Was knocked up at 12.10 for Ad. Scott’s wife, Yarrowfeus P.O.1 Ad. cycled down + said the roads were good so I cycled. Baptie2 had a lot of trouble lighting the lamp but I got away at 12.45 + near Broadmeadows Bridge the lamp went out. I had to dismount to cross the bridge it was so dark. Lit my lamp at Broadmeadows Lodge but it went out when I was fixing it3 so I had to ride on without a light as I had used up all my matches. It was intensely dark + rain coming the road was nearly invisible. I had to go very slowly which was fortunate as just at Deuchar brae I suddenly ran into a man, knocked him down and of course fell myself, neither of us were hurt + after apologising I went on, reaching Scott’s at 2.30. Mrs S. had a S. at 2.504 + I left for home about 4.20 in rain but with the wind behind me. Did not go to bed. Drove round town + to Haining + was not out after lunch which I had at 2 till I went up to Stark + Murray’s5 + bought an acetylene lamp. Had to go down to Raeburn ? At night + take [?] child of Walt. Tait’s to Hospital.6 He + I carried her between us. Nancy7 managed to sprain her ankle walking near the Pot Loch.8
I was at work from 9.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. There was very little more rain after the thunder plump in the morning + it was mild. Hounds were at Bowhill.
1 Margaret Scott née Anderson, wife of Adam Scott, blacksmith [see footnote 4].
2 Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.
3 The light was hardly on at all to judge from the distance between Broadmeadows Bridge and Broadmeadows Lodge which sits across from Bowhill North Lodge.
4 Frank George Scott, born 2 h 50 m 16 April 1904 at Yarrow Post Office, the son of Adam Scott, blacksmith, and Margaret Scott née Anderson. The parents had married 29 January 1892 at Dennet, Deeside, Aberdeenshire.
5 Stark & Murray, cycle mechanics and retailers in Selkirk.
6 Walter Tait, forester, was at Raeburn Meadow, Selkirk in 1904. It has not been straightforward to identify children of his. If the unclear word in the text reads ‘grand’ then the search is completely different. The Editor will update this page if things become clearer.
7 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948).
8 Pot Loch, Kirkhope, south of Ettrickshaws Farm, grid reference NT373,185.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 