Choices in life and Adventures (eg Canada)

Choices in life and Adventures(eg Canada)

We've been there, seeing Maw's Forrest kin. Maw's dad, William Forrest, had a Brither, Simon, who migrated in early 1900. He married  in Canada and had a wheen of kids, who were scattered across, from Vancouver to  mid 🇨🇦 Canada.

When we met the Forrest lassies, ageing wae Maw, you could just see the genes in both maw' s Forrest and her Dad, William's brither, Simon's wains. Spittin images indeed.

Mum and I then drove to the Atlantic coast and went up to see the Guelph works of  'Gilson's Manufacturing', where my Dad, George Reid Ellis, migrated from Bo'ness(Borrowstounness), which is about 8 miles from Bonnybridge, where Maw eventually met dad, at the Mitchell and Russell (Chattan Foundry) when he returned to Scotland, just at the onset of the great world depression. They married in Bonnybridge in 1940(Geo check date)as dad boarded at Rose Cottage in  Bonnyside Rd, with a brother and sister couple, where maw  cleaned house. 

My Brother Billy, was born there in 1941, and because my dad's brithir, Jim, came up to 'wet the heud o' the newborn wain, Billy( my aulder brither), they got so pissed that they then wet the bed. 

Maw, black affronted at this shamefull act had to find a new place tae live.

Hence, a flit tae a one bedroom flat in Jubilee Place on High Street Bonnybridge, next tae Wull  Smith, the butchers', shop. 

Rat's ran aboot the place, encouraged by the rats, feedin oan waste butcher product, in the less than hygienic  environment.

After Billy born in 1941, I was born there as well in 1943 and oor wee brithir, Jock arrived in 1945. 

By this time Maw was seeking mare  hygienic   accommodation. 

She then went weekly tae a local  government elected Councillor, Davie Mann , up Seabegs Road, near where Maw's parents, William and Eliza  lived, and successfully, after a year or so, got a new   2 storey house, at 15 Gateside Avenue, in about 1953, when oor dearly departed sister, Linda, was born( at Stirling Maternity Hospital, because  of Maw's age, ca 41 yrs old)

At that time I was just finishing off primary School at Bonnybridge, prior tae going tae Denny High School. 

Mrs ??????, our teacher, was a new very young teacher, possibly in her early 20's, expecting. 

I clearly remember bursting intae tears in the class. Obviously worried about Mum's  pregnancy, I had gotten emotional, as I really didnae ken whit wiz goin oan. 

On that year, I went tae a school camp at Aberfoil?? durin oor school holidays for a week or two, where I met a Denny lassie, red hiedid an a'. We made a sate tae meet at Denny when I left Bonniebrig primary. Romance wuz in the air?

By the time we met, romance was not a factor, study was!

At my 'Eleven Plus' exam for high   school placement, I had the option of going intae the 'A' class doing Latin and French, or the 'B' class doing French and Woodwork/Metalwork . I chose the latter. 

Language was not my preferred option, as I would have been happy doing all practical   subjects.

So, after all these years, I'm happy with my choices, but better advice to parents and pupils would have possibly taken me oan a different path. 

But, fate, threw a different line and here I am with a lovely wife and family. 

Luvsyasall

Dad

NB I owe all of this story to two tremendous women, your Maw and your Grannie.

Grannie taught me the value of family history, as women are the true Historians, keeping alive the core of our being, through listening tae their Maw's as they work at hame. Otherwise none of what I write about could be recounted tae you wans,  so that you can keep improving your place in society, by being proud of your valuable heritage. And, passing it oan tae the younger wans tae maintain that valued place! 

Maw imbibed in me my love of history, especially economic history, in maintaining our working class rights and responsibilities, as the Tory troglodytes try to deny our rights and needs

Lovesyou all, in memory of Maw, your loving Grannie and great Grannie  tae Megan and  Cameron

And for your Mum, for her strength in fighting 'the guid fecht fur a fair go, as us Scots Aussies wid sae!

Dad