1894

On the front page, after a summary of the travel, sights seen, much better health (though often seedy) Vida growing up and doing well at school the first address noted is Miss Jollie c/o Mrs J Angus, Radcliffe House, Nr Acklington, Northumberland. Also Lou Field at Highgate.

Jan 1^st at Peel Froest. As ever walking (up Mt Peel etc) making and putting up shilnes??, practising cornet (in the woods!) and playing it with Miss Russell, a lot of rain.

11^th Back to Christchurch (Cokers Hotel) and to Akaroa by train and coach on 13^th. Fearfully hot — 82/86 in the hotel passage. On 25 sailed to Tekao and picked up several people for a picnic — sailed to the caves below Wainui, home 6pm “a cool pleasant day”. For the whole of jan he was seedy and also had bad indigestion but still walking, playing tennis, playing cornet at concerts.

Feb 1^st paid deposit on passage in Morayshire???. Very stron hurricane on 2^nd and 3^rd. 16^th went for a moonlight trip up the steam ??????,. 25^th rang in the chair for Harvest Festival.

March 7^th Sailed to Mat Whites Bay where I explored the large cave and had a bad time in so doing (WHAT?) 12^th too much swell to visit caves so stayed in and worked out indeterminate expectations. (the way one does!) 22^nd Heard that the date of siling of the Morayshire had been changed to May 16^th, so cancelled that and applied for a passage on Doric. 23^rd a friend had seen the death of James Story in the paper (burnt at Errington??). 25^th the doctor diagnoes ringworm on RS’s arm.

April 2^nd to Christchurch on the Jane Douglas and stayed at cokers Hotel, big fire at a nearby hotel. 5^th sailed for Lyttleton 3pm on the Doric— sail and steam, just as well as the engines often broked down. He met a mand Hudson who had known Fran at Weisbaden!! As before a full record every day of position, distances sailed, state of sea and wind etc. 10^th got music from baggage room and started practising for a concert on 12^th — then seedy and lay down a lot until 19^th when they rounded Cape Horne.

21^st A little semaphore and morse pactise with Bre??? And Peyton, from then on semaphore nearly every day. Getting much warmer — 69 degrees at 7am on 25^th. 27^th called a Rio but could only land at a shipyard acrss the harbour because martial law in force. Sailed on 28^th. Temp 80 degrees at 7:30am on deck in shade. Played and sang in a concert on 30^th. “Had to sing and play 5 times and fairly??? Broke down in my cornet solo”.

May 1^st Slept on deck in a hammock and found it quite cool. 10^th programme of a concert in which RS sang and played, and Miss Jollie had a part in a one act farce. This is copied in purple ink, I guess in/is?? One of those old “jelly” copies? RS was chariman of the event. 11^th they anchored off Santa Cruz Tenerfife?? And hoisted yellow jack (why?) so noone allowed on or off but fruit and coal were loaded — they saw more and more ships and some whales. 17^th they put some passengers off at Plymouth and sailed on for London where Vida met him on 19^th. He was back in Winchester by 23^rd. “Began to put my hourse in order” (Highfield). He only had a week there before off to Aldershott camp. He had an operculum??? necklace made for Vida (where is that?). Except for the odd weedend at home he was at cam until 7^th July. 6^th June wrote to Miss Jollie and Helen Knight. It was very wet most of the time in camp and they were doing firing practise and musketry throughout. 23 June back home “write to Miss Jollie”.

July 3^rd “Generals inspection by Col. Hornby. My busby gave me a very bad headache”. July 4^th “wrote to Miss Jollie”. July 7^th struck camp. Called on Miss Jollie. 10^th wrote to Miss Jollie. July 11t “My 40^th birthday … to Highgate by 5:10pm train and stayed the night at Lou’s”. 17^th Wrote to Miss Jollie. Vida came to stay from 27^th to Sept 12 during which time she went out a lot with other people and he took her to see Flore’s grave and the house Winna??? where they used to live. He also ordered and had erected a tombstone for Flore. On Sept 12 they took train for Clifton where Oswald, Olave and little Peter were staying. Photo from Helen Knight and letter from miss Jollie. He returned home on 29^th. From there until the end of Oct he stayed at home, often seedey, sometimes in bed, the only events were bad toothache (tooth out) and a burst wc cistern.

