大象传媒

SEPTEMBER 1945

SATURDAY 1
Bryan鈥檚 birthday his 9th. He had 5 cards and several shillings. A darts match was held in our house for the kids peace party. 16 altogether, George winning first prize. Bath Salts .

MEMO
Had unpleasant few moments with parents of boy whom Bryan had thrown stone at.It was more like half a house brick. I didn鈥檛 throw it at him, just tossed it up into the air in the general direction!! His name was Harris. He chased me right to the back door of our house.

SUNDAY 2
Felt very autumnal this morning. Mum and Betty here to tea and supper. Ruby and George turned up too. Stayed to supper.Mum was fed up with Ruby and George 鈥榯urning up and staying for supper鈥� Food was hard to come by in those days.

MONDAY 3
Rained all day till 4 o'clock. Today is the 6th ann. of beginning of war. Now it is all over but we still have far to go before we can enjoy peace once more. We have been very lucky as a family.

TUESDAY 4
It is very autumnal today. Cold and dreary. Out early for something for dinner. Too early. Then again after dinner to queue for cakes for Bryan's birthday tea. Desmond and Leslie came.Desmond Walsh from three doors up the road from us. He had a Brother, Brian with whom I (Ian) cycled round the Cotswolds Youth hostelling. I don't remember Leslie. (Ian)Leslie Wilkinson - next door neighbour鈥檚 son. Bryan鈥檚 age. (Bryan)

WEDNESDAY 5
Usual daily routine. No shopping so stayed in all day.

THURSDAY 6
Today we all went to mum's for tea. The boys behaved themselves abominably. Walked back.We didn鈥檛 like visiting Grandma! (Bryan)

FRIDAY 7
Much as every other Friday. Shopping. Made pastry and cakes in afternoon. Intended to go out after tea but couldn't be bothered to get ready.

SATURDAY 8
A most beastly day, cold and wet. Morning G. B. and I walked to library. Met Ruby and George on way home also met Mr and Mrs Wade who came to tea at my invitation. Bought photo of Doreen's wedding.

SUNDAY 9
George at plot. Children at S.S. in afternoon. Harvest Thanksgiving. Met them and all went up to Ruby's for tea.

MONDAY 10
Didn't feel too good so put off working. After dinner took Ian to Croydon to try and get pair of long trousers. Nothing doing so bought suit instead.

TUESDAY 11
My new green shoes returned from repairs with rubber soles and heels. Still most uncomfortable to wear.

WEDNESDAY 12
Went to Odeon with Mrs Hendrick: "Affairs of Susan" and "I'll Walk Beside You" Good programme.

THURSDAY 13
Went to guild in afternoon. After tea met Betty outside art school and joined handicraft class. Started making pair of gloves. Skin 17/9. Two pairs and little skin left over.

FRIDAY 14
Morning shopping.

SATURDAY 15
To Croydon after dinner with Mrs Hendrick. Evening to whist drive at Mrs Stephen's.

SUNDAY 16
Been busy today making toilet mat for Miss Knapp. Also swimming trunks for Bryan and other sewing jobs.

MONDAY 17
George has day's holiday. Busy most of day on plot. Bryan goes swimming for first time. Very thrilled about it. Went to my class and proceeded with gloves. Dustman.

TUESDAY 18
Did my washing today. In all day but in evening popped into show Mrs Hendrick how to do mats.

WEDNESDAY 19
Out early to doctors for milk certificate then on to food office. Dr. suggests Farnborough hospital to investigate tummy trouble. Over to see Mrs Wade after din.

THURSDAY 20
Guild in afternoon. Poured with rain. Mrs Hendrick and I walk to Regal after tea to see "I Live in Grosvenor Square" Quite good.

FRIDAY 21
Morning as usual shopping. Stopped in after dinner. Long letter from Miss Knapp.

SATURDAY 22
Library after dinner on my own. Little shopping in Beckenham.

SUNDAY 23
Ian had crowd of boys and girls in garden rehearsing play in morning. Went to S.S. after dinner. I read a little then had bath before tea.I do not remember this at all (Ian).

MONDAY 24
Shocking weather cold windy and wet. Washing dried though. Went to my class in evening. Betty didn't turn up. Made a hash of my glove thumb.

TUESDAY 25
The sweep has been today. Didn't make much mess but have turned out and cleaned dining room thoroughly. Met George and four of us went to see "Henry V". Shocking pains.

WEDNESDAY 26
Very little sleep last night due to pain. Kept on all day. Went over to mum's in evening. George Hawkes brought me home by cycle side car. Pain almost more than I could bear.

THURSDAY 27
Went to see doctor. She gave me something to ease pain. Slept badly again. Spent rest of day in bed after dinner. Ian had his hair cut.

