A Country House Visit, More Wartime Memories, and a new Woodland Walk.

LIFE:  21-27th May 2018

A Taste of the Grand Life!

Highlight of the week was a visit with the Earlston Women's Group  to the 18th century Mellerstain House,  approached down a long narrow straight road, through the gates into the parkland and the house.   Set amidst 100 acres, it is a grand Georgian mansion, that remains almost as it was when  Robert Adam  designed it over 240 years ago.

 

We had an excellent  tour from a very knowledgeable guide who also added plenty of quirky facts;  a walk in the beautiful landscaped ground and finished with a delicious afternoon tea.  

It took me back to my tourist board days when I visited there on a Fam. Trip (Familiarisation Visit).  I always felt I could move into Mellerstain - of course as a society lady, not as a scullery maid!   I would relax in the library with its magnificent Adam ceilings and friezes, and wake up in the spacious master bedroom in my four poster bed, looking out over the landscaped garden terraces and down to the loch. 

There were some  major drawback to life there though, there were no sanitary facilities until well  into the 19th century - and think of the staff having to carry water, chamber pots and coal  up and down all those stairs - on one short visit, they  took its toll on my arthritic knee!  Life wasn't quite as gracious as we like to think. 

It must have been quite an isolated life, living on the estate.  Although  it was part of Earlston parish, it is long, long walk to the village, unless you were lucky enough to get a lift there and back on a horse and cart.  The 1861 census  listed 130 people living in estate cottages, with occupations ranging from agricultural servants, ploughmen, poultry keeper, blacksmith and  gamekeepers, to joiners, millers,laundry maids, farm steward  and  schoolmaster. In  the 54 rooms of the big house lived George Baillie Hamilton and his wife ( Earl and Countess of Haddington) with with four servants. 

More World War Two Reminiscences  

More looking back on history, when I met with elderly resident R. to gather her childhood memories of the war for the next Auld Earlston Exhibition.  Her  father, was in a reserved occupation working for the local timber firm, but also volunteering in the Home Guard. R, recalled  him taking her into the garden at night to see the searchlights south of Edinburgh and his distress at what he witnessed at the site of the German bomber that crashed near Earlston in 1943, killing all the crew.   She had happy  memories of the Polish soldiers training in the village before D.Day - they held a Christmas party for the school children where they were given a Polish badge and a hand made toy.  

 

General Eisenhower arriving at Earlston Station to inspect the 

Polish Tanks in Earlston Square -
Note the two little boys giving them close inspection!

"It's always raining in Scotland" is a comment you often hear 

Well not this month, as the brilliant, dry, sunny weather continues.  Let's just hope this is not our summer! There have been blips - 72F on Monday, a chilly 52F on Tuesday. before the warmth returned mid afternoon Wednesday.  No wonder the weather is such a popular point of conversation. 

So no excuse not to do gardening - nor late spring cleaning, when we got the  carpets and three piece suite deep cleaned - cue to move what we could of the small furniture items into the kitchen, bathroom or back bedroom - and them move them back later. The day was enlivened by our carpet cleaner - a man from Tennesse with a very distinctive southern accent, who we enjoyed talking to.    He did a great job too, as the house looks so  much cleaner and fresher. 

Bluebells in a corner of the garden.

Woodland Walk
Our Thursday walk took us to Haughhead and the Leader Water, through a woodland path, new to many of us.

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Journal Jottings   
Recording my everyday life for future family historians  

Developed from the "Genea-Pourri" prompt  on Randy Seaver’s blog Genea-MusingsI I decided to change his title for my own version of this weekly online diary

Walks, Talks, Sunshine - and That Wedding.

LIFE: Two Weeks of Activity:  May 8th-19th  

A wonderful sunny, dry spell, with warm temperatures into the high 60's.  

 WALKS
The Walk it Group went to Tweedbank,   around the loch and down to the River Tweed   - one of my favourite walks, but I could not get my camera to work!  I had charged it earlier and kept checking  I had put the battery and card back in correctly. It was only when I got home, I discovered that the dial was still set at viewing my photos not taking new ones -  Ach!!  What a stupid mistake -but at at least it was not a camera fault.  

The next week off to Abbotsford House, near Melrose,  where they have done a lot of work over winter in creating way-marked paths, taking you through woods and down to the river.  

