Fintry and the Laird
Writing

Imagine a conversation between J.C. Dun-Waters and his wife, Alice, after he returns from his hunting trip in 1908. He wants to move to Canada. What will he say? What will she reply?

You might want to work with a partner, and each of you could pretend to be one of the characters. Remember to put the name of the speaker, followed by a colon, at the beginning of each new speech.

Alice: Welcome home, J.C. Did you have a good hunting trip in Canada?

J.C.: Aye, my dear. Wait until I tell you about the Okanagan Valley.

Study the picture of the Laird and his curling team on the front cover of the vignette. Think what each person is saying as he faces the camera. Use a yellow post-it note for each person’s speech, and make the picture into a cartoon.

Imagine you are Angus Gray, the manager of Fintry from 1924-1948. Write three journal entries describing how you feel about your life on the estate. Write one entry set in 1924, just after you have started the job. Write the second one in 1939 when Dun-Waters dies. Write the third entry in 1948 just before you retire. Each entry should be one paragraph long.

If you can time travel back to Fintry during Dun-Waters’ time, what one thing would you most like to see? Tell why. Write for five minutes.