A longing in my heart

[DannyGill]

Hi Amelia,
Yes Holyrood school, it's all changed now I went to visit last year as an old boy and was given a conducted tour by the deputy head a Ms Margaret Leyden and Martin one of the Prefects. Oh how it's all changed [Ileft in 63] but for the better and they even have a school Chapel were yo can attend Mass in the morning. Twomax building is still standing and my sister Jeanette worked in there for a few years in the early 60's. I'm glad the building hasn't been demolished as it's a good landmark as most of the old Gorbals/Oatlands has vanished, funny thing is Amelia when I went to London 1968 onwards to build bricks on new housing estates a lot of those have been demolished [a sure sign that I'm getting old ha ha].
Regards.
Danny

[braveheart]

Hi Amelia and Danny,

Looks like we indeed have a lot in common. I too went to Holyrood and loved every moment of it, I consider the level of education I was lucky to receive there, exceptional, and has stood by me all of my life.

On thinking about the milk round Danny, like you I must have started at 5 in the morning as I used to serve mass as an alter boy at St Margaret Mary's Chapel at 7 and 7.30 before going to school. And again like you, my wages always went to my Ma as she needed it more than I did, bless her.

Take care, John

[DannyGill]

Hi Amelia and Danny,

Looks like we indeed have a lot in common. I too went to Holyrood and loved every moment of it, I consider the level of education I was lucky to receive there, exceptional, and has stood by me all of my life.

On thinking about the milk round Danny, like you I must have started at 5 in the morning as I used to serve mass as an alter boy at St Margaret Mary's Chapel at 7 and 7.30 before going to school. And again like you, my wages always went to my Ma as she needed it more than I did, bless her.

Take care, John

Hi John,
Yes going to school at Holyrood was a great experience [Bob Crampsey of Scotsport tv fame was one of the teachers when I attended], I went to wee Bonnies and big Bonnies before I went to Holyrood and all great memories, I sent a copy of my autobiography " HAVE TROWEL WILL TRAVEL" to Ms Leyden as a thank you for my conducted tour of an "old boy" returning. I f you wanted to look at the first 2 chapters of my book John go online to Amazon, type in the title and my book comes up or look at
www.shieldcrest.co.uk/have _trowel_will_travel.html

Regards.
Danny

[redscot]

All the houses in the Blaeloch and Holmbyre area have all been refurbished in the last few years. They have also had the exteriors repainted too. Looking much nicer but I wouldn't want to live there, it's reputation precedes it.. There is also a lot of new build houses on the site of Netherton primary school as well.The wee row of shops are long gone and the only place to shop is a mobile shop unless the people want to venture out to Croftfoot or to Castlemilk shopping centre.

I read Johns story and really felt for him...but if I could just say to Josie, I felt that was very harsh of you to say what you did...here's this man desperate to see a house that means the world to him, and you shoot him down with the comments about not wanting to stay there because of it's reputation. There is good and bad everywhere you go the whole world over, but I feel it would have been kinder to John to leave that comment out, it's just deflated his thoughts I'm sure.
Rosemary

[redscot]

Hello John
Your story really warmed my heart, I understand how attached you can get to a house especially one with wonderful memories. I'm the same when I go back to Barrhead where I came from prior to Oatlands...even although the house has gone, the farmers lane is still beside where it used to be. When I stand at that lane I can see my dad coming home from Shanks' and me running to greet him. So I understand why you are thinking the way you are.

I would chap the door and explain your situation, who knows what might become of that. You have nothing to lose and all to gain...the residents might be the nicest people...even if they are not...what have you to lose.

I wish you all the best John and I keep my fingers crossed for you that you get to see the inside of that house which you hold so dear.

Rosemary x

[braveheart]

Hi Rosemary,

Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate it.

Your advice is correct and well received. As I think it will come down to taking a positive step and make the approach to the people who live there now. I'm sure they wouldn't mind me making a request once I have an opportunity to explain my reasons. On the whole, most Glaswegians have a heart as big as a lion and as soft as a baby's skin.

It's a shame I don't know who lives there now as I would have liked to send a letter introducing myself and giving an explanation to my unusual request, then hopefully get a reply where it may make it possible to make some arrangements to visit them when I go up there next.

