Chapter 1 (partial)

On Tuesday, January 2nd, I flew back to London on my jet. Nina was staying an extra week with her parents. Her school wasn't back in session until the following Monday. It is just as well; things had been heating up with us, and I don't know what would have happened with the two of us alone for many hours and a bed right there.

We both agreed that is where we wanted to go, but that it was too soon, we had some living to do before we settled down. Neither of us was the type to casually have sex. By our upbringing, it would result in a lifelong commitment.

I had picked up copies of the LA Times and Variety to read on the flight.

I found it interesting that the US Navy created a group called Seals, formed from World War 2 groups known as the Scouts and Raiders. There would be two teams. There was Seal Team 1 stationed in the Pacific and Team 2 on the Atlantic.

The article told how they traced their origins to the Scouts and Raiders, Naval Combat Demolition Units, Office of Strategic Services, Operational Swimmers, Underwater Demolition Teams, and Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons of World War II. It seemed to me like they were just rearranging deck chairs.

In Variety, I learned that the Beatles auditioned with Decca Records, and they were turned down. I think someone at Decca will live to regret that decision. I also read of the NBC Laramie peacock, which had debuted last night. It was used to highlight their shows in color. The black-and-white programs were disappearing.

Dad had bought two color sets for Jackson House. One for the entertainment room and one for his and mum's bedroom. How decadent!

I had a good night's sleep flying over the North Pole. They called it the polar route; I don't know how close we had got. I didn't care enough to go up front and ask.

When I first obtained this aircraft, I had all sorts of intentions of riding upfront and getting hours in. Somehow that wasn't happening. I needed to decide and stick to it.

We landed in Oxford, where the plane was based, but I immediately went over to flight operations and filed a flight plan to London in my Cessna.

It was early morning here, and I had a noon lunch meeting with Mr. Norman about my Queen's Messenger Duties. I would be staying in London overnight. No rest for the wicked.

Harold had packed me an overnight bag, and I had plenty of clothes at the Plaza. It is a wonder he didn't have a full wardrobe there. I wasn't going to mention it. I could afford it, but it seemed silly.

Lunch was those little watercress sandwiches with the crust trimmed off that I hate. I would have to get a snack to tide me over until dinner.

Some ham or beef on them would have helped, and maybe a slice of cheese with a little mustard and lose the watercress and keep the crust.

I didn't say anything as he seemed to enjoy them. You can pick up a lot of bad habits over time.

Cast in Time Book 6 Available in June 2024!

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More details coming soon.

Earl E. (Ed) Nelson

I have always wanted to be an author. I had my first rejection slip in about 1965. Wish I had saved it. For many years the only writing I did was technical as pesky things like three children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren came along.

My technical writing was in the field of quality in several different journals. I worked in the field of quality for over fifty years, starting as a line inspector and ending up as a Vice-President of Quality and elected a Fellow of the American Society for Quality.

Then a wonderful thing happened. I lost my job and was out of work for almost eight months. To keep from going crazy I wrote. I posted my stories on an online site, and lo and behold people read them and said nice things. Fast forward about eight years and I am retired and writing for the fun of it.

A lot of what is in my stories is based on my life experiences, gasp! Give or take a lie or two that is. The one fortunate thing in my career is that I got to travel worldwide and have been to most of the locations I write about.

In my younger days, I tried hot air ballooning, sky diving, white water rafting, spelunking, and target shooting. I have collected stamps, drove in road rallies, lowly rated by the US Chess federation. I built a Kentucky long rifle and a dueling pistol. I am a licensed HAM radio operator. My hobby is having hobbies.

My true passion is reading. Trapped in a hotel room I would read the telephone book. The TV would not be turned on. I have averaged 200 books a year for the last sixty years. I knew those long flights were good for something.

BTW I was born in the middle of an air raid in England during World War II, the house next door was destroyed and our windows were blown out. That is probably the most interesting thing I have been involved with. Mum never forgave me. Happily married for 56 years I hope my wife doesn’t catch on to what a goof I am.