Sunday 31 October 2010

14 May 1911

Sunday.  Sunday just after mid-night, to be exact early Monday morning 12.45 am, we experienced an earth-quake shock, lasting about three minutes?  We were in bed and fast asleep, but the violent swing of our bed owing to the rocking of the house woke us up, & having a light in the room at the time, we could plainly see the effect of the shock in our room.  The Gas suspended from the ceiling was rocking like a pendulum of a clock & the boy's bed and mosquito net & frame was in motion.

I seemed to be riveted to the bed & could not move until it was all over, & then myself & Marion got out of bed & went onto the front verhanda & there we heard the Chinese in the road talking in an excited state, so we rang the Bell and Ah Wing came upon the scene, & we took him as interpreter & went into the street & he informed us, upon enquiry that, they like ourselves had been disturbed & scared by the shock.  Mrs Doughton, a Japanese-man & us three then went on the sea front & Ah Wing hailed the San-Pans & inquired if they had experienced anything, but they replied in the negative, so he informed us.  We then made tracks for home & got to bed once more, but not feeling very comfortable or safe.

31 October 2010

Great Grandad's diary stops here for a while.  I think setting up home, work and life in general must have taken up all his time, the same as it does for us all today.  However, the next entry is quite interesting........

Saturday 30 October 2010

30 October 1910

Sunday.  Mr & Mrs Mace & Marian & myself go to Cathedral & chapel in the evening.

Wednesday 27 October 2010

27 October 1910

Thursday.  We leave the Baltimore Hotel and reside at 177 Wanchai Road.  'So' being our cook.

Saturday 23 October 2010

23 October 1910

Sunday.  All to to chapel in the morning & return to Mr & Mrs Collins for the rest of the day.  I go to the home in the afternoon & we all go to Chapel in the evening.

Thursday 21 October 2010

21 October 1910

Friday.  Have holiday & on full pay.  Colonial pay starting from this day.  Mr & Mrs Hearl & two girls & Mr & Mrs Elson & Edna & our family all go up the Peak on the railway & down on the railway.

Wednesday 20 October 2010

20 October 1910

Thursday.  Arrive HongKong 1 o'clock.  Mr & Mrs Collins & Mr & Mrs Hearl come to meet us on government launch.  Mr Brock meet us & receive us on behalf of Chief Engineer.  Mr Gregory, Elson and myself go to the Naval Yard & report ourselves.  Mrs Elson & Marian go to Baltimore Hotel & take rooms & then return to Mrs Hearls for tiffin & Mr & Mrs Gregory to to Mr & Mrs Collins & we all return to hotel in the evening.

Tuesday 19 October 2010

19 October 1910

Wednesday.  Sea calm & fine.  Done 287 miles.  Temp in cabin 84 degrees.

Monday 18 October 2010

18 October 1910

Tuesday.  Sea calm & fine.  Done 292 miles.  Temp in cabin 86 degrees.  Rain very hard after sunset.  Held a concert in 2nd Saloon.  Hedley play violin solo.

Sunday 17 October 2010

17 October 1910

Monday.  Sea calm & fine.  Done 274 miles.  Temp in cabin 86 degrees.  Rain very hard after sunset.

Saturday 16 October 2010

16 October 1910

Sunday.  Attend service in the first saloon.  Attend service in the second saloon in the evening.  Done 278 miles and sea calm.  Torrents of rain, temp 84 degrees.

Friday 15 October 2010

15 October 1910

Saturday.  At Singapore.  Marian & myself to for a walk before breakfast.  We leave the wharf at 10 am & start for HongKong, next stop.  done 16 miles.  Temp in cabin 86 degrees.

