old West, or stop to enjoy western taste treats at one of Old Tucson's cafes or saloons.

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Old Tucson is the magic and excitement of Hollywood, where John Wayne starred in "Rio Bravo," "McLintock" and "Rio Lobo;" where Paul Newman recreated "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean," "Hombre," "Pocket Money" and "Outrage;" where Lee Marvin filmed "Monte Walsh;" where Clint Eastwood filmed "Joe Kidd" and "The Outlaw Josie Wales." 'KC)m if: Aid TWA now flies to the good life of Florida. And with TWA, the good life is better than ever before. TWA's Getaway Florida program features new, exciting, iffordable Florida vacations. Finally, you'll be able to see Florida the TWA way. We've combined the highest quality tour packages with the lowest possible prices, and created a Florida just for you.

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