For more than seven decades I’ve enjoyed reading and writing. These two activities (peculiar to the human species) were very important aspects not only of my schooldays but also of my working career in the Scientific Civil Service. I retired from that in 1989. From 1990 to 2003 I was involved in encouraging people to buy and read books in the science and religion field.
Members of my family have had blogs for years but this is my first venture into the blogosphere. I fully expect that some of those who read this blog will disagree with things that I say. Differences of opinion are unavoidable because all of us have different viewpoints. Usually such differences are very small but some things are so uncertain that significant disagreements can rise. I want to say here that I do not claim that my opinion is better than anyone else’s. I know from experience that many of the opinions that I now hold were significantly different when I started to form them.
Update: I wrote the above in 2015, and stopped blogging in 2016. In 2024, encouraged by my younger daughter, Lorna, I revived this blog and published my first post in nearly 8 years. Now that I’m in my 90s, I no longer have the mental or physical energy required to write posts myself, but I am keen to continue engaging with the world around me. Lorna now acts as my ghost writer, and I offer my editorial input. As the saying goes, ‘team work makes the dream work’.
Bennet McInnes 
Hello Bennett and Lorna
Thought I’d send you a note to say G’day from Australia. Loved seeing the pictures and stories and visiting hotels especially in Scotland would be fun especially when they are as beautiful as Gleneagles.
Always grateful Bennett for how you and Elizabeth sent pop up cards every year with a gift for our kids to treat themselves for their birthday. We still have many of the cards as they are treasured by our kids as childhood memories .
95 and looking sartorially elegant – I don’t have that style at 60 so who knows what it will be like in 35 years should I be given such an age to live to.
Sending love and gratefulness for you both
John , Morag and family
Hello Winifred, I’ve only just found your message (nearly 4 years after you wrote it!). I’m very sorry not to have replied earlier. Which photo are you talking about? I do remember going to The Burn with Dick and final year physics students. Do you have the photo? Could you send it to me by email? Bennet (bennetmcinnes@fastmail.fm)
Dear Dr McInnes,
I work at Norfolk Record Office and would be very grateful if you were able to contact me in regard to sound recordings made in 1985 about your work on La Palma – a.gordonjones@norfolk.gov.uk.
Many thanks,
Alexandra Gordon-Jones
Interesting to see that, Bennet. I wonder if you can tell me who took this photo of you and other members of Physics4 at The Burn in, I think,1952.
Welcome to the world of blogging – I was so impressed by your first post that I rang my father who is just about to get himself internet access (he is 79). I have followed your daughters blog for several years and I reblogged her post about your sons disappearance. So welcome it will be interesting to see what further recollections you have.
Scott Marshall
Mornings are special times for me when the air is full of possibility as we start our days.