Molasses and Midges Diaries of Granny Irving: A short history of a large family

Step back in time to the windswept Highlands of Scotland and into the bustling, love-filled home of the Irving family. In this beautifully compiled and lovingly edited diary, Evelyn Hunck-Irving brings to life the voice of her mother, Catherine Gladioli Irving-affectionately known as Granny Irving-a resilient wartime bride, mother of nine, and master of making do.

Spanning decades of handwritten notes and daily reflections, Molasses and Midges paints an honest, humorous, and deeply human portrait of family life in post-war Britain. From tales of emigrating to Canada and back, to wrestling with coal shortages, midges, mischievous children, and mountains of laundry-every entry pulses with heart, wit, and endurance.

Part memoir, part social history, this is a celebration of one woman's strength and spirit, and a tribute to the generations she inspired. Whether you're a lover of family sagas, Scottish heritage, or just appreciate the quiet power of everyday life, Molasses and Midges is a story you'll carry with you long after the final page.