article by a Learner from Lanark

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CHILDHOOD AND AFTER YEARS

I was born on 12^th January, 1947.   According to all accounts there was great excitement in the house that day.

So began my life, being fed, watered and changed as required.   My development continued till I could walk and talk. I went to Mum’s friend’s house quite a lot.  She was really nice and I used to have a sleep while I was there.   She took me for walks and she used to recall how I asked her, “Are we still in Lanark Auntie Eff?”

I remember I had an imaginary friend called Abyss.  When I was out with Mum we could not cross the road till Abyss had caught up with us.   Abyss was my friend for some time.

I used to go out with Dad on a Sunday morning.   He took photographs of me for the Camera Club.   Sometimes his photographs were placed in competitions run by the Camera Club.

Christmas was a good time.   In fact it was magical.   I used to shout through, “Has Santa been?” “Not yet,” the answer would come. A little while later I would shout through again and this time the answer would be “yes”.  

Santa brought me various things over the years.   I got a telephone exchange one year.  I got a teddy another year and Mum got a surprise when I turned it over and it made a noise.   A doll’s pram was another present.   I always left a drink and a biscuit for Santa, not forgetting water for the reindeers.

Another moment of magic was when the Tooth Fairy paid me a visit when I lost a tooth.  When I woke in the morning, there was no tooth under the pillow but a coin in its place.

After being sheltered in the home for five years I was catapulted into this strange world called “school”.   The infant mistress had one way of dealing with the “new starts”.   She opened the door, you went in and the door closed.   You did not see your Mum till school was finished.

I remember having my turn at putting the milk bottles out on the desks.   I knitted a blue scarf with pink and blue pom-poms at either end.   All of a sudden this voice was heard, saying, “I’ve dropped a stitch!” The teacher asked, “Who said that?” “It was me,” I said. The teacher looked surprised as I never really had much to say in class.   That was my introduction to knitting.

I had to get a half day off school when I was five, as I was going to a wedding.   I had a white dress with red velvet ribbon threaded through the waist and tied in a bow.   I always had a ribbon in my hair.   The top of the dress became part of my first Lanimer costume.

During the light nights my friend Linda used to come round to play with me. When the clocks were put back an hour I used to go to bed early to make sure I got my extra hour’s sleep.   Such is the simplicity of a child’s mind.

I mentioned Lanimers.   This was, and still is, a big celebration in Lanark.   Annelynne worked in the shop with Dad, and her mum, Linda, entered “lorries” in the procession.   My first Lanimer lorry was called “Snow Fantasy” and I was a fairy.   My costume had a net skirt and Mum was up most of the night before sewing sequins on it.

I went up to Linda’s house on Lanimer morning with the other people on her lorry and she gave us breakfast.   Then it was time to be placed on the lorry, ready for the judging.   We never got any prizes over the years but just being in the procession, with the crowds cheering, is always something I will remember.  

When the lorry passed my house I would wave up to the window and my Dad took my photograph.   I have a picture of my first Lanimer lorry “Snow Fantasy” and it is a source of amusement with my own children.   When I came home I got changed into my Lanimer outfit.   It was, and still is, traditional for children to get something new to wear on Lanimer day.   When Mum and Aunt Mary went to Edinburgh, they always brought me back hair ribbon from Jenners’.

After being introduced to knitting at the delicate age of five, I was to progress to knitting cardigans with the help of Polly (Aunt Polly to us), who stayed upstairs from us.   I did the knitting and Aunt Polly did the neckbands and the sewing up for me.   Mum had quite a few cardigans over the years.   I gave Dad a knitted pullover for his Christmas one year.   In later years I knitted for my own family.

School life continued and before I knew it, it was time for Secondary School.   The school was large compared to Primary School and, instead of one teacher, I had several teachers throughout the day.

My favourite subjects were English and History because you had time to think about what to write.   Maths was taboo as far as I was concerned and I made up my mind that, pass or fail, the ‘O’Level examination Maths and I were definitely going to part company.   I failed and Maths was no longer a nightmare subject for me.

I started off with Commercial Subjects and quite enjoyed them, but decided to take Science Subjects in Third Year.   I must admit that when the time came to leave school I was glad to do so.

It was decision time.   What was I going to do with my life? 

I had always wanted to be a nurse from about five years’ old.   Dad used to take boils on the back of his neck and Mum and I used to make kaolin poultices.   It was my job to clean and dress the boils.   Being a chemist like Dad, if I am honest, was more of a dream than as possible reality as I wasn’t blessed with brains like my Dad.

I started nursing.   It didn’t work out - probably due to the delayed after-effects of losing Dad.   However, I started training again and this time I qualified.

Isn’t it strange how life is full of decisions?   What do I do next?

By this time I had met Archie and got married before I sat my final examinations.   (A move frowned upon by some people.)   It really came down to choosing between a career and having a family.   There was no competition – having a family won.

I was twenty three and Archie was twenty five when Karen was born.   Life was to change for many years to come.   No longer could we come and go as we pleased.   This small bundle of life was totally dependent on us and trusted us completely.

I didn’t go back to work as Archie worked continental shifts and I had no one to watch Karen.   I was a full, true wife and mother and quite content for this to be my life.   We went on to have another two children.

Now life has changed again.   The children have independent lives.   Sheilagh is married and Karen and Paul have partners.   Archie and I are now there mainly for advice.

Looking back on my life I had a really happy childhood.   If I had had a career I would be better off financially.   However, that would not have compensated for missing out on the children growing up.   All in all I am content with my life.

        Learner, Lanark.

Webmaster replies

A satisfying story if you don't mind me saying.

I'd like to know more about the Lanimers please.   Perhaps other readers would like to, too.

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