I was born in the Smiddy House, Drumsmittal, on The Black Isle in 1932.

I lived on the Black Isle for 40 years.

My father was from Milbuie and he was in the Cameron Highlanders in the First World War.

His brother was also in the Cameron Highlanders and was killed out in India during the war.

My mother was from Portree, Isle of Skye.

She had three jobs in Inverness. She worked in the Carlton, the Balmoral and the Carrol Nursing home for eight years before she took sick.

She died of lung cancer in 1971 in Culduthel Hospital. She was a heavy smoker.

My father died in Raigmore Hospital in 1969. He had a bad heart and chest and passed away in his sleep.

I had two brothers and two sisters. One brother died at the age of 5 with a convulsion fit and one sister died at the age of 12 with meningitis. Her name was Lily. She had never been able to walk or talk and she died in Craig Dunain Hospital.

My brother Hugh (Uisdean) lives in North Kessock. He worked in the forestry and on farms.

My sister, Mary Scott, lives in Dingwall. She was married on April 14th 1950 in the Parish Church at North Kessock.

She worked for 14 years in the grocery shop in North Kessock.

The owner was Alec Davidson, from Glasgow, who dropped dead one morning in the middle of the road.

My brother, sister and I went to Drumsmittal primary school.  I liked school my favourite subjects were sums and geography.  My sister won first prize for the bursary at school.  Mr. MacIver awarded her £40.  My brother Hugh did not like school he called it the rotten jail, he called the schoolteacher Nosey Jap and the schoolmaster Bogey Roll.  The schoolmaster had two sons who never went to school they were both blind.  They were twins Alistair and Ian MacIver.  My favourite friend in school was

All the kids collected money for her before she went off.  She had often given the bairns dinners out of her own pocket. It was 1948 when she left for India.

My sister was working in a shop at North Kessock, when she saw the boat come in. She shouted out "Here comes H.M.S. Hopeless"; it was the new ferryboat from Burkenhead.  The Captain was Captain Meikie from Skye; He was a very nice man he used to give the school kids sweeties.  I used to go on the boat from North Kessock to Inverness pier to get shopping.  I watched dolphins from the boat and fed the swans old bits of bread.  Four tinker boys came over on the ferry one day and set Ord hill on fire.  They burnt 400 young nursery trees.  The police got them the next day and they were fined.

My sister, May worked in the shop in North Kessock for 14 years.  She used to watch the ferryboat coming in and she nicknamed it H.M.S. Hopeless.  It was actually called "Eilann Dhu" which is Gaelic for the Black Isle.   It was anchored at Cromarty Harbour not far from Shore Mill.  It ran for 40 years.  The shop my sister worked in was called the "White House" the owner's name was Ally Davidson.  He originally belonged to Glasgow.  My sister enjoyed working in the shop, it sold general groceries and butcher meat. She worked there until she got married. She was nineteen years old when she got married, her husband's name was Arthur Scott and he came from Muir of Ord. I never fancied getting married myself as it's much more fun being single.  My sister used to love going to the dancing in Strathpeffer, she used to pinch my clothes, and sometimes wouldn't get back until 5.30a.m.  It was at one of these dances that she met Arthur. I liked Arthur very much he was a gentleman.  I really enjoyed the wedding. My brother Houston never married, like myself, he enjoyed be single.

I worked in a café in North Kessock went I left school.  My job was to serve teas and dinners.  The café wasn't far from the Old Pier and I could see the boats from there. I got paid every Friday night, sixteen pounds.  I used to give my pay to my Mother.  I loved working in the café and I met lots of people.  The café was called Seafield, and the owner's name was Mr. Mackenzie.  I worked there for eight years until my Mother took sick. 

After my Mother and Father died I went to Craig Phadric. Iwent into a ward with 14 other people. I didn't like it there and I missed my friends. We did work for Raigmore Hospital there making cotton wool swabs. We called that therapy. My favorite friend Jean Mackay from the Black Isle came to visit me, I looked forward to her visits. There was a nurse called Christine Watt who was very good to me. She made me lots of cups of tea and brought me sweeties. Her husband was drowned at sea. Gladys Lawrance kept each other company. We shared the same ward. Gladys was in a wheelchair and I used to help feed her. Gladys' parents would come and take her home every weekend. Sandra Macleod and Gail Richardson were also both in a wheelchair. Rita MacRae eas a ae girl from Nigg, she was only 11yrs old and she died in her sleep.

I used to meet John Taylor the Nursing Officer at the cafe up on the wards, next door to the drill hall. The tea was only 2p a cup. John was a very nice man; he used to give me money and sweeties. I got a small amount of money for working in therapy but it didn't go very far.