Take care Rosemary.

John

[DannyGill]

Hi Rosemary,

Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate it.

Your advice is correct and well received. As I think it will come down to taking a positive step and make the approach to the people who live there now. I'm sure they wouldn't mind me making a request once I have an opportunity to explain my reasons. On the whole, most Glaswegians have a heart as big as a lion and as soft as a baby's skin.

It's a shame I don't know who lives there now as I would have liked to send a letter introducing myself and giving an explanation to my unusual request, then hopefully get a reply where it may make it possible to make some arrangements to visit them when I go up there next.

Take care Rosemary.

John

Hi John,
Yes I think that those words from Rose were really genuinely nice and sent from her heart, maybe you could send a wee letter to the number of the house stating to the present occupier [with maybe your e-mail address for a reply ?] who you are and you used to live there ?. Whatever John I wish you good luck mate.
Regards.
Danny

[braveheart]

Hi Rosemary,

Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate it.

Your advice is correct and well received. As I think it will come down to taking a positive step and make the approach to the people who live there now. I'm sure they wouldn't mind me making a request once I have an opportunity to explain my reasons. On the whole, most Glaswegians have a heart as big as a lion and as soft as a baby's skin.

It's a shame I don't know who lives there now as I would have liked to send a letter introducing myself and giving an explanation to my unusual request, then hopefully get a reply where it may make it possible to make some arrangements to visit them when I go up there next.

Take care Rosemary.

John

Hi John,
Yes I think that those words from Rose were really genuinely nice and sent from her heart, maybe you could send a wee letter to the number of the house stating to the present occupier [with maybe your e-mail address for a reply ?] who you are and you used to live there ?. Whatever John I wish you good luck mate.
Regards.
Danny

Thanks Danny Pal

Yeah it was very nice of Rose, bless her.

The problem with writing to the occupier Danny is the close now has a security door on the front so you would have to know the name of the person or possibly the flat number the letter was going to, otherwise there would be no addressee for the letter to go to.

Take care mate,

John

[Granny911]

Hi John
What a vivid description you gave of your move to Castlemilk, I felt like I was right there with you every step of the way. I'm sure you described what thousands of people felt when they first saw their new houses especially with a bath. The garden must have been the topper!
You asked what you should do about seeing the old place, well I actually went with a friend who's longing was very similar to yours and he had also grown up in Castlemilk. He was too shy to approach the people, so I knocked on the door and explained to the woman that he had grown up in this house and would it be all right if he took a photo of the front? She told us to go ahead. A few minutes later out came her husband and asked what this was all about? So I explained again that my friend no longer lived in Scotland but had never forgotten his happy childhood in this house. Next thing we know, not only did he get the royal tour of the inside of the house but we got served tea and biscuits as well. Nothing like the people of Glasgow with their big hearts, bless them! So John give it a try, go to the street, when you get there trust your instincts, if it feels right, you'll know it.
Regarding the negative comment about Blaeloch's reputation preceding it, I had a conversation with my friend about that. She works for the Police taking the calls for Police to be dispatched. She tells me Blaeloch is definitely not any worse than anywhere else in Castlemilk or other areas. Then it turns out she visits her cousin in the same street at number 41, says they've lived there for many years and haven't been disturbed or bothered in any way.
I hope John you will follow through and go see your old house because even if you only see the outside, it will save you from always wondering if you should have gone or not. Good luck and please let us know any updates. Cheers, Sheila

[redscot]

Hello John

What wonderful kind comments from Danny and Sheila on your wee dilemma, you are most welcome re my prior words to you and yes they did come from my heart. I understand how things have changed with closes back home, you would need to know the name of who lives there to gain access, but I hope you work out a solution of getting into the house.
Being away from Scotland for 40 years now I understand things change through the years, and so to with people, but no other nation in the world has the reputation for being the most hospitable than the Scots, and I would hope it is still the same to this day.
I wish you all the luck in the world John, and Danny, Sheila, and myself want nothing more than to read a post telling us all about the day you gained access to this house you hold so dear.

All the very best to you Braveheart (take strength from that name and bite the bullet)
Rosemary x