Diaries of my wife to be, Olive and myself of a trip to Lochearnhead on my motor scooter
in July, 1957
I have just recently come across them whilst rummaging through old cases. Reading them for the first time in 50 years amazes me just how fresh they are. No longer with me now, Olive`s input to this page reminds me all the more of how lucky I was to have her as my wife and pal. We had become engaged in April and this was the first time we had ever gone on holiday together. The above photos show us on the left during the trip in 1957. The other shows us after we returned from our last holiday together eight months before she departed.
If I can be excused, reading her diary makes me feel she has never gone from me. I read it in the present tense and not the past as you would expect. I cannot explain this feeling of her being with me again.
If I may, I would like to share them with you and possibly raise some long forgotten memories of your time when Bill Haley and a young Elvis were wowing us.
As well, I list some of our purchases and the prices we paid for them.
Friday 5th July, 1957.
Olive:
`At last I have just climbed into bed at 12mn after a tiring, long but pleasant day.
`I dragged myself out of bed at about 7am this morning, hurriedly finished off last minute ironing, etc., and tore out of the house wiith Margaret (poor soul, she was going to the office) to get a few necessary messages for the forth coming journey. I understood John was coming up to the house at 9.30am, but when I got to the end of the street there was he waiting for me, time about 9.20am.`
John:
`Got up at 8.10 and had my breakfast after getting washed and cleaned. Took the motor scooter (Daisy) for a gallon of petrol at 9.10. Cost, 5/- (£0.25p)
`Immediately afterwards went to collect Olive. Left Brighton Street at 10.40 after some difficulty getting the cases on the carrier. We then proceeded to Linlithgow.`
Olive:
`Well after a bit of dashing here, there and everywhere, between us we finally got all our luggage packed and at last we were ready!
`The next problem ---loading old `Daisy` with our gear - assortment of cases, macs, etc., but it turned out to be quite a simple problem really. What a palaver it was each time I had to mount and dismount. Poor John had to hold my bag, his jacket and my jacket and after I had somehow struggled onto the seat (very ungainly) he had to hand them over to me one at a time until everything was just so-so. `Ready?` he would ask. `Ready!` was my reply, and we were off.`
John:
`We arrived in Linlithgow where we stopped off for morning coffee. Time of arrival was 11.20. Time of departure was 12.10.
`We then made our way through Falkirk and onto Bannockburn where the inevitable happened, a puncture. We had been plagued with these ever since acquiring the scooter in April of this year.
`Time was 12.50. Got it mended at a garge and after washing my hands in the police station we departed once more at 1.25. We reached Stirling at 1.55 and took our dinner there. Left for Callendar at 2.50.`
Olive:
`Getting out of Edinburgh seemed to be the longest part of our journey, what with the traffic lights and the various hazzards of the city life which makes one very irritable when travelling on any kind of road transport.
`The sun was shining and we were in good spirits, so in no time at all it seemed, we reached our first stopping place, Linlithgow. We entered joyfully into a quaint little tearoom where we had morning coffee, delicious home baked shortbread and scones, and two cigarettes.
`Feeling really refreshed, we left there and bought a few newspapers, pen and cigarettes, and set off once more on Daisy.
From Linlithgow we travelled straight on into Stirling where we had a delicious lunch of egg mayonaise, tomato juice and coffee in another nice little restaurant.
`It wasn`t until after we had started eating that we realised we had parked Daisy almost under a `No Parking` sign. We certainly had visions of getting a parking ticket presented to us that day. (John: I forgot to mention that I was a learner driver but was displaying no `L` plates. I wasn`t allowed to carry a pillion passenger even if I had)
`However, there were several other cars parked there, so nothing hapened. The next stop was to be Callendar.`
John:
`We stopped off about 5 miles from Callendar for a sandwich, a smoke and a sun tan. We left after 30 minutes at 4.15 and supped a Kola in the Ben Ledi cafe. We took what we thought would be our final lap but again stopped, this time on the shore of Loch Lubnaig. About to leave there, Olive to her dismay found she had lost one of her gloves. Nothing else for it but to retrace our steps to the Ben Ledi cafe.
`Nothing there. Olive would have me report its loss to the local police station. Now 5.55, we set our course for our destination, Lochearnhead, first stopping off at the Loch again for a final search.
`At last our journey was over at 7.10 when we arrived at our destination.`
Olive:
`Our next stop would be Callendar. It was such a beautiful day that we decided it would be nice to give Daisy and also ourselves a rest. So about 5 miles out of Callendar we once again dismounted. It was just glorious basking in the hot sunshine. This time I covered my face and arms as best as I could.
