Aberdeen and Glasgow
A week later we received our posting, but unfortunately it was not to a squadron but rather to a torpedo training and advanced fighter O.T.U. at Turnberry in Ayrshire, Scotland. Although extremely disappointed, we did receive some good news, we were granted a week's leave prior to reporting. Also the course was only to be for four weeks. Art Butler - my navigator, suggested I go home with him, however I figured he'd seen enough of me in the last three months so I hitched a flip to Aberdeen to spend a couple of days at Mrs. Woods' Dormy House.
Lucky for me, Rene my Wren friend had an off day while I was there so we went for a long walk in the country. We met a couple of girls skiing, there still being lots of snow, and we persuaded one to lend me her skis so Rene could take my picture on them. Shortly after, I attempted to go down a hill, but one ski came off and I ended up head first in a snow drift. My exhibition would give any passerby a pretty poor impression of a Canuck's ability on the slippery boards. After walking about seven miles that afternoon we went dancing to the Palaise at night. It was no wonder I slept in until about 11 the next morning. Mrs. Woods arranged for me to have breakfast in bed, which was a rare treat
Lucky for me, Rene my Wren friend had an off day while I was there so we went for a long walk in the country. We met a couple of girls skiing, there still being lots of snow, and we persuaded one to lend me her skis so Rene could take my picture on them. Shortly after, I attempted to go down a hill, but one ski came off and I ended up head first in a snow drift. My exhibition would give any passerby a pretty poor impression of a Canuck's ability on the slippery boards. After walking about seven miles that afternoon we went dancing to the Palaise at night. It was no wonder I slept in until about 11 the next morning. Mrs. Woods arranged for me to have breakfast in bed, which was a rare treat
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With Rene on Leave
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On Borrowed Skiis
I had my usual great time in Aberdeen. Met a couple of boys from the old squadron and caught up on all the news. Their sphere of operations had been moved back from the North Sea to the English channel operating from the old base at Chivenor in Devon. Gord Biddle, after his leave in Canada, went back with a new crew, while the rest of the chaps stayed in Ontario on various ground crew duties.
Aberdeen is a very clean city with most of the buildings being made of granite. on a sunny day it was essential to wear sun glasses to protect from the bright glare off the buildings. After spending three great days in Aberdeen, one in Dundee, and two in Edinburgh, Bondi, my East Fortune roommate, and myself headed west to Scotland's largest city, Glasgow, en route to Turnberry. When we arrived at Central Station we learned that we had to leave from another station about three blocks away. Having loads of luggage and not being able to find a taxi or other transportation, we piled our duffel bags onto a baggage pushcart and set off pushing it down Glasgow's main street. A couple of policemen took a dim view of our action and we had quite a confrontation in the middle of the main intersection. Nevertheless, we persevered and reached the departure R.R. station without further incident.
Having about three hours to spare we decided to do a little sight-seeing. The streets of Glasgow, some in particular, reminded me of downtown Toronto, with its banks, shows and department stores. At three in the afternoon there were more people on the streets than there was at King and Yonge during the five o'clock rush hour. Long queues stretched in front of some butcher and grocery shops as housewives strived to buy a leg of lamb for fewer ration points than normally required. Others stood before the windows of dress and shoe shops gazing with affection at the latest styles and wishing that they hadn't spent their last coupons the previous week. There were hundreds of small kids in the streets and most of them asked us if we had any gum. The city was quite a bit cleaner than we had been led to believe, but quite noisy mainly due to the old double deck tram cars. They rattled along at a good speed considering their old age.
Aberdeen is a very clean city with most of the buildings being made of granite. on a sunny day it was essential to wear sun glasses to protect from the bright glare off the buildings. After spending three great days in Aberdeen, one in Dundee, and two in Edinburgh, Bondi, my East Fortune roommate, and myself headed west to Scotland's largest city, Glasgow, en route to Turnberry. When we arrived at Central Station we learned that we had to leave from another station about three blocks away. Having loads of luggage and not being able to find a taxi or other transportation, we piled our duffel bags onto a baggage pushcart and set off pushing it down Glasgow's main street. A couple of policemen took a dim view of our action and we had quite a confrontation in the middle of the main intersection. Nevertheless, we persevered and reached the departure R.R. station without further incident.
Having about three hours to spare we decided to do a little sight-seeing. The streets of Glasgow, some in particular, reminded me of downtown Toronto, with its banks, shows and department stores. At three in the afternoon there were more people on the streets than there was at King and Yonge during the five o'clock rush hour. Long queues stretched in front of some butcher and grocery shops as housewives strived to buy a leg of lamb for fewer ration points than normally required. Others stood before the windows of dress and shoe shops gazing with affection at the latest styles and wishing that they hadn't spent their last coupons the previous week. There were hundreds of small kids in the streets and most of them asked us if we had any gum. The city was quite a bit cleaner than we had been led to believe, but quite noisy mainly due to the old double deck tram cars. They rattled along at a good speed considering their old age.