Granny went doon the water.

[joette]

My Great-Grandparents had many ups & downs due to ill-health,marital difficulties but through it all shines Elizabeth Torrance's joie de vire(excuse spelling my French is very rusty).
She was a trained dressmaker & very handy with her needle.She was socialable like to sing & dance.She recited & made up poems & was a gifted & imaginative storyteller.She spoke the Gaelic despite having been born/bred in Govan Parish of Ayrshire parents.Her husband was born of highland parents so I think she may have learned from him.
During the depression she wanted to take the children down the water to get away from Dalmuir.My Granny & her brothers were of working age but unemployed.There were two younger sisters & a brother of school age.
Somehow they scraped the pennies for the Steamer fares but no money for a boarding house.Granny decided to sew a tent!
She succeeded & they gathered together what they would need cooking utensils,clothing etc.They went off to Dunoon & had a lovely time.
My Granny & great-uncles had to return to sign on the dole so as not to lose any "Buroo" money.No jobs going but you still were not supposed to take a holiday.
Granny & the younger wains waited in Dunoon for them to return(she had no money left by this point) whilst the Ross siblings returned to Dalmuir.
Calamity struck some neighbours had reported them to the "Buroo" & their money was denied.They had to stay at home with no money,no food.
Meanwhile G-Granny was in Dunoon awaiting their return with much needed cash & food.After a couple of days when they didn't return she had no choice but to board the steamer & return to Glasgow.This time with no strong sons or helpful daughter to carry a very cumbersome tent,clothing etc.She had no money for the tram fare so it was shank's pony for her Betty,Ruby & to Dalmuir.
When Granny related this story to my Mum there was no self-pity or sense of injustice.Just lovely memories of her long dead,well-loved & remembered Mother who provided not only food for their stomachs but nourishment for their mind & spirit.
A big heart which in the physical sense was not strong & was to take her whilst still in her forties.

[Rach]

What a great story to hand down, Joette, and what tremendous spirit your great granny had. She had a short life but sounds as though she made the best of every minute no matter the hardships.
Rae

[joette]

another great story for the family archives its about time you put all these stories together into a book. lol elizabeth