`We ate our rolls, had a cigarette, and after an hour, we tore ourselves away and continued on our merry way.
`By the time we reached Callendar we were just gasping for something to drink so at a little cafe we had a glass of Kola
`Coming round the shores of Loch Lubnaig we decided to sit down by the waterside for a little while. John took off his shoes and socks and paddled around to cool his `tootsies`. On gathering our things together I discovered that I had lost one of my sheepskin mitts so that after searching around, we decided there was nothing else for it but to hop back to Callendar.`
`It was no use though but, as a last resort, we went to the local police station where I handed in my name and address.
`By this time we were beginning to feel a bit tired and weary, so we put on the speed again and made up our minds to go straight ahead to Lochearnhead.`
John:
`We booked in at the Auchraw Hotel at 7.15. After tidying up, we went down for dinner. Following this we took a walk along the Loch side where we saw some water ski-ing. Returning to the hotel we watched TV until 10.45 before retiring for the night. Time of writing 11.15. N.B. We have separate bedrooms. This is 1957.`
`Summary of the day. Very warm during the day and cooling off later in the evening. A very tiring but otherwise an eventful and enjoyable day.`
Olive:
`It was with mixed feelings that we reached the Auchraw Hotel. We expected only a small place, but instead it turned out to be just a little smaller than the Lochearnhead Hotel, although to our minds, nicer looking and more idealy situated.
`What a pair of tramps we felt when we got off Daisy. There was nothing else but cars lined up and I`m sure Daisy must have had an inferiority complex standing beside them.
`I was given a very nice little room, and after washing and changing completely, we went down to dinner which was really delicious. Afterwards we took a litle walk to explore our suroundings and spent some time watching the water ski-ing which looked exciting.
`On returning to the hotel we went into the lounge where we had a lager and lime, a cigarette and watched TV. At 10.30 I was really yawning, so I had a lovely hot bath and climbed into bed where I read the papers and started the diary.
`What a beautiful view I have from my bedroom window. The hills have a sort of mystic eerie beauty about them. It was glorious just to switch off my bedlight and lie back against the pillows. Sleep--------m,mm-----lovely!
`P.S. I forgot all about Daisy`s one and only naughtiness of the day. We had a puncture just as we were passing through Bannockburn. Needless to say, it was the same old original puncture which has given us so much trouble before.
`I plonked myself on the edge of a wall while John dismanttled the wheel and trotted off a short distance down the road to the nearest garage. For fixing a patch on, he was charged 3/- . Huh! John can usually do the same thing in about 20 minutes.
`While he was away, I concentrated on getting myself a little sustenance. Oh boy, the ice cream sure was good that John brought back with him.`
Saturday 6th July, 1957
John:
`Wakened at 8am. Got up at 8.30 and dressed and went along for Olive. We then breakfasted at 9.00 before heading down to the village Post Office where we bought postcards and morning newspapers. Returning to the hotel we took two deckchairs onto the verandah where we wrote our postcards and read the papers.
`We sat out until midday basking in the sun before going to our rooms to freshen up before leaving for Crieff at 12.30. as our money had practically run out and we didn`t want the embarrasment of not going in for lunch with the other guests.
`After we reached Crieff at 1.20., we parked the scooter and set about looking for a cheap lunch. We tried two cafes but they didn`t supply a menu card and we wanted to know the prices before hand.
`We at last settled on one that cost us 5/- each for the three course and coffee. That left me with 11/-. Olive wasn`t much better off. Still it filled a gap.`
Olive:
`I got up about 8.00am, dressed and was going to waken him as I had his watch when he appeared at my room. The gong went and we tripped down to breakfast which consisted of grapefruit juice, bacon, egg and tomato and loads of toast. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
`After breakfast, we took a walk down to the Post Office (usual country style) where we bought postcards and cigarettes. On returning to the hotel we pulled out some deckchairs onto the verandah and wrote our cards. We really fealt like a pair of millionaires sitting there.
`Just in front of us was the lawn with flowers on and around it and then a narrow breadth of road and beyond the great long panoramic stretch of Loch Earn. From where we sat we could also see the water ski-ing in action. It was so lovely just just sitting there with the sun beating down on us that we could hardly bear to get up and make ready for our tour of the day which we planned last night.
`Before setting off we thought that we would count up our money to see how we were placed financially. We got quite a bit of a shock after we had worked out all the necessary expenses we would have to pay. However, still feeling full of the ``joys of spring`` we climbed `aboard` once again.
