Topics discussed include: Leith; borrowing; district's bad reputation.

INTVEE had been shocked at the dirty condition of her house when she moved in with broken lavatory and fireplace. INTVER describes the house as now being attractive, they have put in flush doors everywhere including front door. She came from Leith which she is quoted as calling "a filthy, stinking hole". INTVER notes that this is the first criticism of Leith she has heard. INTVEE does not have a washing machine as thought money would be better spent on a fridge, she does not waste food now and can serve a greater variety of dishes. A bonus is they can make ice lollies. They are saving up for a little car and they have a joint bank account. She doesn't think they'll get to move again but would not like to live in one of the Muirhouse blocks, she has been to see them and doesn't think they are solid. If she had a choice she would like to be in one of the Swedish houses as they look so attractive. She thinks her street is a dreadful street with some dreadful people but this doesn't bother her too much. They have been there 4 years and she thinks it has become much worse since then. When they moved in the majority of people were decent and had been there since the beginning but they had now all moved out and families moved in. In a street of 25 blocks there are 150 families and at least 7 really bad families that she knew of whose children are neglected and behaviours are a social nuisance. Language is bad and children urinate in the stairs. She has helped one woman by giving her clothes for her children. The amount of borrowing and lending that goes on is phenomenal, one woman had raised subscriptions amongst the neighbours to cover her rent arrears of £24. If they don't borrow they may sell some of their belongings to neighbours. INTVER mentions an "ambiguous" figure - a much older male friend of her husband's who sometimes goes on holiday with them and who he drinks with occasionally.