Settling In
Our first task was getting Karen enrolled in her new school. She settled down very well and made new friends almost immediately with similarly relocated children.
Within a few weeks of our arrival our stair had its full complement of residents. Olive and I were 32 years old yet we began to feel ancient as each newcomer arrived in our midst. Without fail, they were all youngsters in their early twenties who were just starting out on their married lives. It took no time at all before everyone got to know each other and assisted in making the stair a close-knit unit.
The women folk took it in turns to act as hostess to the others and lay on daily coffee mornings. It was not unusual for them to troop out to the mobile vans in the street whilst still wearing dressing gowns and slippers. It didn`t feel in the least odd for them to do this at the time, for everyone knew each other in the street. Nothing for them to stand around the van and exchange gossip whilst the vanmen went about their businesses. They must have found it bemusing at first but did get used to it.
Shopping
The lack of shops in the area was to be expected, so it was looked upon as a day out to visit the `big town`, Bathgate to stock up on the necessities. Edinburgh and Glasgow were really the meccas for forward planned shopping.
On occasions we would also pick up groceries at `King`s` in Midcalder. Our nearest petrol station was in East Calder, Graham`s Garage.
We visited the cities on very rare occasions, either to visit our relatives or to purchase something special. Our everyday shopping was done at the local corner shop in Tay Walk run by the former Rangers goalkeeper, Billy Ritchie. At first the Ritchies ran their business from their house in Broom Walk, not unusual, for even Dr Barber consulted at his home. Even the Post Office operated out of a house.. Any prescription received from the doctor would be handed into Ritchie`s who took it for dispensing to I don`t know where. I know that Mr Robertson was a prescribed chemist who lived in Leven Walk, but I don`t think he retained drugs there. The prescribed articles were later returned for uplifting.
Milk was delivered to our doorstep by the Edinburgh and Dumfrieshire Dairy. A more local supplier was `Jaso`, James O Kerr.
The regular visits of the mobile shops remained the main means of shopping for some time and were eventually superceded when the Mall shopping precinct opened in 1968.
Christmas 1966
Our first Christmas in Livingston, 1966, was a white one, and I remember well how beautiful it was as a group of us went out carol singing in the evenings. This was organised by Brian Hardy and it was he who conducted the singing. The musical accompaniment was a guitar. This was played by a young girl, Debbie, bedecked in a poncho. She was later to sing in a folk music trio. On a clear crisp winter evening we meandered between the flats in Almond West singing out the message of Christmas. The feeling of belonging was present with me. I was among friends. That memory has remained with me to this day.
Watchnight Service
The snow still lay around as my daughter Karen and I made our way to Riverside school late on Christmas Eve for the Watchnight Service. The Revs. Maitland and Hardy conducted the proceedings under the watchful eyes of the Scottish Television cameras. STV had chosen Livingston for its Christmas broadcast this year. Although a live broadcast, it was repeated the following day much to our delight.
The school hall was full to the extreme with the congregation celebrating the town`s first Christmas in joyous Carol singing. Here we were, just eight weeks into our new home and already integrated into a vibrant community.
That Christmas really heralded a new beginning for us. Any misgivings we might have harboured in coming to Livingston were soon dispelled, we were here for good.
Car Breakdown
A few days before Christmas I delivered some presents to my parents` home in Leith being accompanied in the car by one of our neighbours, Terry Ellesmere. Terry was a rugby player and as such took up a bit of space in the small car of mine.
Having taken our leave of my parents, we decided to call home to let them know we were on our way back. I parked the car outside Leith Hospital and used the public phone in there. On coming out and getting back in the car, Terry held aloft the gear stick. It had come away in his hand.
Neither of us were mechanics, and as a consequence we were stranded. I wasn`t a member of any motoring organisation. I called my father-in-law who had a friend who knew all about cars. He advised me he couldn`t see the car until the following day.
Leaving the car there, both Terry and I walked back to my parents` home where we stayed the night. We first called home to let them know.
The following day the car was duly repaired. It was just a case of dropping the gear stick into a locating socket or whatever. Anyway that is what I was told. Simple as that.
