Dear Marilyn, Weel done lassy, that's just the sort of thing, factual experiences of our roving ancestors. Yours must have been there early, an unassailable pedigree. Did I ever tell you my younger daughter Eileen's husband is from the similar strain to your big chap. Thomas ( he uses his middle name Ian) Peterson the V is descended from a Norwegian who came over for the timber trade which was big in this region due to coal mining. Three generations of them had the middle name LASHLIE which was dropped for my son-in-law and my grandson Thomas Peterson VI. It does not look particularly Scandinavian to me but it must be. Anyone heard this name LASHLIE before? I still chuckle at the image of your man with his knees up to his chin when flying to Iceland that time you told us about. Ian is like your Bernie, -- Tall. 6 feet four, (and a quarter) as Eileen always adds, (#}:0)) To get back to the subject, you know one of my pet themes is that the Armstrongs played a major part in the history of USA and Canada yet we hear so little of it. Even the John Armstrong who was blamed by the Monroe faction for the burning of the White House was part of it. Several Armstrong generals, some outlaws, (like the good old days in the Borders) <grin> and many others including lawmen, John Barclay Armstrong etc. And not forgetting our own Dennis on this List, the Cape Canaveral computer man. A thriving bunch are the American Armstrongs. Joe.