`At first we travelled round the side of the Loch Earn for quite a while and then we found ourselves in really rugged, deserted
moorland kind of country with hill sheep and various other kind of wild animals the only inhabitants. We just prayed that Daisy wouldn`t let us down, but she was a good girl and ploughed steadily on her way. Her putt-putt-putt accompanied our singing of `our song` True Love. Not quite Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly but still in our own way beautiful and well meant.
`On arriving at Crieff after one or two stops on the way for a puff and a rest, we parked Daisy and scouted around looking for a decent restaurant where we could get a reasonable but comparatively inexpensive lunch.
`Alas, much to our dismay, after trying different places, we discovered that Crieff certainly seemed to cater for the ``high class tourists` as the cheapest three course lunch cost about 5/6d each, with a choice of three or less items on the menu.
`However we finally found a nice place where we had a lunch of tomato juice, beef olives and jelly and fruit with coffee to finish off for 5/-. Actually we grudged this also, but apart from the money we certainly enjoyed it.`
John:
`Our financial position was reassessed. There was only one thing for it. This was to make do with makeshift meals until breakfast tomorrow and so on until the following days breakfast where we hoped that we could maybe muster enough cash out of our petrol allowance for somthing substantial until we reached home.
`Oh for another £1 at least.
`We were still enjoying ourselves none the less and we did learn a lesson or two, and that was the value of money.
`So we went about and bought ours rations. 1lb of apples (4), 4 oranges, 4 packets of crisps and 3 packets of Refreshers. Up to now we have 2 apples, 3 oranges, 2 packets of crisps and 1 packet of Refreshers left. I forgot to say we bought 2 Crunchies as well, but they are also gone. Now we were on the next lap, up through the Sma` Glen with mountains towering over us on both sides to Aberfeldy.
`It was a very desolate area. We stopped occasionally for a cigarette and to let the engine cool down.
`Reaching Aberfeldy, we just continued on through it towards Killin along the north shore of Loch Tay. All the time the weather was marvellous, the sun beating down on us. We stopped a little way on route by the side of the River Lyon to take an apple, 1/2 an orange and a packet of crisps each to keep us going.
`Reaching Killin, we stopped there and couldn`t resist a cup of coffee and a biscuit as we wanted to pass the time so as to miss the dinner call at the hotel. Leaving Killin at 7.45, we headed down Glen Ogle for Lochearnhead 7 miles away but had to stop to put our macs on for the rain.
`Got back to the hotel at 8.20 and immediately went to our rooms to freshen up. I then went along to Olive`s and here had an orange drink from the mixture she had brought with her as well as a penguin biscuit.
`After this, we went out for a walk as the rain had stopped before we returned at 10.30. when we said goodnight. I had a bath and then got into bed to write this. So ends another day. Roll on breakfast. Summary, still scrimping but enjoying everything.
Olive:
`The money side of matters was certainly beginning to look grim now, so we resolved that we would just have to buy stuff for eating and make our own meals, eked out with a cup of coffee or two in between to keep us going.
`We were certainly beginning to learn the value of money now, so we took Jimmy`s (Margarets boyfriend) advice and started on a serious budgeting campaign.
`We finally bought 1lb of apples. 4 oranges (41/2d ones not 5d as we had planned to get. Four packets of potato crisps and two Crunchies. This we intended to do as meals until Sunday night. Ho,Ho,Ho!
`On our way back (circular tour) we decided it was time to stop for `dinner` at the side of the River Lyon at 5.45. There in the shade of some trees we dined on potato crisps, half an orange and an apple. (If this is dinner we`ve had it!) We also lit a lovely warm fire which we appreciated as it was beginning to get a bit chilly.
`We were just beginning to know what it was like to feel really hungry, but we decided that we had better not arrive back at the Auchraw until after dinner was over as the other guests would begin to wonder why we weren`t going down to `eat`.
`On reaching Killin we decided that we would be better with a little hot fluid inside of us, so we dined on a cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit. Thus feeling more satisfied, we made off on the last lap of 7 miles. This time we found that it was very steep climbing, but we weren`t on the bike for very long before we fealt the pit pat of something wet--rain!
`On with the macs! As if this wasn`t enough. we realised to our horror Daisy was making no more than 20 mph, but after a short time she miraculously came to life and we roared homewards after this.
