Same damp foggy calm weather no snow visible from window. Motored to Yair Farm, Nest + Fairnilee Cottages + caught the 11.19 at Gala, meeting Helen, Jack, Miss H Stewart [?] + Ed¹. There, Nancy + Louise having gone in by the early train ². Jack was lunching at the N.B. [North British Hotel] with Munro [?] : the others all went to lunch at Jenner’s + I walked up to the Castle + saw Jean + her sub., Miss Abbey [?]³. Jean walked down to Princes Street + at Vallance’s I got some chocs for Norah [Graham] (who birthday is tomorrow) + then to the Theatre Royal where Nancy had seats in the dress circle for Peter Pan which I did not enjoy as much as I expected. We had tea at the Station + came out by the 5.55. Jean met us at the Waverley [?] but Dora didn’t turn up⁴. Dav [Dr David Graham] had had a very busy day. Jack + Nancy stood H [Helen] & me all our expenses.

¹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter; John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), his son-in-law and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005

² Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter and her daughter Louisa Jane Roberts (1906-1982)

³ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter

⁴ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Fresh, dull + calm E not as foggy: ice entirely gone from streets + roads + mud reigns instead! Walked to Byethorn, Ettrick Terrace, Buccleuch Road, Bridge Street + on to the Nest + Fairnilee Cottages. Returning through Sunderland Hall to Dunsdale Cottages + Mavisbank. Didn’t get my tea till 4.20. + afterwards saw some cases in Backrow + May Douglas, Croft Terrace¹. Dundas called about his wife who expects in Sept². After dinner had to go across to Mrs Blake whose father was buried today³ + later still to Mrs Orr, Dovecot⁴.

¹ May or Mary Douglas was living at 8 Croft Terrace in 1911 Census and died 1932, her usual address given as 8 Croft Terrace

² Robert Duncan Dundas was born 3 September 1919, son of Jessie Dundas née Mackintosh and William Claxton Dundas, solicitor, at Edenhill, Selkirk

³ Mrs Blake, whose father was buried 21 February 1919, was Mercretta Blake née Murdoch, youngest daughter of George Murdoch, hall keeper at Victoria Halls, who died 17 February 1919, age 77; she had married Andrew Blake, 25 April 1912 in Newington

⁴ Mrs Orr, Dovecot, may have been either Betsy Orr, aged 65 or Elizabeth Orr, aged 61 and living at 9 and 11 Dovecot respectively [1911 Census], but the fact that Elizabeth Orr (widow of William Orr) died 1922, aged 75, may suggest hers is the more probable identity

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Rain above: slush below + fog all round combined to make this about the most miserable day of the whole winter. The only mitigating point was the absence of wind. I trudged down to Mavisbank, Curror Street + Goslaw Green. Then I drew money from the bank to pay the books + accounts amounting to £79:18:6. Drew £100 from M. & G. [Muir and Graham?] for myself which makes £225 in all while I have paid out about £136. In afternoon motored to Broadmeadows + Yarrowford. D [Dr David Graham] was at Old Mill Farm, Ravensheugh, Yair, Nest + on to St Boswells returning by Longmoss + Shawmount¹.

¹ Assume this is Langmoss as shown on the Ordnance Survey 6 inch Roxburghshire Sheet XIII, published 1863; approximate grid reference NGR NT498,290 and at the west end of what is now the Lindean Reservoir. Dr Muir has walked back from St Boswells along paths over Lindean Moor

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Calm dull day: some frost. Snow fell heavily from between 3 + 4. I was able to cycle in the morning however (the first time since Jan 27) first to Mavisbank + Elmrow + then to Fairnilee + Yair returning by Hospital. Was called in to Ormiston the farmer at Yair to see a boy¹. Dav [Dr David Graham] was at Briarbank, Ashkirktown, Whitehillbrae, Yarrowford, Deuchar Mill, Old Mill Farm + Ravensheugh². Helen had supper with Agnes Durnford who is living all alone at Elmpark³.

¹ Samuel Ormiston (or Ormston) junior of Yairbridge (farm and house), Hen Row (houses) and Garden House (house), all Caddonfoot, 1919 VR. Samuel Ormston, farmer, of Yair Farm, Caddonfoot, son of Samuel Ormston and Margaret Ormston née Stirling had married Bessie Kennedy of Nookhaugh, Ashkirk, 17 December 1910 at Ashkirk. Samuel Ormston junior was born January 1881 at Easter Ulston, Jedburgh, though his parents had married at Ashkirk. The married couple do not appear to have had children by 1919, if at all, so the boy referred to is presumably the child of a farm employee

² Ashkirktown, Ashkirk, NT470216; Whitehillbrae, NT403244; Deuchar Mill, Yarrow, NT365277; Old Mill Farm, Selkirk, NT448277 and Ravensheugh, Selkirk, NT455287

