Cold S.E. wind + leaden sky promising snow which came rather sleety + continued all forenoon but turned to rain, pretty heavy at times. Then the wind shifted to S.W. + it faired. At night it was calm. I walked round the town in forenoon. Dorothy Barrie1 had a temperature of 104o + Dav.2 detected pleurisy. She was rather better at night. Mrs Davidson3 got steadily worse. This was my 78th birthday. I got letters from Mary4, Guy5, Tim6 + Isa Paton7, who also sent me a book. Mrs Mack8 gave me 2 pair knicker stockings9 + a book about [illegible]. H.10 + D.11 each gave me sweets. Nancy + Jack12 came to dinner + we had some of Jack’s port.
1 This appears to be Christina Dorothy Barrie (1904-1994) who lived at Sundhope, Yarrow and had been in Viewfield Nursing home since January 1923.
2 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
3 Mary Laidlaw Davidson née Dalgleish (about 1862-1923), wife of John Davidson, shepherd, was at Viewfield Nursing Home, usual residence Braidgairhill, Ettrick.
4 Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-1933), Dr Muir’s sister, widow of James Wallace, living at Scotstoune, Haslemere, Surrey.
5 The Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother.
6 George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005), Dr Muir’s grandson, later a mill owner.
7 Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929), one of two sisters living on their own means [1901 Census].
8 Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.
9 The knicker stockings may well be those that Dr Muir wore with his cycling breeks.
10 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
11 Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter.
12 John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 