Sunday 13th August 1972

I went down to train at Meadowbank which was okay but Paul was away so I didn’t hang about in the afternoon. In the evening I enjoyed a good Peter Sellers film - what a character he is. 

Late on there was a few of us out smoking. Paul’s back and came up to see me. What a brilliant laugh we had; in the early hours of the morning we splattered Dougie’s van with half a dozen eggs. I’m not quite sure what brought that on; in some ways we’re a bad influence on each other as well as a good one. We were on red alert as Dougie’s bedroom and balcony is directly above where he parks the car. We’re going to get up early to watch his reaction from the kitchen window.

Saturday 12th August 1972

Stephen Westbrooke 2/6 Oxgangs Avenue out in the back green with Sparky

Aye we’ve got the bike bug! Today a group of us went out for another long cycle run but took a different route this time. Boo-Boo; Iain and Fons were along this time. It’s pretty great fun being out ‘n about exploring. It’s like the world’s your oyster and with our own transport we can just go as we please. It’s just a great way to spend a Saturday out with your pals with plenty of laughs too. After tea Nana; Gaga; and Aunt Heather dropped by - it’s always lovely to see them. Paul Forbes is staying overnight which is great; he likes coming up and we love having him with us as he’s popular with the whole family. We were out playing and talking with others including Stevie Westbrooke until 1.00am in the morning. Happy days.

Thursday 3rd August 1972

I was out early doors with Douglas delivering milk. We’re in to a pretty good routine. It can’t be often where you have a job where your boss lives two floors above you with the company vehicle directly outside the front door of 6 Oxgangs Avenue. 

Paul and I went into town to Mackenzie’s Sportshop up at South Clerk Street; Paul bought himself a new pair of spikes and I bought myself an Adidas bag. It’s good that we’re able to treat ourselves from our hard earned money and not have to depend on others. 

We just travelled straight down to Meadowbank I quite enjoyed training tonight and I ran 11.8 seconds for 100 metres. Not bad. However something that was dead scary was Paul was peeing blood! Blimey I hope he’s okay! 

When I got back to Oxgangs Lesley Dibley (4/4 Oxgangs Avenue) was there. She’s quite good fun and Mum gets on well with her.

Monday 31st July 1972

It was just me out on the milk with Douglas so it was a slightly tougher shift - more like a job of work today. 

I think I’m back into the athletics groove again so Paul Forbes and I went down to Meadowbank late morning and did a wee bit training together by ourselves. At one o’clock we took the 44 bus down to Durham Road where Nana gave us a good dinner. 

I love the smell in Nana’s old greenhouse that comes from her growing her tomatoes; it’s a kind of musty smell but it takes me right back to being a wee boy. After relaxing in the back garden and looking in the greenhouse for a while we went back up to the stadium. We got back at a fairly early hour; Nana Gaga and Aunt Heather were here visiting us. After all of today’s exercise we went up to Rissi’s for some chips.

Woolies in Summer!

'Rita was sixteen years
Hazel eyes and chestnut hair She made the Woolworth counter shine...' Nanci Griffith

When we had some money we sometimes took a trip into Woolworths at the east end of Princes Street.

One reason for our visit was to buy some cheap gold crucifixes, a reaction to us watching too many Hammer Horror Dracula films!

Paul Forbes; Peter Hoffmann; Iain Hoffmann; and Boo-Boo Hanlon  at Woolworths circa 1971
(Ironically the only person 'not smoking' (Iain) is the one smoker today!)

When a wee group of us ventured in we had some brilliant fun and many laughs. 

Woolworths staff circa 1970/71 Photograph Janet Duff

There was a cafe within Woolies on the first floor where we would treat ourselves to a plate of chips and a drink. 

Afterwards we would see who could be the most daring by making up awful confections or cocktails from the array of condiments on the table; we would mix together a little salt, pepper, sugar and vinegar and knock it back! 

Afterwards a regular feature was to crowd into the photo-booth within the store for a photograph with much fun and hilarity as we all tried to squeeze in clambering over one another!

Paul Forbes, Peter Hoffmann, Iain Hoffmann and Boo-Boo Hanlon at Woolworths, 1971/72 - who would believe the 'two smokers' on the left would be running for Scotland at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in the 800 metres and 4x400 metres relay together at Edmonton, Canada!

PS Check out Nanci Griffith's rather lovely Love at the Five and Dime which references Woolworths and the journey through life from there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GK462XnRjQ

Wednesday 19th July 1972 Stobo Peebleshire

I went down to Stobo Village which is really just a tiny hamlet to the wee shop-come post office-come someone's house and bought five bottles of juice for us this morning.