Nov still seedy, but tried going for walks and a drive. 6^th wrote to Vida and Miss Jollie. 7^th ate meat for the first time for many days. 8^th to London by train, spent the day with Vida, then 14^th Brigade dinner at the Metropole Hotel. Met lots of people, bed at 2am after… 9^th Breakfast at my new slub (the Senior) home by train. “Received Miss Jollie’s photo”. 12^th wrote to Miss Jollie and Os. 19^th packed and took train for London and irish Mail to Dublin. He spent the night at Maples Hotel in Dublin and went to a party with the Vernons. Other guests were the Leslies (now famous for Castle Leslie which is in Cavon) and young Saunderson (Caslte Sunderson also in Cavon). 21^st to Cavon and stayed at Farnham Arms, train to Crossdonly??? And walked out to Bingfield where Mrs Moore (the tenant) gave him lunch and drove him back to Cavon. 22^nd Called on French at Drumbeen???. “Called on Sandys Adgt of Cavon Militia and asked bim to shoot with me tomorrow”. 23^rd “Drove with Dandys and ‘Bluid Charlie’ over my old beat on the Cootehill Rd. Dense fog nearly all day — poor sport. I shot 4 snipe and 1 rail. Sandys 2 snipe. The whole country under water. Called at Ca?????. Arranged to borrow some ferrets. Sandys put me up for the Club! (Cavon Club!”

24^th “Drove with Sandys to Bingfield and ferretted rabbits — the ferrets worked badly and we got nothing till after lunch. I got 5 rabbits, Sandys got 1 and missed several more.”

25^th “Morning services at Kilmore. Saw the family vaults, lunch at Danisfort (where the Dean lived). Saw the old Parish Register with tntry for Aunty Emily’s and My Father’s baptism.”

26^th Drove to Drunsken??? To stay with the French’s. @7^th Ferretting with moore at Bingfield. 28^th Drove to Stra??? And went shooting with the keeper — 8 pheasants, 2 woodcock and 40 rabbits in 4 hours. French (who ??? driven him there) went on to Lisnaskee — ??? dogs more of shooting etc then moved over to Caravahn?? Where he met the Leslies.

Nov 1^st Walked to Drenig?? Church. Heard from Miss Jollie and wrote to her. Several days a bit seedy and some shooting. 8^th a shot teal fell into Rathkenny bog, then RS fell in a bog hole and got soaked.

13 Dec Drove to ??? Hills and lunched with Mrs Venables. 14^th Dec Drove to Rathkenny to see the Clements. 15^th Back to Cavon, staying at Farnham Arms. Went out to Bingfield and took photos. 20^th Train to leixlip “where I put a car sent by Uncle W and drove to Ommavarra. Found the 2 girls and Uncle and Aunt the only ones at home”. (who are these?) Very rough trip back to England and to Clifton where Vida, Mother, Florie and Evie (just home from America) were.

25^th To Christmas service in the new church over the bridge, whern they got back there was a letter announcing Arthur’s death in India on Nove 27^th. End of Christmas.

1895

RS and Vida staying at Clifton. He says Fran and Charlie were at Bord????, Os and Olave in Ghent??. Jan 6^th Snow lying. RS and Vida met a Capt Hulton RN who knew Os. 10^th Took Vida to see Kinstograph and hear Phonograph. 15^th RS and Vida by train changing at Swindon and Reading to “The Oaks” (who? Where?) near Richmond. Uncle N and Cara, church on Sunday at Hamworth and these are the only clues. He stayed until 22^nd then home to Highfield and Vida back to Mrs pye. Very cold and the went skating on the m???

Feb 4^th “letter from Miss Harman (Harmon?) about Brady of V?? who is being boycotted and sent a telegram to Tattow??? About it”. Now shat was that about!? Had frost and skating daily, “no such cold has been recorded during the century”. Feb 14 “My water supply is cut off by the frost”. 20^th Feb “Wrote to miss Jollie”. 22^nd “Thaw, no water yet”.

March 1^st “I tried to thaw the service pipe but failed”. March 7 “Water at last”. 8^th “Taken with a very bad fainting fit at the club. Gen. Oldfield took me home.” Then for several days very seedy. 11^th A little better under Harman’s treatment” (his Rd). Wrote to Miss Jollie. 12^th “Telegram from Miss Jollie to say she will be in town tomorrow”. 13^th “Took 10:45 train here (St George’s Club). Called on Miss Jollie at the Metropolis after lunch and and sat with her for an hour till Mrs Haggie her cousin came in. Went then by underground to High St, Kensington. Calledon Julia (?) Boyd where I found Aunt Clara and Carrie and Emily Begbie”. 14^th Called on Miss Jollie morn?? And went for a walk with her, Mrs Haggie and Angus. After lunch went with them to Olumpia and then on to Na??? — say Vida and came back by the 7.??pm train a very round about way from the High Level Stations.” 15^th Called on Aunts Agnes and Louisa and lunch with Mary Story then home. 16^th To Brighton. 17^th “Miss Jollie to lunch and went for a drive with us after.” 18^th “Went out with Jack Peyton and met Miss Jollie. I went for a walk with the ladies. Tea with Mrs Haggie at the Metropole.”