`After a wash and brush up in my room, we went out for a short walk about 10.00. We discovered that the water ski-ing was still going on even although it was now almost dark. It was exciting watching the red lights of the motor boats whizzing along at a terrific speed followed at some distance by the silhouettes of the skiers .
`We stood on the small private pier of the Auchraw and watched from there. One of the skiers had a nasty accident just in front of where we were standing, and when he finally came out of the water onto our pier, we discovered that he had a nasty gash just above his right eye. (Just one of the perils of the sport I suppose).
Sleep was beginning to get the better of both of us. so after another happy if at times worrying day I clamboured into my bed feeling very contented.
Sunday 7th July, 1957
John:
`I wakened up this morning to the sound of rain falling amongst the tree outside my window and thought now we`re in for a day of it as we had had glorious weather to date.
`Not having my watch as Olive took it so that she would waken me in case I slept in. I had no idea of the time and as there was quite a few people moving about, I hurriedly got up, washed and dressed and made a bee line for Olive`s room. Knocking on the door I heard a sleepy `Yes` and not wanting to shout out, I knocked again until the door opened and a tousled head appeared from behind it. `What`s the time/`, I asked, `It`s just quarter past eight,` I got from her. Jings I could have had another half hour in my bed.
`I took myself down to the lounge until 8.45 then went up again to her room where she was putting on her war paint. I went over to her dressing table and watched in the mirror as she applied the finishing touches. She kept telling me not to kep watching her as she kept laughing which in turn made her job decidedly more difficult.
`At last all was ready and and we trooped down for breakfast which again we thorughly enjoyed. A nice change from fruit and crisps.
`Later we put on our macs and walked up to the Post Office for some papers but we had to go to the Generaal Store for them Arriving back at the hotel, we sat on the verandah and digested the news and such like and then I wrote a letter to Ma and Dad.
`I then asked about getting a packed lunch as we intended to picnic somewhere. We were greatly accommodated at 2/- apiece. We had six sandwiches of boiled ham and three pieces of cake. I then asked about using the hotels boat. Again, yes!
`We went down to the private pier and set out across the Loch. The weather by this time had faired up although it was still very cloudy. I took the oars first and then Olive offered to take one. In a zig zag fashion we gradually left the hotel behind us as we made for the far shore about a mile away. All this time the water ski-ing was going on round about us, and did we feel real shaky as they careered back and forth about us.
`We almost died of fright as one daring lot came straight for us, the boat passing us on our starboard as the skier, lifting his tow rope head high, passed us on our port side.
`I ducked right into the botttom of the boat with Olive doing likewise. What fools, I thought of them. Supposing I had pushed down on the oars and lifted them clean out of the water. Then he could have been in trouble, in water, aye, hot water with the rope wrapped round them.`
Olive:
`The second last day of our holiday is here, but alas it is pouring with rain. This did not spoil the lovely surroundings in any way, however, and in fact the view from the many dining room windows was really picturesque. The mist just swirling over the top of the mountains lended a slight haze over the countryside.
`After another delicious breakfast, (it was awful restraining ourselves from eating the two remaining pieces of toast in the rack) we went outside onto the covered verandah and settled down to read the Sunday newspapers which we had previously bought out of the wee newsagent-cum-house shop.
`Although it was still raining steadily, it was really quite pleasant sitting on the verandah as it was still fairly warm and the water skiers were once again busy on the Loch.
`The sight of the Loch gave us an inspiration to go out on the hotel`s private rowing boat. John went in and enquired about a packed lunch which we discovered to our relief cost only 2/- each.
`Down onto the pier we went and while I waited, John went back to the Auchraw to collect the oars and the rowlocks. I began to have qualms inside of me when I looked at the deep water and also at the three motor boats whizzing up and down the Loch. Bear this in mind I could not swim.
`However, undaunted, in we climbed and John took both the oars at first but then after a wee while I thought that I would like to have a go. I am sorry to say that I wasn`t a very good oarswoman, so I was soon leaving the management of the boat entirely to John again.
`It was really quite pleasant once we got into the middle of the Loch, but oh! how far away the other side where we were heading for seemed to be. What made it worse was it seemed to be we were right in the paths of the motor boats and skiers and it was really quite a frightening exerience every time we saw them approaching.
`The biggest fright of our lives happened though when we saw a skier and boat heading toards us. We both thought that naturally they would steer clear away from us but instead just a few yards away from us, the boat went on one side of us and the skier the other. Their guiding line passed right over our heads.
`We both made a quick duck. Boy! ----did we get a fright! The skier obviously thought it a great joke for he was laughing his head off, but to us we thought that at that moment our stay on this planet was over.
