Swanston Pig Farm

In the early to mid-1960s a party of us would leave our Oxgangs Avenue base and head up to the Pentland Hills each summer. 

On a hot day and with our wee legs Swanston Road always seemed a long, long road. A few of the older boys had bicycles and would journey back and forward giving some of us backies i.e. we sat on the leather seat whilst the rider danced on the pedals. We were dropped off just before the old pig farm which is now converted into holiday cottages and office space. 

Because of the smell we all turned up our noses as we passed the farm. But sometimes there was a little excitement if one of the farm dogs which wandered around the farmyard caught our scent and began barking and come chasing after us. 

The barking was actually the worst part as the farmyard always seemed very quiet and opur primary concern was that the noise might attract the attention of the farmer. 

Back in the day knowledge came slowly and we were never quite sure if we were allowed on this quiet country lane.

Thursday 6th July 1972

I was out early doors doing the milk run with Douglas. After breakfast Paul and I went into town to Stuart House, Semple Street now that we’re officially working to see about getting insurance cards. The boss told us how to do it. Once more we were across the Forth Bridge; this time I got a sensational 24 customers and Paul got eight - not bad. As I was the top salesman from either van out of the two dozen of us I was given a ten bob bonus by the boss. I was pretty happy coming home to Oxgangs. What with my milk job I’m quite rich!

Wednesday 7th July 1971

Another fantastic day; it was 80 degrees. What a stoater of a start to the school summer holidays. I spent much of the day down at Colinton Mains Park Tennis Courts. I played tennis all morning before coming back home for a wee bit of dinner and to put my feet up and watch the first day of the Open golf. It's the centenary; it’s a great event with a long Scottish tradition. 

I like listening to the commentators Henry Longhurst and the Yank, Mark McCormack; you learn a lot of interesting things from them. 

In the afternoon a few of us enjoyed some fags including Les; Boo-Boo; and Iain. After tea the weather cooled down a wee bit so I had a second game of tennis. My game's coming on nicely. Nana, Gaga and Aunt Heather were out. I missed cutting the grass.

Water-Fight!

On Sundays throughout the 1960s our family traversed Edinburgh from Oxgangs to Portobello to spend the day at our grandparents.

In the cycle of the year each season had its place and come the warm days of July coinciding with the school summer holidays and when our grandfather (Gaga) collected his Sunday Post and Sunday Express from the newsagent's at Milton Road Crossroads we usually accompanied him.

Whilst hanging about outside the shop we spotted water-guns in the shape of a space-gun  tantalisingly hanging up outside with the sun shining on them, then the rest of the afternoon was suitably programmed.

Gaga was so generous that it would never need any persuasion from us for him to treat us; the space-guns probably cost five shillings for a pair.

Once back to 45 Durham Road, in a flash we were stripped down to our shorts, straight into the sink in the kitchen to fill them up and then out to the garden to begin chasing each other around having a ball of fun.

Of course as the afternoon wore on, with the kitchen floor getting wetter and wetter, not to mention hiding in the house where we were (supposedly) safe from getting hit and then others getting squirted too, before end of play the guns were usually confiscated.

Simple pleasures.

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

Tuesday 4th July 1972

After doing the milk first thing we (Paul Forbes and I) went to see this guy about a job. 

The interviews were being held at Coates Crescent. 

We must have done quite well as we’ve both been given a job. They’re sales jobs. We have to go around people’s doors trying to get them to take on a six week trial of the Daily Record newspaper. I’ve never read the Record as we get The Scottish Daily Express delivered each morning. 

It was a bit of a surprise as we actually had to start in the afternoon. Along with other young guys we piled into two minibuses and travelled through to Dunfermline. To motivate his staff the boss offers wee prizes like a few bob or he pays for your fish supper. Anyway I must have the gift of the gab as I managed to get seven orders for new people signing up. 

On the way home we all stopped for chips which went down well after traipsing through the housing schemes of Dunfermline toon. 

Good night Retep.

Tuesday 6th July 1971

For much of the day I played tennis down at Colinton Mains Park. I was down there early on with my large bottle of diluted Tree-Top Orange and came back home to 6/2 Oxgangs Avenue just before dinnertime. 

The fantastic summer weather continues. It was even hotter than yesterday; I've picked up a great tan. 

After dinner and a wee cool break with the living room curtains drawn I went back down to the park for another game of tennis. It's been a great way to spend a summer's day so I was quite happy to put my feet up in the evening and watch Stanley Baxter, Leslie Phillips and James Robertson Justice in The Fast Lady. 

It was absolutely brilliant - what a hilarious film. I was lying on the floor splitting my sides laughing, especially the scene when the ill patient makes a remarkable recovery off the abandoned ambulance stretcher when he sees out of control learner driver Murdoch Troon (Stanley Baxter) in The Fast Lady bearing down on him at high speed; what a tonic that film is!