gb0551ms-33-137

Transcription

[Page] 137
[continued from page 136]
whisky, appears to be a practice of the past; There is
an edifying absence of rowdyism. It is much
visited by touring charabancs, who come to see
the Abbey, and the fishing, which seems to have
improved much since my youth, attracts a
certain number of visitors. It is now
well provided with recreation grounds, for football,
lawn tennis, skating, golf etc. What a change
it is from my life in Edinburgh, where one had
no permanent links and did not much desire
them. Here we are in a pleasant motoring
distance and friends frequently come out to
see us and Mary motors in on her own
concerns once a week the journey taking
about 1½ hours.

24th. Aug 1954
Life rolls on very peacefully. Mary goes into Edinburgh
usually once a week [etc?] in and out by car, but I have to
stay for the rest of my life living peacefully at home
as my nervous condition, the result of a football
accident in my youth cannot tolerate the noise & bustle
of travel or town. I manage by the aid of car or bus
to go out from Melrose on frequent excursions. It
is a frequent expedition to take a bus at 2.35. to
Newstead from our wall end and walk home. Or I cross
the river and explore Gattonside, finding pleasure
in viewing the numerous cottage gardens which

are scattered over the hill side, bright with flowers.
There is a delightful lack of planning in the
layout of the cottages – Only in the more recent
erections do their sites seem to have been
determined with relation to one another. I am
not sorry to learn that owing to the inadequacy
of the water supply further building is to be stopped.