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JUNE 1945

FRIDAY 1
Ian's birthday. Mum, Cynthia and baby came to tea. Bought him fountain pen. We gave him stamp album.[Cynthia was Dad's cousin. (Ian)]

SATURDAY 2
Children went to pictures. G. and I went to library. Walked home via Queens Road. Utterly devastated round there. Was shocked.

SUNDAY 3
MONDAY 4
TUESDAY 5
WEDNESDAY 6

THURSDAY 7
Mrs Wade came to London with me to do some shopping. Returned empty handed.

FRIDAY 8
Morning shopping. Went to Bromley in afternoon for wedding present and shoes for self. Again, unlucky.

SATURDAY 9
Children went to pictures in morning while I went to Croydon to endeavour to get above articles, but in vain. Dinner at restaurant then walked to mums and library. Betty will try to get electric ????? for Doreen's present.

SUNDAY 10
Rained all day. Julia Wheatley from Ncle (Newcastle?) came to tea. Walked to Elmers End station with her.[I imagine a friend from Mum's past. (Ian)]

MONDAY 11
Tidied up house. After dinner, went to Beckenham and bought white tiles for kitchen. Evening meeting re kids treat.

TUESDAY 12
Washing and cleaned out kitchen cupboards etc. Went to pictures in evening. ("A House of One's Own")

WEDNESDAY 13
Spent morning shopping. Penge, tile edging.

THURSDAY 14

FRIDAY 15
Rushed round in morning to catch train to Clevedon. Missed it. Caught 4.15. Arrived about 8 o'clock. Edith met me. Lost gloves. Slept at Mrs Elston. Very nice person.[I believe that Edith (who was a school teacher moved to a job in Weston-Super-Mare (Ian)]

SATURDAY 16
Breakfast of eggs and bacon! After it walked to Edith's bungalow. Went shopping with Shirley and turned my ankle rather badly. Bought pair of green shoes. Shocking price.

MEMO
George starts his first week’s holiday.

SUNDAY 17
A most lovely day to be at the sea. Foot too bad to go out in morning. Bused to beach after dinner and sat there all afternoon. Got sun burnt.

MONDAY 18
Have tried hard for room for our holiday but unlucky. Caught 11.10 train from Clevedon for home. Arrived 5 o'clock. House looked neglected. Kids glad to see me. Foot painful.

TUESDAY 19
Spent morning dusting through etc. Hobbled around to shops after dinner. Wrote letter to Edith and Juliet Wheatley after tea.

WEDNESDAY 20
We decided to go to Brighton catch 9.46 train. Stood all way down. Had dinner on beach. Rained and kept on raining. Returned home and went to pictures.

THURSDAY 21
Did a little washing this morning. Dinner at B. Restaurant, then caught 12.40 train to London. Very wet at first but turned hot and sunny. Saw several Home Exhibitions.

FRIDAY 22
Shopping and baking. Bathed boys etc.

SATURDAY 23
Lovely day for Doreen's wedding. Still no wedding present. Bride looked charming. Everything went off according to plan. Mrs Hannam had Bryan. Ian had trip up river.[I remember trips on Salter's steamers to Hampton Court. The colourful flower displays on the lock sides made a lasting impression on me. (Ian)]

SUNDAY 24
Very hot and sunny all day. Took things easy.

MONDAY 25
Another lovely day, very hot. Did washing and cleaned out kitchen. Went into Mrs Hendrick's in evening.

TUESDAY 26
Not so warm, a little rain. Took Bryan to dental clinic in morning. Letter from Miss K. Stockings from Julia and costume arrived. A very great disappointment. No fit.

WEDNESDAY 27
Cool and cloudy, a little rain. Took costume to Penge 50/- tailors to be altered. Mrs Hendrick came too. After dinner went on my own to Wickham pictures. Dismal picture, "Tree grows in Brooklyn".['costume' -was the name for a lady's suit in those days. (Ian)]

THURSDAY 28
Weather indifferent. Letter from Sarah and Clevedon. Went to guild in afternoon. Jack and Betty came in evening. Jack on leave from Germany. Went to Ruby's night.[I don't know who Sarah was. She may have been Aunt Sarah, Edith's mother (but see August 21st…………… Jack Blackman) - Betty's husband. Ruby - Dad's other sister. (Ian)}

FRIDAY 29
As usual, most of day spent in shopping and queueing. Not lucky enough to get any fruit, but managed to get 1/2 lb of tomatoes. FIRST THIS YEAR!