By the River Tweed

 

 Abbotsford House, home of writer Sir Walter Scott (1771 -1832)

A statue in the grounds - I have no idea who it is - but I like it.

Leafy Earlston Walks  -  it only seems 4-5 weeks ago that the trees were still quite  bare, but now they are in full bloom.

 

 Trees in Earlston Square

 

 Speedy's Path into Cowdenknowes Wood, Earlston

Leader Water at Earlston

MORE EXERCISE -  GARDENING 

The dry, sunny weather  has to mean gardening.  The local Horticultural Society held their annual plant sale in the Square, so I came home, (with husband's help) with geraniums, begonias and fuschia  - our favourite  plants  to add some colour to the shrubs. especially now the daffodils have faded.   So I planted, cut the grass, did the edgings and hoped it would rain overnight, to save me having to water the garden.  Given the way the state of the lawn after  the snows,  it is looking not too bad -  definitely -  not Wimbledon quality, but acceptable.  

For granddaughter after school,. it was the cue to make  a tent over the whirly clothes line, so it was a question of gathering any throws we would find to create this hideaway. Further cue for a picnic snack! 

MORE EXERCISE STILL - WITH "PILATES FOR SENIORS"

The official name now for our new exercise/movement class.  At the last session we walked tall, as we thought about our posture and deportment. So if you happened   to see any of us on the  High Street, we are the people with head up, eyes ahead, tummy tuckee in and bottom tucked under - as long as there were no uneven pavement slabs or potholes to catch us  out!   Not recommended if walking on stony paths with half hidden  tree roots underfoot, where I need to keep my eyes skinned to the ground. 

TALKS 

At the  Wednesday Club we had a talk by the local vet, followed by something a bit different - an intriguing quiz when he passed around ten items of equipment/tools of his trade, and invited us to guess what they were for. It helped if you watched all those supervet  programmes on TV.  

At the WI (Women's Institut) we were also on a country theme, with a talk on the Wild Life Centre which focuses on gathering information on sightings of wild animals, plant species,  etc.  across southern Scotland - to help environmentalists, and planning authorities. Not exactly my cup of tea, but there was no doubting  the enthusiasm of the speaker for his topic.  

We heard about one funny incident, where a member reported the sound of a cuckoo in her  garden  - but was puzzled  that it was not  the season for cuckoo calling.  She then realized that the sound had come from a neighbour's cuckoo clock - oops!  Much embarrassment. when she admitted her mistake!    

War Time Recollections   was the theme when I met with an elderly  Earlston resident to gather her memories of the Second World War - as part of the work for the Auld Earlston exhibition on "Earlston at War and Peace 1914-1949." A very enjoyable session as she recalled the Polish soldiers based in the  village  training for D Day, the Italian prisoners of war, and the VE Day celebration. Particularly vivid in her mind was the little evacuee girl  (whose name she still recalled|) who  had stolen her coloured chalks for writing on her slate.   ( I didn't realise they were still using slates in school at this time).

  

The Polish band playing for a dance in the Corn Exchange.

AND FINALLY - THE ROYAL WEDDING

I admit I like ceremony, pageantry, church music and military bands - so i had them all with the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.   After all the gossip,  and disharmony of the weeks running up to the event, the media went into patriotic overdrive to forget it all. But it was a wonderful two hours of TV broadcasting, and all the commentators seems to think it marked a seismic shift for the Royal family.  

Meghan's dress was beautiful, simple but  stylish;  her mother cut rather a lonely figure,  but was so dignified - I would have had my hanky out at the emotion of it all;  the little bridesmaids and page boys cute, the music wonderful,   and the American bishop who gave the sermon inspirational - you would never have got that from English/Scottish clergy who mostly  would send me nodding off to sleep.  And Windsor Castle looked magnificent in the sunshine. 

Wedding images courtesy of www.pixabay.com

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Journal Jottings   
Recording my everyday life for future family historians  
Developed from the "Genea-Pourri" prompt  on Randy Seaver’s blog Genea-Musings

I decided to change his title for my own version of this weekly online diary

 

A Scottish Heatwave to brighten a Typical Week’s Activities

LIFE: May 1st - 7th 2018

I have been all awry with my days this week, given  we travelled back from Perth on the Monday, so Tuesday seemed like a Monday, catching up with  house tasks etc.