`At last we drew into a litle cove sheltered by the trees and aided by John, managed to scramble overboard onto Terra Firma once more.``
John:
`Eventually we reached the far shore and stepping out of the boat onto some slippery stones, I pulled her (the boat I should point out) onto the shingle and made fast. I then helped Olive out and we started ploughing our way through the trees to another little clearing by the water`s edge. Here we rigged up a little shelter with the aid of some low branches and Olive`s mac in case of rain.
`Sitting ourselves down on my mac, we then took half of our provisions plus an orange between us and sat twiddling our thumbs for the next couple of hours. The time when we landed was 2.00. We were being entertained by some trout jumping clear of the water to catch some unwary flies fluttering above the surface. If only we had a line.
`About 3.45 we started to wind our way back to the boat and clambered aboard. I started to push off with one oar but to no avail. Only one thing for it, off with the shoes and socks and up with the trouser legs, and over the side and push.
`At last I got the boat underway and with a mad scramble got aboard. I began to negotiate the boat between the rocks in the shallows and was soon into the deeper waters.
`We made the far side by 4.10 but it was a bit tricky coming alongsde the mooring jetty. Reaching the hotel once more, I returned the rowing accoutrements before both of us headed for Olive`s room. We read the newspapers and took an apple and a packet of crisps each.
Olive:
`The grass was very wet but we settled down on John`s mac under a tree with my mac serving as a makeshift roof.
`Now for food! We were starving, so we ate three 3 boiled ham sandwiches, two pieces of cake and half an orange each. We were tempted to eat the rest of our picnic lunch , but knew that that would have to serve us for our dinner at night. What a thought!
`At 3.45 we made our way over to the boat, but we were both a bit jittery about the knees at the thought of the return journey. This turned out to be not as bad after all, although once again poor``Jean`` had to take the oars most of the way. It was quite embarrassing though as we drew near the pier as the place was crowded with people watching the water ski-ing.
`At last we were ashore again and we headed into the Auchraw and straight upstairs to my room about 4.20. We counted our money again, but decided that we just didn`t have enough even to cover the price of two dinners at the hotel.
`By this time I fealt sleepy, so while John went to his room to wash and change, I lay on the top of my bed and dozed for 30 minutes. On waking up I discovered that it was bucketing down with rain and five minutes later John appeared at 6.50.
`Now all our hopes of sneaking out on Daisy and hopping off to some quiet spot to eat the remainder of our dinner while the other guests were in the dining room gorging themselves, were dashed to the ground.
`There was nothing else to do but stay in hiding in my room and eat the food, so we feasted on the remaining three boiled ham sandwiches, 1/2 packet of potato crisps and half an orange.
`Really by this time we were both a bit fed up and really starving, so to cheer ourselves up, we completely changed and went for a short walk up the road past the Lochearnhead Hotel where John inquired if we could have some coffee but they were too busy. So that was that.
`Once `home again` I changed my shoes and we trooped down to the lounge where we watched TV. We got a lovely tray set out with tea and biscuits and feeling once again like any other of the hotel guests, we sat and supped our tea and munched our biscuits very genteely (or so we thought, anyway). Believe you me, but tea and biscuits have never tasted so grand as they did then.`
John:
`I then went down to my room to get changed as we were going to go for a walk but I had no sooner got ready than the rain started to stream down again. That was that. So going back to Olive`s, we sat there wondering what to do as we hadn`t the money to go down for dinner. All that we could think of was to remain there until dinner was over then go out if the rain stopped.
`It did at 8.30 so we took ourselves along the road towards Glen Ogle and turned about after a quarter of a mile or so . Arriving back once more, I made enquiries about some tea and biscuits which we eventually got and took them into the lounge and watched TV.
`Gradually time wore on until there was only one couple left apart from ourselves in the room. We got talking with them. They were a middle aged man and wife who came from Portobello by the name of Barrie.
`We sat there chatting until after midnight as we didn`t notice the time passing at all. Eventually we bade them good night and we both retired for the night feeling that we were just beginning to really enjoy ourselves. I suppose it is the way of life, getting to know people just when we would have to leave the following day.
Summary of the day: After getting breakfast, we took a tally of our monetary situation, and to our dismay we could only muster 10/- between us, including what was left in the petrol fund after putting aside the price of a gallon to see us home. We tried not to let it get us down but it was a worrying thought and we did feel hungry as he day wore on. But after that tea in the evening and talking with Mr and Mrs Barrie, it certainly perked us up.
