Fiery Personality
Tension and angst was just not limited to the marriage. Numerous other diary entries show conflict in other aspects of McCallum’s life: in his construction dealings, on his travels, and in his everyday irks.
Construction Conflict
As those involved in the construction industry today know, things don’t always go smoothly – and occasional confrontation is inevitable.
This work environment, combined with the demanding and cantankerous personality of the diarist makes for colorful reading. We witness his on-site feuds, feel his disappointments and watch him fume. Arguments, rows, or on-site barneys were typically caused by:
- Unreliable workers
- Disputes over wages
- Building in wrong location & other job mistakes
- Job behind schedule
- Disputes over supplier bills
- Materials shortage and spoilt
- Delays in client settlement
Sample Extracts:
“Damn Council are not giving me a permit”
“Big argument with architect”
“Damn sweeps used my timber for firewood”
“Sacked the carpenters”
“Bricklayers drinking on the job”
“Building inspector made me go to all sorts of trouble”
Ocean Travel Challenges
Travel even in modern times is fraught with potential mishaps. A century ago, these challenges were intensified by dangerous sea voyages and miserable conditions. It was an endeavor for the hardy, the patient, and the not easily agitated.
Numerous journal entries are devoted to McCallum’s angst regarding his voyage conditions, fellow passengers and travel incidents. Sample comments and observations:
- “Poor old fashioned little tub”
- “Weather heavy wind & big seas, too rough”
- “Filthiest dirtiest piece of water”
- “Horrible smells coming from engine room”
- “Ship dirty through coal”
- “No sleep on account of bugs & mosquitos”
- “Accommodations so bad”
Fellow Passengers
Given so much time was spent at sea, it is not surprising that friendships were forged, cliques developed, and those passengers to avoid noted. McCallum was frequently not too flattering of his fellow passengers:
- “Hardly any Britishers on board”
- “Horrible crowd of Turkish pilgrims”
- “Mouldy lot of passengers”
- “Poor lot of femails on board”
- “Ratty lot of passengers”
Land Travel
McCallum often vented his frustration at random travel inconveniences:
- “Quarantined, customs delays and red tape”
- “Got aboard the wrong train”
- “Knocked down by tram car”
- “Took the wrong route and had to turn around”
- “Got stuck, engine broke down on hill”
- “Lost my luggage”
- “Left my glasses behind”
- “Lost my ivory rule that I had for 14 years”
- “Robbed on train, my purse and writing case stolen”
Social Angst
McCallum is brutally honest with his feelings of angst and disappointment as he grapples with girls and courtship in his earlier days.
- “She gave me final refusal”
- “Ex girlfriend getting married (thoughts of regret)”
- “Disgusted to find she had a bandage on her “thing”
- “She slipped me up”
- “He is cutting me out (romantic rival)”
In addition, always highly critical, he passes judgment on many of the social events he attended.
- “Damn poor show”
- “It was a farce”
- “Not enough girls”
- “Dance was not worth the cost”
- “A poorly organised event”
- “No ladies worth talking to”
- “Too many boys”
Financial Aggravation
Nothing riled McCallum more than issues surrounding money matters. As businessman and landlord he documented many incidents of irritability and many heated exchanges.
- “To lawyer but got no satisfaction”
- “Bank Manager slipped up appointment”
- “Waiting for the gas man, no show”
- “Money missing from safe (4/6d)”
- “Client’s cheques dishonoured again”
- “Bank refused my loan”
- “It was daylight robbery”
- “Running after tenant”
- “Tenant bolted”
- “Tenant left the place in awful mess”
- “Threw tenants stuff out on footpath”
Everyday Irks
McCallum records many every day innocuous events that were the cause for mild consternation. Tardiness, for example, clearly irked him..
- “Lost Spot (family dog)”
- “Dog bit Harvey’s child (neighbour)”
- “Maid late again”
- “Missed my stop as fell asleep on ferry”
- “Damn woman doctor-Bruce stripped at school and now has a cold”
- “He’s an absent minded bugger”
- “Sacked the nanny”
- “Unwanted guests still here”
- “Waited for 3 trains but family not on them”