I was born at No - The MAN & Other Families

12and a great deal of my leisure was spent writing out these detestable verbs. I rememberbeing told to write out the verb “Je suis mechant”. Instead I wrote “Je ne suis pasmechant, tu est mechant". The punishment for that was having to write out the verb sixtimes.The first summer holidays while we lived at Thornville Terrace were spent atTighnabraich, a beautiful spot in the Kyles of Bute. We spent a great part of the timebathing and fishing. We hired a boat for the season and sometimes the whole family, withthe exception of the two youngest children (Denison and Wilfred) went out deep seafishing. We used to catch a lot of fish, cod, whiting, saith, laith, mackerel etc.I used to have to dive for mussels which we used for bait. That is to say I had to stand upto my neck in the water and stoop down under the water to get the mussels. We lived atthe Temperance Hotel on the water's edge. I, for one, certainly enjoyed that summer atTighnabraich.The following spring, Mary, Aggie, Denison and I caught scarlet fever and were isolatedat the top storey. When we recovered and were convalescent we all went to Innellan forthe summer holidays where we rented a little villa called "Woodlea". There was a ruinedcastle near our house which Aggie and I used to explore. We always liked Innellan andwe children were great chums of our cousins the Taylor children, who lived at "Lilybank".We used to bathe, boat and play croquet with them on their beautiful lawn andwent on expeditions with them blackberry and hazel nut picking.It was this year I think that Aunt Taylor took me to Inverary to see the arrival at InveraryCastle from their honey-moon of the Marquis of Lorne, heir of the Duke of Argyl, andPrincess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria (who died about a month ago, Nov. 1939.) Itwas a very wet and stormy day. We travelled in a Clyde paddle steamer the "DunonCastle" and had a very rough passage and were mostly all sea-sick. I, for one, was verysick. On arrival at Inverary we found the bay crowded with yachts gaily decorated withflags and as we threaded our way through the maze of boats we collided with and carriedaway the boom of a large yacht.The grounds were crowded with people who had come from far and near, including allthe numerous tenants of the Duke of Argyll; hundreds of highlanders in their kilts, andpipers galore. It rained steadily all day and all who could sought refuge in the numerousrefreshment tents and marquees which dotted the park. I remember feeling very cold andmiserable and towards the afternoon very hungry, but it was difficult to find a seat in therefreshment tents which were crowded. In one of the tents we ran up against WalterOrgan, beadle of St. Silas Church, who was one of the waiters employed on this occasion.He found us seats and food in the tent in which he was employed.Late in the afternoon word went round that the bridegroom and bride were approachingand everyone made a rush to get as near as possible to the door of the castle. We got apretty good place and presently amid the skirl of hundreds of pipes and the cheers of themultitude a landau and pair drove up and the bride and bridegroom got out and stood fora few minutes on the steps acknowledging the cheers.