Tuesday May 1st

Auld Earlston Meeting - the AGM the quickest ever, with everyone willing to stand again and no issues arising.  We confirmed details of the October Exhibition on the theme of “Earlston in War and Peace: 1914-1949” plus the  Slide Show where we will show old  cine film on the village taken  in the 30’s and 40’s - it should make an interesting two days and include material we have not shown  before.

 A Children's WWI Certificate issued to schoolchildren  

who had contributed to fund raising for the war effort.

 Wednesday May 2nd

Musical entertainment at the Wednesday Club  with Border Folk  - a group of accordion, concertina, mandolin and guitar - playing Scottish and Northumberland jigs, reels and songs.  Very enjoyable.   It is ages since I heard “Bobby Shaftoe”, “The Keel Row” and Blow the Wind Southerly”. 

It took me way back to my primary school days when once a week all classes gathered to sit on the floor in the hall to sing folk songs and patriotic songs.  My favourites the stirring Welsh “Men of Harlech” and then “Scotland the Brave”- never knowing that ten years later I would be living in Scotland!  We especially liked sea shanties and enjoyed swaying side to side as we  sang “ What Shall we Do with the Drunken Sailor”.   I doubt if children these days get to learn many of these.  At least in Scotland our granddaughter has learned at school  "Scotland the Brave", "Flower of Scotland" and "Highland Cathedral".

Thursday May 3rd
A lovely day which meant gardening. A short Mill Meadow walk, then home to cut the grass, do the edges and weed the flower beds - the result I was exhausted!  Still the garden looks much better and is colourful with the daffodils, camelias and Heather in full bloom.

    

Watched the latest Mary Berry cookery programme to find Britain’s Best Home Cook, that the BBC has been heavily promoting. I will reserve judgement on it as it seems to be cobbled from elements of “Bake Off”, “Masterchef” and “The Apprentice”.  Still way beyond my cooking talents as the contestants had to make a hamburger dish, a dish where nuts were the main ingredient and cook asparagus with a poached egg in hollandaise sauce.

Friday May 4th

A lazy day, after yesterday's gardening took  its toll.  Could not even be bothered to go on the computer.  Relaxed  in our little sun room, or out in the garden,  reading my library book and crocheting some squares for KAS (Knit-A-Square) charity.  Seems crazy working with wool on such a nice day, but I enjoy combining the colours and crocheting a square is much quicker than knitting one.

Saturday May 5th
The promised heatwave  for  this weekend has arrived!  Went out with my camera for a short walk along the river and Mill Meadow. Posted the results on the Bonny Border Views Facebook page that G. and I are enjoying, 

In the evening we watched a new DVD of Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Sorcerer" - one of their earliest operettas that is rarely performed, but great fun.  But I knew I would have going through my head all night the patter song"My name is John Wellington Wells, I'm a dealer in magic and spells". 

Sunday May 6th
A major sort out was  on the agenda for the day, given the dry forecast.  G. came round  to go through all her stuff stored in our garage, which meant carrying boxes onto onto the lawn, and then getting it back in better order. I kept her company by doing the same for the garden shed.  A good job done!   Then relaxed in the garden.  Very hot by our standards - it must at least  be around  70F/22C.

Monday 7th May

May Bank Holiday and another hot day. I weeded around the shrubs in the front garden and then called a halt to activity.  So a relaxing time in the garden and minimal time spent on meals.  It is all due to change tomorrow! 

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Blogging Boom
I still managed to write three articles, though two of them were adapted from earlier posts.

• The prompt for "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" was "Close Ups", so I contributed the profile on Edward Stewart Ingram Smith (my cousin's grandfather).  The many close up photographic portraits of him trace his life as  an artistic  looking young man to  a man broken by his world war one experiences - a poignant tale.
   
• The Sepia Saturday prompt photograph was of a 1920's happy seaside scene  - I had an ideal match, plus featured my own memories of a typical 1950's beach family holiday  a music hall song to set the scene - " I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside"
  
  
• Plus of course  - the previous week's Journal Jottings update. Frazzle, Frustration plus some Fun & a McGonagall Poem  

 Antiques Roadshow Catch Up 
It was way back in July 2017 when G. Nh and  and I had a great day at  BBC's Antiques Roadshow filming at Floors Castle, Kelso - and the programme has only just been broadcast.  We didn't appear, but it was a good episode with some interesting finds,  and a lovely advertisement for Floors.  

 

 Joining the long queue! 

With my granddaughter meeting the military expert with my collection of World War One memorabilia from my mother's family. 

