Those listers with forebears who lived at or near Tinamba in bygone years may be interested to read some entries from the diary of my maternal grandfather George Glen Auchterlonie (a dour Scot). It was not a matter of all work and no play, as the following entries for mid-1873 show: "June 10 - Both teams ploughing for barley. Bill grubbing. Mrs Jackson brought over a note from P. Harbeck anent the butter. June 1 - Settled up with Peter Harbeck. Went at night to a meeting of Bachelors anent having a ball; was elected chairman. It was arranged that the ball be held on 10 July next. June 18 - A committee meeting was held tonight to consider whom to invite to the ball. Present M. Carr, Doherty, Forsyth, Manly and self. Received a note from M. Boland, desiring that the Miss Cobains be invited. June 20 - Another committee meeting tonight. Appointed a practising on next Wednesday at Ross'. June 23 - Wrote out all the invitations tonight. June 25 - Bessie [Auchterlonie's half-sister] & I went to Ross tonight for the practising. June 26 - D. Forsyth came over tonight and got the invitations for his cousins [Susan and Barbara Graham] and Miss Carr. June 28 - Ploughing for English barley. A meeting of the committee tonight. We arranged what we should purchase and also admitted Peter Laughlan as a member. July 1 - Bessie & I went in a dray to Mrs Allerdyces & the two Miss Blores went with us to have a practice for the ball. July 4 - Rode to Sale ... Got my trousers and vest from Morrison ... Jack ploughing new land for oats. July 5 - Went to Gleesons with the butter ... July 7 - Yoked up the team and drew off the last of the logs from the potato land. Went down to Watson's to see if his girl had got her invitation. Called in at Osborn's on the way home. July 8 - Forenoon rolling the logs together. Afternoon went over to Newry to the readings. R., T. & W. Blore went with J. and W. Hadly and myself. I read "Battle of Flodden" and an Irish piece. July 9 - Jack ploughing and Bill clearing. Self went up and saw Doherty about making tables. Told him to call on Forsyth and tell him to get Black George as waiter ,,, I made some trestles after dinner. July 10 - Went up and got Blore's dray and went down to Osborn's and brought up planks; also from Thomsons I brought forms and from Ross boards up to Mac's [McLachlan's] woolshed. Doherty, Manly & self sorted up the place, rigged the tables and seats and levelled the floor. July 11 - Yesterday evening dressed myself and took Bessie in the dray up to Macs. The people were nearly all there between 7 and 8 o'clock. We appointed W. Mooney M.C. until McKinnel would come and the dancing was begun with the first sets. We had supper about 11 p.m. and tea about 4 a.m, and separated about 6 a.m. There were about 60 persons, nearly half being females. We went through about 30 dances. All seemed to enjoy themselves well. I took myself home and changed my clothes and returned and took back the peoples forms, boards, etc. Jack & Bill did not come to their work today. The persons who contributed to the tables were Mrs Thomson, Mrs Ross, Mrs Boland and Mrs Auchterlonie. Besides which we procured goods as follows - 1 lb tea, 2 lbs coffee, 13 lbs sugar, 3 lbs con. lollies, 2 bottles kerosene, 3 gallons best brandy, 3 bottles sherry, 2 bottles ginger wine, 2 bottles raspberry vinegar. July 12: Sowed 5 acres with 10 bushels of English barley ..." I understand that Grandfather was a teetotaller and would have kept to the raspberry vinegar. Walter Savige