³ Agnes Watson Harper (1888-1976), daughter of Ebenezer Erskine Harper, Sheriff Substitute of Selkirkshire, and Agnes Harper née Watson, later Mackintosh; she had married, 2 July 1918, Mayfield United Free Church, Newington, Edinburgh, Major Norman Stanley M Durnford (1889-1965), Army Service Corps, of Stoke Bishop, Bristol

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

A better day. Frosty: sunny wind round to W + S.W. Snow snow slowly disappearing in the sun. Letter from Dora [Muir] announcing her engagement to a Dr Pilot [?] who was one of the M.O.s [Medical Officers] on the Western Australia¹. It was a great surprise. He came from Southampton to Craigleith to see her. I cannot find his name in the Medicine Reports. I motored to Mauldsheugh + then to the Nest, Yair, Newarkburn, Broadmeadow + Mountbengerhope. Did not get tea till 4 + then walked to Backrow, Mavisbank + Dunreay. D [Dr David Graham] was at Ashkirktown.

¹ Dora had set off from Copenhagen in late January on S.S. Western Australia en route for Cherbourg, but was diverted to Southampton. See diary entries for 24 and 25 January 1919

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

A little East wind today after weeks of calm weather. Disagreeable [?] raw cold day with a little sleet in the morning. A lot of the snow on the low ground gone. Baptie back to work today¹. After seeing town cases he drove me to Yair + Greenhead + then + after tea I went to Comely Bank, Mill Street, Briarbank + Dovecot. Dav [Dr David Graham] was at Whitehillbrae, Whitehillshiel, Kirkhope, Hawkshaw² + got a message, luckily near Ettrick Shaws, to go to Boyd, Shaws Farm³. Helen + Nancy⁴ were at the Picture House collecting for Blind soldiers. Murdoch, Victoria Hall, died⁵.

¹ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver for Dr Muir; his son died in distressing circumstances in 1918 and Thomas himself was ill thereafter

² Whitehillbrae, NT403244; Whitehillshiel, NT363189; Kirkhope, NT380237 and [?] Hawkshaw, NT075225

³ Shaws, visible on the Ordnance Survey 6 inch Selkirkshire Sheet XV.SW, published 1900, and now identified as Ettrickshaws Farm, is at grid reference NGR NT380207 but not to confused with Ettrickshaws Lodge

⁴ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), one of the Wellwooders, and Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s second and third daughters

⁵ George Murdoch (about 1842-1919), hall keeper, previously police constable, of Victoria Hall, Scott’s Place, Selkirk; Dr Muir’s diary has tracked his decline since 1918

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Snowing heavily but calmly this morning. It cleared by 10 + the streets were very slushy. No frost but poor thaw. Gave Chlor[oform] for D [Dr David Graham] to operate on Agnes Thornton for appendicitis + Mitchell, Blacksmith for a scrotal abscess. Walked round by Dunsdale + Hospital &c. Went to evening service. Supped Wellwood. D [Dr David Graham] was at Barrie, Newarkburn + Goodfellow [?], Broadmeadows.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Still calm: another slight sprinkling of snow: dull foggy, slight drizzle. Very disagreeable. Was not in County. Saw 14 town cases walking. Went to meeting in County Buildings re War Memorial. Lot of people both Burgh + County. Resolved that Town + County councils should appoint a committee. D [Dr David Graham] at N Synton.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Slight fresh sprinkling of fine snow: dull foggy. Frost holding but slightly + roads softened considerably. Thinking the roads would not be good for cycling I walked after seeing Murdoch [Victoria Hall] to Mrs Robert Johnston[e] to Harehead Cottage, Broadmeadows Cottage, (Goodfellow) + Bowhill Lodge returning via Duchess Walk, Thirladean + Philiphaugh Mill. Enjoyed the walk + my tea at 3.45. I went out after + saw The Reverend [Mr] Mellin, Mr Andrew Brown + Agnes Thomson. Helen + Agnes Durnford had a walk to Bowhill¹.

¹ Agnes Watson Durnford née Harper (1888-1976), daughter of Ebenezer Erskine Harper, Sheriff Substitute of Selkirkshire and Agnes Harper née Watson, later Mackintosh

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Freezing again making the roads very icy. Had some indigestion last night. An easy day. Message to see a maid at Yair which D [Dr David Graham] did on his way to Newtown (Pension Board) via Boleside. I was at Byethorn, M. Park, Forest Lodge (the old F. C. Manse) seeing Martin, Forest Mill + Dunsdale. Saw Baptie who is much better. Took him some more books. Helen [Muir] at Jedburgh at the dressmaker. Nancy [Roberts née Muir] with her. Got a lot done at books [accounts] &c. Wrote report for the L.G.B. (to whom McIntyre has complained) as the circumstances in which I placed the lad Irvine from Clarklands in the female ward. Wrote Dora [Muir] on her birthday.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]