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Journal Jottings   
Recording my everyday life for future family historians  

Developed from the "Genea-Pourri" prompt  on Randy Seaver’s blog Genea-Musings

I decided to change his title for my own version of this weekly online diary

Frazzle, Frustration, but also Fun + a McGonagall Poem

LIFE APRIL:  April 23rd-30th

Highs and Lows of Customer Service

At 8am I phoned  our Home Care Service provider  to report the problems we had with the electricity cutting out when we had the grill on  - strangely always at Sunday lunchtime when I was grilling bacon for sandwiches.  I was quickly given an appointment  and our usual friendly electrician was here by 9.30am to identify we needed a new element and he would be back Wednesday to fit it, but warned the fault it could happen again in the meantime .  I could not ask for better service than that!

Teatime and using the grill - it happened again, all electricity off,  N quickly sorted the trip meter.  But then we discovered we had lost  our Sky TV connection - we tried the usual attempts to disconnect, wait  and try again but it still did not respond.  

So a phone call to Sky Protect.   What a palaver,  trying to get through the endless automated messages,   menu options, the security questions, (there seemed to be a problem with my mother's maiden name - was I sure I had it right?);   being put on hold to loud music for a long time,  having difficulty with the advisor's accent.    Frazzle and Frustration -  I was a nervous wreck!  Yet at no time was I asked for our Sky Protect policy no, which i had to hand. Anyway I  eventually  got an engineer's visit arranged.  

Then guess what?  We tried the TV about 3 hours later and we got a fine picture.  so of course I had to gt through the whole rigmarole of the phone call again to cancel the engineer's appointment! 

On a happier note - there was news of the royal baby and we enjoyed the final of University Challenge on TV. 

    
Otherwise the usual weekly routine of domestic tasks, gardening - I got the grass cut, before some downpours,  went to the Monday movement class, Melrose Library,  and the Thursday walk around Mill Meadow. and prepared for going away on Friday. 

 Walking Around Mill Meadow.

A Weekend Break - in the "Fair City"  of Perth

We made great use of our free bus pass to travel to Perth where N. had a meeting followed by a formal meal.  I was not going to miss the chance of a weekend break away,  with  a good hotel,overlooking the River Tay, with an attentive young staff and lovely meals.  I ate too much, but took some walks along the river and made the most of being near High Street shops.  Apart from one torrential downpour, the weather was sunny and we even managed a picnic lunch (courtesy of Marks and Spencers), sitting by the river.

 Perth Bridge over the River Tay - the view from our hotel bedroom.

One of many little fun carvings along the the river bank. 

Another view of the Tay - at 117 miles, the longest river in Scotland 

Of course, I had to put my "tourism hat" on, so called into the local tourist information centre (now known as an "I" Centre) for a city map.  The assistant was very welcoming and friendly - in a uniform  new to me - a bright heather-pink long sleeved top and over it a shorter grey T shirt. 

 It  was only when the assistant tuned round  that I saw the message printed  on the back of the grey top - 

"i Know - Let Me Inspire You!"    

We had quite a laugh abut that slogan  and the comments it received from some wits.  I would  want to cover it up, if I was dashing out to the shops at lunchtime. .  

What a contrast to the staid formal uniform of my day - though I was proud of my Douglas tartan kilt, and it helped that then (late 1980's) kilts were a fashion item.   Plus  the fact  the staff  were generally  part-time, seasonal  and from an older age-range  - many of us would look like mutton dressed as lamb in today''s casual style - and no tartan in sight!

I am glad I worked  in earlier times in a uniform that made me feel smart and professional. 

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Coming to my mind during our stay,  was the poem by William McGonigall on the "Silvery Tay".

Beautiful silvery Tay,
With your landscapes, so lovely and gay,
Along each side of your waters, to Perth all the way;
No other river in the world has got scenery more fine,
Only I am told the beautiful Rhine,

William Topaz McGonagall, (1825-1902) was a  self-educated,  hand loom weaver of Irish descent, who became a poet and tragedian of Dundee, penning over 200 poems. But his fame rested on hm being  widely hailed as writer of the worst poetry in the English language.  The verse above is typical of his style! 

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Journal Jottings   
Recording my everyday life for future family historians  

Developed from the "Genea-Pourri" prompt  on Randy Seaver’s blog Genea-Musings

I decided to change his title for my own version of this weekly online diary