Tuesday 8th August 1972 - Here Be Dragons!

I went down to Meadowbank to train. When I was there there was almost a fight. Crikey! Sometimes it seems you can’t go anywhere these days without having to look over your shoulder. 

One good thing about growing up in Oxgangs is it develops quite a good street sense so that you have your wits about you; it’s like we’ve got an insect’s antennae which alerts you to such things in advance - it’s like a self-protection instinct. Or as neatly summed up by Aunt Heather ‘Gang ginger!’ I remember our Boroughmuir history teacher Mr Robb telling us how on the old maps where it was the unexplored edge of the world it used to say ‘Here Be Dragons’; that’s how I sometimes feel when I venture out far from Oxgangs. 

On the running front I’ve picked up a bit of an injury so Gaga put a bandage on my leg and gave me a lift home to 6/2. Good night Retep.

Sunday 6th August 1972

It's maybe a Sunday but there’s still milk to do but the streets are pretty empty and quiet. I went down to Meadowbank and took part in the training. I’ve been a few times this week, almost more than in the previous few months combined. I think with seeing it on telly and with the Olympics coming up that that has something to do with it. 

Bob Langley

As there was no Paul Forbes I went down to Nana and Gaga’s for lunch and relaxed there all afternoon. I watched Bob Langley walking ‘The Pennine Way’ - I quite like him.  

After an early tea Gaga gave me a lift up to Charlotte Chapel which I always enjoy. 

I like the structure; it’s always interesting; it’s pitched at a pretty good level with some humour too; and the people who attend are really lovely. Afterwards the YPM went back to Liz’s for a drink of juice before coming home. A nice Sunday.

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.

Tuesday 3rd July 1973

Having stayed over at Oxgangs last night I had a nice long lie in bed until 10.05am. when Paul awoke the household; he'd cycled up from Broomhouse Place. Later on at lunchtime I went down to Waugh & Son, Butchers & Poulterers at Morningside to meet Gaga to get a lift back home to Porty. 

James Waugh: photograph SPL

I mucked about all afternoon. 

Later on he also ran me up to Meadowbank. I felt very tired so just took it very easy at training. I'm fed up too. A mix of feeling whacked but perhaps after the high of winning the Scottish Youth title I'm just coming back down to planet Earth. And not helped by it being the last day of my mini-break and returning tomorrow to the grind and toil of Thomas Graham & Son, Builders & Plumbers Merchants 51 Balcarres Street.

Training: 10 x 60 metres; very easy - I was feeling tired