Message last night to see Mark Sprot1. Message also to Faldonside + Newarkburn. Motored to Riddell. Clarklands2 [sic] road awful. Mark Sprot has sharp attack of Bronchitis + his temp. last night was 102. Then I went down to Faldonside. Joyce + Ralph3 had been eating too much plum pudding. Mrs Dees better. Dees himself rather seedy4. After tea went to Oakwood, Newarkburn, Ettrickbank Mill, Beechwood Road + Beattie Johnston5, Glebe. Got a final [payment] from Brit. Oils. of £11 13 46. I have got altogether something like 8/2d in the £. David7 was at Bowhill seeing Lord William8. There was a little rain.
1 Mark Sprot (1881-1946), landowner and army officer, living at Middles, Lilliesleaf, 1920
2 Clerklands, Lilliesleaf, grid reference NGR NT503,247, Dr Muir is presumably referring to the road that runs up to Clerklands, via Greenhill, from opposite the Braw Yett on the A7
3 Edith Joyce Dees, later Beath (1908-1995) and Ralph Andrew Irwin Dees (1913-1988), two of the children of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson
4 Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson (1872-1948) and Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923), landed proprietor, formerly a marine engineer
5 Not identified
6 In December 1914 Dr Muir noted “Got a very disagreeable surprise in the form of a notice from the Liquidator of Brit Oil Producers that I may have to pay up the last of my share £100.” The unravelling of the finances of the British Isles Oil Producers Ltd took several years but Dr Muir noted an interim dividend of 6/- in the pound, on his investment of £200, in 1915 and another payment in 1916
7 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner
8 Lord William Walter Montagu Douglas Scott (1896-1958), son of John Charles Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch and Lady Margaret Alice Bridgeman
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 