Class bingo serendipity8/3/2023 ![]() ![]() When she later fell ill with cancer, she recognised the early signs and knew the course it would take. Catherine went on with the study and practice of medicine. When Catherine Anderson graduated in 1904, my grandmother married the son of the farmer who ran the dairy at nearby Desswood Place. As is the way of things, their lives parted. My grandmother ‘had her fowk’ as they say, but once her affection was won, it was unstintingly generous. The two women were close in age and blood, and quickly became firm friends. My grandmother Lizzie came in from the country to act as her housekeeper/companion. Whilst Catherine was studying medicine in Aberdeen, she stayed in Whitehall Road, near to a local dairy outlet. Another uncle, Alexander Craib was also a tea planter, retiring to Aboyne where he died in 1925 aged 75. James Craib, one of the girls’ uncles, was colonial surgeon in Ceylon and died there aged 64, circa 1919. Catherine travelled back to Aberdeen university to study medicine, graduating MCCHB in 1904, going on to take the degree of FRCS in Edinburgh in 1921. Her cousin, Catherine Anderson, was born on 26th December 1881 in Maskellya, Ceylon, the daughter of James Anderson, tea planter, and his wife Isabella Craib. ![]() My grandmother’s room was a treasure house of eastern nick-nacks, despite never venturing furth of the North East in all of her 83 years. Her mother was Helen Craib, from Coull, her father was George Philip from Crathie. The first was my maternal grandmother, Lizzie, born on 18th March 1882 near Migvie,Tarland, who lived with my parents for 16 years. This book is dedicated to two women, one whom I never met. Stanford, 1882, shelfmark map 1.25.18 which assisted in locating obscure and small plantations. I acknowledge the assistance of the Special Collections section at Aberdeen University for making "Ferguson's Hand Book for Ceylon & Planting Directory for India & Ceylon 1880-1881" available for reference during their summer break and to the help given by the staff of the National Library of Scotland (Causewayside) who photocopied the map Ceylon: London, E. Without his support the venture would not have proceeded. Thanks, too, must be extended to my son Ross Blackhall, who accompanied me to Sri Lanka, fending off giant lizards, wild elephants and scorpions. I am deeply indebted to Les Wheeler for publishing this poetry pamphlet, for editing the contents and for designing the cover. Other poems have featured in ‘The Wisdom of the World’ published by Spotlight Poets, and Canvases 1-12, published by Malfranteaux Fine Art (A Division of Malfranteaux Concepts). ![]() The song ‘The Ghaists o the Nor East Lan’ was written and performed at Thainstone, on October 30th, 2004 at the Tam Reid Memorial Concert organised by the Friends of the Elphinstone Institute, the Aberdeen TMSA and the Bothy King’s family, headed by his widow, Anne. Some poems have been published in Blethertoun Braes, published by Dubusters, 2004. ![]()
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