Holidays/Day Trips

I was born in Maryfield Hospital in 1947. My mum Ruby Fisken was a long time nurse there. My dad Jim played the piano in a local band that played at the dancehalls. I used to go and sit by his side. By the time the night was over, you couldn't see anyone's heads for the secondhand smoke.

In summer, I loved going for a day at Broughty Beach. When the bus would start and stop, all the shells of the wilks would run back and forward. Read more......

Gie me the days o’ the Nine-ees
Frae Lochee at brak’ o’ day
Stridin’ the length o’ Riverside
Takin’ sicht o’ Gowrie Bay
Steppin’ oot in Sunday best
Reachin’ oor destination
Doon the steps o’ the railway brig
Withoot hint o’ hesitation

Bile-up cans, pots an’ pans
Rattlin’ on oor backs
Sets o’ auld claes – tichtly packed
In canvas haversacks
Chasin’ a crannie tae change in
In the rocks alang the shore
Syne, gaitherin’ driftwood for kindlin’
For a biley-up at four Read more......

Spent a lot of my school holidays at my grans in Catherine Street, Dundee and with my auntie and uncle in Monifieth. Always remember 'Land O Cakes' scones and getting eggs and four from there. Also the chippie and mealie puds. Mum was a Dundonian and dad served in the fire service for a while. Good times!

My grandfather's unmarried sister, Georgina Scott lived in Eden Street for many years and her parents before her. She died in approximately 1960. Our family stayed with her for a holiday a few years before she died. My sister can remember a bed in the living room. I remember the man in the corner shop could smoke his cigarette backwards i.e. with the lit end in his mouth.

My memories of Dundee are many happy ones, I am trying to write a book of them at the moment. The book will be called memories of Dundee. I fondly remember my childhood there on holidays from Edinburgh, my mother was from Dundee. I remember going on the bus to Broughty Ferry, the fare was one penny from Douglas, down to Swannie Pond we went with our fishing nets, excitedly running to see who could catch the first fish. My brother tripped over and went head first in net and all.

Though many years have gone by, and I now live in Canada, there is still a soft place in my heart for auld Lochee. I was born at 16 Elder's Lane in November, 1929. One of six children. Read more......

Holidays spent in Dundee 1939 to 1945. In the Overgate at a buster stand (chips and peas) in a large tarpaulin with an open fire. Sarsparilla from a chemist on Sunday mornings.