Kelso

I'm in Kelso overnight for a funeral tomorrow. Alan was a huge support to me personally in particular over the period between 2000 and 2004 when I was Lay Director for Cursillo. He was a very effective volunteer treasurer and independent examiner for many other organisations in the Borders as well as a friend, so I'm happy to come to say goodbye.
I stopped off in Melrose, it's not really on the way but I'm very fond of the town. I had a delicious sandwich in one of the wine bars on the Square. Coronation cheese with apple, Bombay Mix and mango chutney served with a small salad and some crisps. It was quite delicious if rather unexpectedly constructed. It was so hot at 1.30pm that I sat inside the restaurant rather than at the tables outside. I don't know how I'm going to cope with Malta in a few weeks, still at least there will be a pool there.
I drove on to Kelso arriving just after 3 and after checking in went for a wander around the town, which again is one I like. I was disappointed to see the Abbey still closed. I'm beginning to wonder what exactly I'm paying my membership to HES for, so many of their places are still closed for Health and Safety reasons. This dates from COVID days I think which was when they put almost a blanket closure on their sites.
The last part of the collage is one of these found book challenges. It looks like it's for children so I didn't take the book, just a photograph. I hope whoever finds it enjoys it and passes it on when they've finished it .
My hotel is one of the older Kelso ones, My room therefore has no AC although it does have a fan and an opening window. Hopefully I'll survive.