SATURDAY 30
George not well. I cooked joint. He ate good dinner. Bryan and I went to library afternoon. More shopping and 1/2 lb cherries. Bathed boys and self evening. Wrote Edith and Clevedon.

MEMO
We have decided to go without a holiday this year. Too many difficulties involved.

JULY 1945

SUNDAY 1
George very groggy. In bed most of day. Boys at S. school then Ian cycled over to see Tony. I had nice lazy afternoon.[I did have a bike of my own at home. Tony Hannam is the same age as me (Ian)]

MONDAY 2
George much better gone to work. Card from Doris with new Reading address. Washed an ironed.

TUESDAY 3
Rushed to Croydon before dinner. Vain attempt to buy blouse material. Stood in queue for cakes after dinner. Mum came in afternoon. Bought ice cream for us all.[Mum - Dad's Mother.]

WEDNESDAY 4
Usual housework and round shop for something for dinner. Sausages again. This is the 14th anniversary of our wedding day.

THURSDAY 5
Ruby called to put us off going to mums. Aunt Cis coming out of hospital. Polling day for general election. My vote lost through evacuation. Very annoyed, one vote lost to labour. Went to Penge with Mrs Hendrick.

FRIDAY 6
Most of day spent shopping as usual. Got 1/2 lb tomatoes. No fruit of any sort again. Met and had long chat with Mrs Carter.[I don't remember Mrs Carter (Ian)]She was the greengrocers wife - you know, the one with the barrow at the end of Adam’s Road. (Bryan)

SATURDAY 7
Had 1/2 lb of butter given by Mrs Wilkinson. Very thrilled and delighted. Boys go to their cinema club.[At Elmers End Odeon (Ian)]

MEMO
July 5th: Bryan had finger lanced by doctor.

SUNDAY 8
George spent morning on plot. Boys at Sunday school after dinner. Spent afternoon and evening reading.[Plot - Dad's allotment at the top of Abbots Way. (Ian)]

MONDAY 9
Washing day. Betty turned up for tea. Bought pears. Went round with George to plot. Thundered and rained.

TUESDAY 10
Pouring wet all day. Ian got soaked. To Wickham in afternoon. Bought pillow cases for Doreen and cottons for mats.

WEDNESDAY 11
Rushed to Penge to see if costume ready. No luck. Afternoon and even. machining and mending. Mrs H. came in. G. at plot.

THURSDAY 12
Very hot all day. Sunny. To guild after dinner with Mrs Waghorne. On to mum's. George picked plums and apples. Had 3 1/2 lbs of plums, 2 1/2 lbs of apples.[I don't remember Mum going to 'Guild' According to the entry for July 19th it was the Coop Guild. (Ian)I was sometimes taken with mum. The guild she took me to was held in the Free Church hall where us cubs and scouts met. (Bryan)]

FRIDAY 13
Very hot. Three times at shop before finally getting rations. Van not arrived. Too tired to go out in afternoon. Made 5 lb of jam in evening. Plum.

SATURDAY 14
Thundery. Very heavy storms all evening and night. Lightening incessant. Shirley Hannam arrived in afternoon. Took her home during storm. Ian's shoes repaired 6/-.

SUNDAY 15
Still very warm but high wind. George at plot all morning. Joint bad, uneatable. Mum and Bet came for tea etc. Ruby and George dropped in evening.[Bet = Betty. Ruby and George (Hawkes) Dad's Sister and Brother-in-law. (Ian)]

MONDAY 16
Much cooler, still windy. Did my washing and ironing. Tummy playing me up today badly. 1/4 ton of coal delivered. Boys haircut.

