13 November 1923 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

A dull damp drizzling day. There had been a fall of sleet in the morning but it was fresh all day with a remarkable rise of temperature, the windows becoming dimmed with moisture outside. The barometer fell. I motored to Curror Street, Dunsdale, Buccleuch Road, Philiphaugh Cottages + then did a few walking. The Wellwood¹ car took Mrs Mack² + Wallace³ to St Abbs⁴ + Helen⁵ came home with them. Wrote Patrick⁶ + Douglas.⁷ Paid Feu duty +c. Barometer: 28.57

¹ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s daughter Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and her husband John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner.

² Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

³ Miss Jane Wallace (1874-), nurse to the Roberts children, Dr Muir’s grandchildren [see diary entries for 6 April 1915, 22 October 1916 and 7 April 1918 and 1911 Census].

⁴ The Roberts family routinely holidayed on the east coast, in Berwickshire or Northumberland. Other members of the family had travelled to St Abbs on 5 November.

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁶ Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902.

⁷ It is not immediately clear who Douglas was.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]