FRIDAY 28
Pain easing up. Managed to get my shopping done. Rested a little in afternoon. Had first fire this year. Bryan had hair cut.

SATURDAY 29
Spent morning tidying and polishing house. Walked to library before tea. Mum came for weekend. She and George went to children鈥檚 scout do at church. I made cakes and pastry while they were gone.

SUNDAY 30
Usual Sunday morning. George at plot. Mum and Bryan went round too. Had fire in sitting room and rested in afternoon.

OCTOBER 1945

MONDAY 1
Couldn鈥檛 be bothered to do washing today. Mum went back this morning. Didn鈥檛 go to my handicraft class.

TUESDAY 2
Jack and Betty called in rather late.

WEDNESDAY 3

THURSDAY 4
Bryan has a slight bronchial attack. Keeping him in bed for a few days.

FRIDAY 5

SATURDAY 6
Went to see the doctor again. Gave me a letter for specialist.

SUNDAY 7
Set fire in front room. Lazy day.

MONDAY 8
Did my washing. Rang up to make appointment with specialist but did not know my number. Went to evening class but teacher ill so returned home.

TUESDAY 9
Bought Ian a pair of long trousers at Croydon couldn't get a pair for Bryan.

WEDNESDAY 10
Fan came to dinner and tea. Developed a beastly cold. Can't seem to stay well for long.

THURSDAY 11
As lovely a day as the nicest day in June. Sunny all day. Shoe man called. Gave him a pair of George's and Bryan's to sole and heel. Went to the guild. Cold in head troublesome.

FRIDAY 12
Round shops with Mrs Hendrick in morning. After dinner to Penge on my own. 50 clothing coupons gone west on clothes and wool. What a life!!!

SATURDAY 13
Our road victory party held today. Mayor and Mayoress opened it. All had a grand time. Love (?) my best dress. Bryan won a prize.[I recited a poem 鈥淭he Sages Pigtail鈥� that told the story of a Chinese Sage who wondered why his pigtail hung down his back, and of his twists and turns as he tried to move it round to his front. Mum made me up an outfit from the old blackout curtains, and with a bit of make-up, I must have given a reasonable performance. I won a book, signed by the Mayor, whom was in attendance, called 鈥淭he Chatterbox Annual鈥漖

MEMO
Thursday made Bryan Chinese outfit for victory party.

SUNDAY 14
Fire in sitting room. Did some needlework. Ruby and George came and stayed to supper.

MONDAY 15
Washing day. Went to my class in evening but teacher failed to appear.

TUESDAY 16
Left house at 8 o'clock to see specialist at woman鈥檚 hospital. To go in for investigation. Lovely weather. Grand.

WEDNESDAY 17
Nothing to report.

THURSDAY 18
To guild in afternoon. Spent evening knitting gloves for Ian. George and Ruby brought mum's cat here to look after while they went to Guildford for week.

FRIDAY 19
Out early to get rations etc. Had cup of Bournville (?) in Mrs H's. After dinner to Penge with her. George's shoes and Bryan's back. 11/9

SATURDAY 20
To library in afternoon. George and Ruby came in evening. Stayed for supper.

SUNDAY 21
Dreadful day. Very wet. All went up to Ruby's for tea.

MONDAY 22
Just tidied up house and went over to Coney Hall after dinner. Didn't go to class in evening.

TUESDAY 23

WEDNESDAY 24
Wrote to Miss Knapp. Went to pictures with Mrs Hendrick. Saw Bette Davis in "Great Lie"[Mrs Hendrick was a real friend to us, yet mum always refers to her as Mrs Hendrik or Mrs H. I lived with her when mum went into hospital after Christmas. (Bryan)]

THURSDAY 25
Shoe repairer called. Gave him 2 pairs of shoes for Ian and self to be soled and heeled. Went to guild in afternoon. Rain pelted down. Bryan soaked through.

FRIDAY 26
Mrs Hannam and Christopher came to see us in afternoon. Didn't stay for tea. Had good old chin wag.

SATURDAY 27
Just went out in morning to do last minute shopping. Stayed in and knitted after dinner. To darts match in evening at Mrs Wykes. Ruby and George came while I was out. Cooked their supper and had it with George. I felt most annoyed at imposition.[Mrs Wykes - another neighbour I don't remember. (Ian).She had a son Peter. He was about my age. His dad had one of the first cars up our road. He was a tobacco salesman. (Bryan)]

SUNDAY 28
Sat in front room by fire and read thriller. Rained all day.

MONDAY 29
Don鈥檛 feel too good again, so left washing. Couldn鈥檛 be bothered to go to class again. Gloves not satisfactory. Bryan had hair cut.

TUESDAY 30
Went to Regal with Mrs Hendrick to see 鈥淧erfect Strangers鈥� Very good film. Ian had hair cut.

WEDNESDAY 31
Mum and Betty called to collect cat.

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