Thursday 14 October 2010

14 October 1910

Friday.  At Singapore.  Marian & myself take a walk before breakfast through the native village.  We land again at 2 o'clock, Dr Kirk, Mrs Mace and Willie, Mrs Nellet & children, Mr & Mrs Gear.  We take tramcar to Johnsone Pier & then rickshaws to the botanical Gardens.  This our first rickshaw ride out East.  We done some shopping & had a very good time generally.  We returned to the ship at 6.30 pm just in time for dinner.  These gardens are said to be the best in the world.  Temp in cabin 88 degrees.

Wednesday 13 October 2010

13 October 1910

Thursday.  Arrive at Singapore 11 am.  Dr Kirk, Mr & Mrs Gregory, Mrs Mace and Willie, Marian, Boys and myself land and take tramcar from Kepple Harbour to Johnsone Pier see the town & return to ship.  Temp in ship 89 degrees.  Discharge cargo.  Boys dive for money.

Tuesday 12 October 2010

12 October 1910

Wednesday.  Still at Port Swellanham & leave at 4.30 pm.  Temp in cabin 88 degrees.

Monday 11 October 2010

11 October 1910

Tuesday.  Arrive at Port Swellanham 12 o'clock midday.  This port is up a river & we discharge more cargo and remain here all night.  Temp in cabin 88 degrees.

Sunday 10 October 2010

10 October 1910

Monday.  Arrive at Penang 6.30 am.  Marian, Mr Kirk, Mr & Mrs Gregory go ashore & myself.  We take tramcar & go to the Buddist Temple.  See them at worship.  We buy Chinese crackers and fire them to drive the Devil away.  We also feed the turtle and have tea at the top of the Temple.  Go through a Coconut Plantation.  See Bananas growing and Pineapple.  Very warm in morning.  We return to the Ship at 12.30 & land again at 2 o'clock & it rained in torrents all afternoon, we return to the Ship again at 4 o'clock on the P & O steam launch. 

We only took out cargo at this port.  We left the Port about 8 o'clock.  Temp in cabin 84 degrees.


 

Saturday 9 October 2010

9 October 1910

Sunday.  Service in First Saloon in morning,  service in Second Saloon in evening.  Done 276 miles.  Temp in cabin 84 degrees.

Friday 8 October 2010

Thursday 7 October 2010

7 October 1910

Friday.  A swell on & rather dull weather.  Done 309 miles.  Temp in cabin 84 degrees.

Wednesday 6 October 2010

6 October 1910

Thursday.  Sea fairly smooth.  Done 210 miles.  Temp in cabin 84 degrees.

Tuesday 5 October 2010

5 October 1910

Wednesday.  Sea Calm.  Arrive at Colombo inside the breakwater 7 am.  At 9.30 am our party (Dr Kirk, Mr & Mrs Gregory & Mrs Mace & Willie, Wife, Boys and myself) go ashore in P & O steam launch.  We hire two Garries (Open Cabs) from 10 am till 4 pm & drive to Mt Levidius abut 8 miles in the country.  We visit the Buddist Temple, Cinnamon Gardens, Museum and Victoria Park.  Had lunch at Mt Levidius.  Coconut trees & tropical plants look splendid and seem a good race of people.    Returned to our ship (SS Namur) by P & O launch about 4.30 pm & left Colombo Harbour about 5.30 pm after a most enjoyable day.  Expenses 9/6.

Monday 4 October 2010

4 October 1910

Tuesday.  Sea calm, done 290 miles.  Temp in cabin 82 degrees.  Rain in evening.

Sunday 3 October 2010

3 October 1910

Monday.  Sea calm done 278 miles.  Temp in cabin 84 degrees.  Rain very hard in the evening.

Saturday 2 October 2010

2 October 1910

Sunday.  Sea more calm.  Attend Service in the First Saloon in the morning & Services in 2nd Saloon on deck in the evening.  Done 282 miles.  Temp in cabin 84 degrees & rain very hard in the evening, first time since leaving England.

Friday 1 October 2010

1 October 1910

Saturday.  A rough night & still rough in the morning.  Done 285 miles.  Temp in cabin 84 degrees.