Adjacent to our tent there’s a small still pool where we keep our submerged drinks cool and which we also use for bathing.

I felt slightly better this morning but it was turning into yet another cracking day.

Fiona stayed behind to look after the gear and potter around whilst Paul Forbes and I set off for the six miles to the lovely county town of Peebles.

We began walking there but it was dead hot and exhausting.

We stuck our thumbs out to a couple of passing vehicles but without any success.

Being a quiet country lane there was very little traffic on the road; of a sudden we heard a car in the distance. I immediately lay down in the middle of the road whilst Paul leapt frantically up and down and waved down an older charming English couple and told them rather dramatically that I'd fainted with the heat.

They kindly offered us a lift into town. Rather like Stanley Baxter in The Fast Lady I of course made an immediate recovery and we were soon chatting happily with them on the drive into town!

We had an enjoyable day in Peebles, a bit similar to Monday.

When I got back I gathered in some firewood from across the river in the small woodland before going for a brilliant dip and swim in the River Tweed.

After supper we sat round the campfire playing cards and having a good laugh. The bus driver on the Peebles to Glasgow run has just flashed his lights at us and given us a toot of the horn and a friendly wave.

Saturday 15th July 1972 Stobo Peebleshire

I got £7.30 for my pay which gave me plenty of money to buy in provisions for our camping trip.

St Cuthbert's Co-op Photograph SPL

Paul Forbes and I went down to the Store (Oxgangs St Cuthbert's Co-op) and bought in lots of food plus he persuaded me to buy two large flagons of cider!

We set off for Stobo at 7pm. There was five of us - Alison and Fiona Blades (6/6 Oxgangs Avenue); Paul Forbes; Iain Hoffmann and me.We got a lift down there from Douglas Blades in his red Austin pick-up. 

Douglas's van can only seat two passengers in the cabin so Alison and Fiona sat inside with Paul, Iain and me in the back with all the camping gear and luggage. We were completely open and exposed to the elements but the weather was great. It was a good feeling sitting in the back of the pick-up with the rushing breeze blowing our hair back.

We felt cool, metaphorically and then literally, wynding through the open roads of the Borders. After we travelled through Penicuik we passed Leadburn Junction and made our way to Eddlestone where we turned right for the drive over the gentle Meldon Hills and then on through old Lyne Station, Stobo Castle, Stobo Kirk and the tiny hamlet of Stobo.

To keep sheltered from the wind we had to snuggle up together and kept as low down in the vehicle as possible. Fortunately we didn't come across any policemen en-route, as they might well have stopped us if they'd seen us sitting in the back of an open vehicle.

Stobo Kirk James McIntosh Patrick

Stobo is a bonny spot in Peebleshire set amongst the beautiful Borders landscape. The farmer gave us the go ahead to camp in his field. After setting up the tent with a hand from Douglas we thereafter managed a swim in the River Tweed followed by a good supper washed down with cider which was a deadly combination! We were tipsy.

Paul had drunk too much and was sick. During the night he swore he’d seen a shooting star.

Sunday 9th July 1972

My brother Iain did the milk round again this morning. 

After breakfast Paul Forbes and I turned up at the Army Cadets Championships up at Redford Barracks cinders track. It’s the first time we’ve ever used the facility ‘officially’ i.e. without climbing in over the fence. Although I’m not sure how we were able to run as we don’t even know what an army cadet is, never mind being one, I managed to get a run in the 200 metres and then ran my first ever individual 400 metres and won them both. Meanwhile Paul ran in the 1500 metres and won that too. 

At teatime I went along to Charlotte Chapel; it was okay but unfortunately Moira Cameron wasn’t there so that took away some of the fun. However I got a lift home from one of the parishioners.

Moira Cameron

Monday 2nd July 1973

I went up to town from 45 Durham Road Portobello first thing, quite early on. 

With the birthday monies from Nana and Gaga I bought myself a new jumper and then headed out to Oxgangs to join the lucky schoolboys on holiday (I've got two days' holidays from working at Thomas Graham & Son Ltd. Balcarres Street). However only Iain was about; when I knocked on the door he was still asleep. 

Alongside Les Ramage we spent much of the day sitting out on the shed roof sun-bathing; halfway through Paul Forbes arrived from Broomhouse. 

Caerketton, Dave Hennicker

It’s always such a wee sun trap out the back of 6 Oxgangs Avenue as it faces south on to the Pentlands. 

We travelled down to Meadowbank to run a session before I came back to Oxgangs to stay the night. We had the gloves out and I was boxing with Iain.

Training: 300 metres (40.0 seconds); 2 x 200m (26 secs); 4 x 100m (11.9; 11.3 (p.b.); 11.7; 11.7)