TUESDAY 17
Rushed to Bromley in afternoon in vain effort to buy blouse material. Met Mrs Blackman. Queued for fish. Covered dining room chairs with shelter cover.[I believe Mrs Blackman was Jack's Mother, Betty's Mother -in-law. (Ian)]

WEDNESDAY 18
Waited in for shed in morning but didn't come. Over to see Mrs Wade after dinner. Took Doreen's wedding present. Shed delivered while I was out.[The shed was to be dad’s workshop. It was an ex WD one with a toilet compartment. Of course, dad didn’t need the toilet compartment!]

THURSDAY 19
Housework and shopping in morning. Co-op guild in afternoon. Evening darning and mending.

FRIDAY 20
Morning spent shopping. Queued for cake after dinner. Mum, Bet, Auntie Alice and Harry came for tea and supper.[I believe that Aunt Alice was Dad's Mum's Sister and Uncle Harry his Dad's Brother, two sisters married two brothers. They lived in or near Reading. (Ian)]

SATURDAY 21
Cooking pastry etc. in morning. George and I went to library after dinner. Bathed boys after tea then to whist drive for childrens do at Mrs Stephen's. Won booby prize. G. and Ruby came while I was out.[Mrs Stevens lived opposite us in Ambleside Avenue. Her husband was a policeman (motor cycle cop). (Ian)He was an officious so-and-so! (Bryan)]

SUNDAY 22
George spent morning on shed. Nice quiet peaceful Sunday. Read thriller all afternoon and most of evening.[This was dad erecting the shed.]

MONDAY 23
Did my washing. Very off colour all day. Rested in afternoon.

TUESDAY 24
Still groggy. Pottered around in morning. Afternoon, went to W. Wickham. Finished off Doreen's toilet mats in evening.

WEDNESDAY 25
Report poor. Shopping. Ian broke up. Felt like nothing on earth all day. Sunny as usual. Bryan bought white mouse.[Was this my end of term report I wonder? (Ian)]

THURSDAY 26
Cleaned all windows inside. Went to guild after dinner. All very thrilled at labour victory. On to mum's for tea. George picked some apples. Bryan brings home mouse no. 2[These (white mice) did not last for long. They mysteriously escaped, aided we believed by Dad but maybe we did him an injustice! (Ian)I never knew that! (Bryan)]

FRIDAY 27
As usual all morning shopping. Went to Penge. More shopping after dinner. After tea bathed boys and made pastry and cake. Made a satchel for Bryan's sandwiches. Bryan's shoes repaired, 5/-.

SATURDAY 28
Up early to get Bryan off to his S. school outing to the zoo at Chessington. A lovely day too. Ian went to Garden Fete. George and I to library. Bryan returned from outing well satisfied.

MEMO
George begins his second weeks annual holiday.

SUNDAY 29
Weather good. Usual Sunday. Still very off colour.

MONDAY 30
Washing day. We had early tea, then we all went to Odeon to see ‘They Reach the Stars’.

TUESDAY 31
Nothing particular today. George pottered about in his shed. Did some painting. ??

AUGUST 1945

WEDNESDAY 1
Up at 6 o’clock. Hectic rush to get ready to catch 8.56 train from Bromley to Herne Bay. Weather indifferent, but had quite a nice day. We all had a paddle.

THURSDAY 2
Bought blouse material. Another day of pottering round. No word from Edith since my weekend there. Wonder if she’s annoyed.
FRIDAY 3
Rushed round doing my weekly shopping. Had dinner at British Rest. Then took boys to mums. George and I went on to London Palladium to see Tommy Trinder. New shoes causing slight trouble

SATURDAY 4
Spent morning cooking. After dinner G. and self went to library. Called at Jacksons to leave Betty’s bag. Baths in evening. Ordered an apple, and plum tree Clarks [I don’t remember Jacksons. (Ian)Did they run the shop over which Betty an Jack lived? (Bryan)]

MEMO
Ian went to get my costume on Friday which was really finished at last. Very pleased with results.[I do not remember this but I was at School in Penge where the costume was being altered. (see entry for June 27th) (Ian)]

SUNDAY 5
Usual Sunday.

MONDAY 6
Nothing particular today. After tea took bus to West Wickham Odeon to see George Formby in ‘I Didn’t Do It’. Met the Hannams there.

TUESDAY 7
Cold and bleak all day. Could do with fire.

