I was searching for something else a short while ago and by accident came across http://www.river-clyde.org.uk/piers.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; which has some cracking old photos of River Clyde/Firth of Clyde piers and old ships. There is one of T.S. Duchess of Arg...

Well down "down south". I love looking at these old photographs and wish more people would dig into their collections and post. And! They're not only nostalgic for those who attended the Academy. There are those amongst us who remember fondly throwing stanes at them! Or shortcutting throug...

Teslarian, Unfortunately not. The book I'm reading records - "Burns was in the habit of calling on his Mauchline friend, Gavin Hamilton, on his way to Sunday morning service. On calling one Sunday, he learned that Hamilton was suffering from gout and unable to go to church. Hamilton challenged ...

Thanks for that information Taslarian. Another wee "connection" in the book I'm reading highlights - "The Rev. James Steven, minister of Kilwinning Parish Church from 1803 to 1828 was the minister whose sermon in Mauchline Parish Church inspired the poem THE CALF. When Burns heard him...

Meg, I was only quoting from the book. I don't remember what you can see from Mauchline, good weather or bad. However, I had a similar experience to you with an American visitor. His interest was in Glasgow, Springburn in particular, and we travelled there each day from Ardrossan. For the three or f...

Whilst out walking today, I met an old woman (well, much older than me) who described her aging collie dog as her "life support system" - but it did everything she told it to do - "stand up, sit down, give the man a paw" - the lot! I've got a house cat but as somebody once said -...

Thanks Teslarian, I once heard the late Rev. James Currie question this omission and was recently reading a book (the Ayrshire Book of Burns Lore) which said - "See the sun setting behind Arran and you will wonder as many have done. how this great poet made no poetic acknowledgement of such mag...

We were waiting for you RENCPY. A good shout.

Jarneilh,

I think there's a wee place called Phesdo near Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire but what the connection is with Stevenston I couldn't imagine.

Bigwull, Meg and Milda: How were you informed what 'house' you were in? Each Year at Eglinton the new allocations were posted on the gymnasium window, which we had to read from outside. I vividly remember, because of a fondness for Arran (and never at the time having {to the best of my knowledge} be...

Eglinton School had four 'houses' - ARRAN (YELLOW), BUTE (BLUE), CUMBRAE (RED) and AILSA (GREEN). AILSA dropped out latterly, leaving only the first three. These 'houses' were used mainly for sports purposes. Did the other Three Town schools have similar arrangements?

I came across this wee poem yesterday and it reminded me of the panic and excitement the ragman's bugle used to stir in the Three Towns. THE RAGMAN He gave you fair warning whenever he came though the tune he played was never the same in a neighbouring street a bugler played and it wasn't the lifebo...