Very windy wet day. Torrential blasts merging with sleet in afternoon + [?] the hills white. Motored to Hutlerburn, Helmburn, Thirlestane, Scaurneuk + Beechwood. Lady N. [Napier] had Asthma last night, returned by [illegible]. At Scaurneuk scraped papilloma on John Geddes’ hand1. He is 78 + his wife 66. Their daughter Grace, married a Mitchell2 [and living] in Philadelphia, is coming in Spring for a visit. Nelly3 is at home + an adopted grandchild Lilly [?]. Called for Mrs Mackintosh. She brought me 2 silk handkerchiefs from London.
1 John Geddes, shepherd, and Margaret Geddes née Graham lived at Scaurneuk Cottage, Yarrow
2 The Geddes’ daughter Grace Grey Geddes was born 1881 at Deuchar and married William ‘Willie’ Mitchell of Newburgh on 26 March 1913 at Scaurneuk
3 Assume Ellen Nichol ‘Nelly’ Geddes (1885-), though she appears to be known as Helen in the 1901 and 1911 Census returns
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]