WEDNESDAY 8
Ruby called to go to School with me in hope of getting some blankets etc., but closed. Letter from Doris. Another baby on way. George returns to work.

THURSDAY 9
Boys and I went to Grandmas after dinner. George came from work too. Rained hard on way back home. All got very wet.

FRIDAY 10
Shopping extra troublesome. No eggs.

SATURDAY 11
George and I went to Regal in afternoon see Gordon Harker. Boys played in garden.[Regal cinema in Beckenham. (Ian)]

MEMO
The end of the Jap war is expected any time now.

SUNDAY 12
Quiet afternoon. Sowed up my blouse in the evening. George and Ruby turned up here for supper.

MONDAY 13
Very dull all day. Rumours rife but still no official note of end of war.

TUESDAY 14
Still very dull. Card from Mum at Margate. No definite news again today, only rumours. G. and Ruby came in evening.

WEDNESDAY 15
Today is Victory in Japan Day. It has come at last. G. and R. came. We all went to see floodlighting and to recreation park. No drinks.

THURSDAY 16
We all went to see "I'll Be Your Sweetheart" in afternoon. Bonfire after tea. G. and R. came again. We had drink at pub in Beckenham. They stayed to supper.

FRIDAY 17
Bread difficult to get. Queued in vain. Posted letter to Miss Knapp included F.W.O. Shopping hopeless. Half goods not in. Chaos.[F.W.O ?? I don't know what this stands for. (Ian)]

SATURDAY 18
Managed to get shopping done to my satisfaction. Made 4lbs plum jam. Went to library on my own.

MEMO
Waited for midnight news Tuesday. Mr Attlee announced Jap surrender.

SUNDAY 19
Usual Sunday. Tony came over but didn't stay for tea. Ruby and George turned up.

MONDAY 20
Posted letter to Doris. Letter card from Fan. Margaret Mc Gowan invited to tea for Ian's benefit. Washing. Cleaned cooker.[Margaret Mc Gowan was a neighbours daughter. Ian was quite keen on her.]

TUESDAY 21
Decided to take boys to zoo but weather not too good. Instead went to pictures with Mrs Hendrick. "I'll be Seeing You"

WEDNESDAY 22
Rushed around trying to get something for dinner. Went to Penge. After early dinner took Bryan to zoo. Ian refused to come. Rained most of time.

THURSDAY 23
Weather very indifferent. Poor August altogether. Ian arranged outing with Tony, but Tony didn't turn up - weather too bad. Wrote to Alf and Sarah.[I think Alf and Sarah were Mum's Brother and Sister-in-law. (Ian)]

FRIDAY 24
Bryan's shoes mended. Usual mad rush to do shopping. Getting more difficult than ever to get food other than rations. Lease-lent to end. Be more difficult still.

SATURDAY 25
Bottled another 3 jars plums. George and I went to library in afternoon.

SUNDAY 26
George worked on allotment all morning. Very hot lovely day. Had long chat with Mrs Powell who was passing by. George and Ruby turned up. No supper.[I don’t remember Mrs Powell (Ian)]

MONDAY 27
Rent from Queensway. Another lovely day. Did my washing and ironed after tea. At last a letter from Edith also card from Doris. Windows cleaned.

TUESDAY 28
Up early for trip to Southend with cubs. One heavy shower. Rest of day perfect. Home 11 o’clock very tired. Nice day had by all.[We used to catch the paddle steamer from one of the London piers. This may have been one of those occasions.]

WEDNESDAY 29
Sam Doris and Pat came for tea. I went back with Doris to ?????’s house.[Sam and Doris - Mum’s cousin and his Wife. I imagine that Pat was their child. I remember that they lived in Beckenham for a while. (Ian)Over a greengrocers shop in the High Street.]

THURSDAY 30
Over to Mum’s afternoon. Brought some apples back with us.

FRIDAY 31
Went to Beckenham after dinner to buy a present for Bryan’s birthday. Bought Halifax kit. Met George and came home with him.[Halifax was a warplane not the Building Society. (Ian)I cut my hand quite badly when forming the fuselage. I carry the scar to this day. (Bryan)]

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