Olive:
`One by one the other guests departed the lounge until there was only us and another middle aged couple left. We started making conversation and we learnt that they came from Portobello way. I think their name was Barrie. They are exceptionally nice, free and easy couple and we sat blethering until after midnight.
`As it was so late I didn`t bother taking a bath but went straight to bed. I was just getting on with the diary when a pat, pat, pat flutter against the window and a huge moth appeared in the room. It zoomed this way and that, so in one movement I flung down this book and ducked my head under the bed clothes.
`After what seemed like ages I summoned up enough courage to take a timid peek and saw the `monster` on the carpet. Quivering at the knees, I dropped my writing case on top of it. and that was the end of another of God`s tiny creatures.
`I was just going to hop into bed when in horror I saw an enormous spider crawling along the top of my door, so without further ado, I switched off the light and was soon into the `land of nod`.
Monday 8th July, 1957
John:
`I slept in this morning as Olive had to waken me up at 8.55. I jumped out of bed and washed right away and as I was putting on my shirt, Mr Barrie came up and knocked at the door to enquire if I was ready as Olive waiting in the dining room for me.
`I got down there at 9.10 and enjoyed my breakfaast of porridge, bacon, egg and sausage and a cup of tea and toast. Boh of us then went back to our rooms to start packing up for the haul back home. An unusual but quite exciting holiday break in Lochearnhead was almost to be brought to an end just as we were beginning to get in the way of it all.
`Consolation, we`ve still got Gifford to come next week. (Going on a camping holiday with Margaret and Jimmy Manson)
`So on our merry way, we set off at 11.20. Only two miles or so out, Daisy began to get a little bit temperamental again as she was not pulling. Getting off I took out the spark plug and gave it a bit of a clean then we both had a cigarette and continued onwards. Alas she was still not co-operating fully. With a little bit of coaxing we managed to get her to the top of the brae. Once she started downhill, she picked up and we carried on at 35mph with something to spare.
`In no time at all we entered Callendar once more and made immediately for the Ben Ledi cafe. By the way the hotel bill was 6/- cheaper than expected so that was a gift from Heaven. We had a cup of coffee and a cigarette and then went shopping for our lunch.
`We bought one pie, one sausage roll, two packets of the usual Refreshers, four packets of Polo mints and one Crunchie. Stopping of near a grass verge, Olive came across a dozen grouse chicks. As she approached them subconsciously, the parent grouse fluttered up and started to call out. This alarmed Olive and she in turn shrieked out.
`This attracted the attention of two boy cyclists to her side wondering what was wrong wih her. The chicks by this time had scattered and I was further down the road. I rejoined her and she told me about the episode. We looked around and found two chicks. Olive lifted one and cuddled it. Replacing it in the grass we went further down the road to eat our lunch.
`The money situation? We had 2/10d for petrol and 2 1/2d for coffee and a biscuit in Stirling which we reached at 4.05.
`Parking the bike in a side street we went in search of a cafe. We ended up in a milk bar where we bought coffee and a small Kit Kat each. Price 1/7d. We had exactly 6/1/2d left and Olive took one penny of this. Couldn``t she have waited for the shelter of some trees? I got half a gallon of petrol which was 2d cheaper that I expected. Now have 7 1/2d. We stood ourselve a treat and bought ourselves a bar of sandwich toffee,
`So on and on we went through Bannockburn where we turned off towards Grangemouth and carried onto Bo`ness. We stopped at the other side of the road for a smoke and to eat the crisps we had left. We also started on the toffee which was very enjoyable.
`Our route now took us through South Queensferry and up through into Barnton and into the City.
`We eventually arrived at Brighton Street at 6.55. Dropping Olive off, I then proceeded down the Bridges into Leith.
`An enjoyable weekend, we certainly learned a few lessons on budgeting and rationing.`
Dec 2007
The following are some of the provisions we bought back in 1957 with their cost and the equivalent value in todays. Bear in mind that everything is relevant.
Petrol 5l- per gallon (£0.25) Darning wool 8d (£0.04) Darning needle 1d (£0.005) Morning rolls 4 7d (£0.035)
Notebooks 2s 6d (£0.025) Apples 4s 1/6d (£0.075) Goosegogs 1/2 lb 1/3d (£0.075) Pen 1/- (£0.05)
10 Cigarettes 1/11d (£0.20)) Tin of Beans 1/- (£0.050 Chewing gum 2pkts 2d (£0.010) Dripping 1/2lb 6d (£0.030)
1957 1997
