大象传媒

Monday 8th January

Contemplating returning to Blaenau tomorrow. Then saw Joan Hill and she told me school was re-opening for full-time on January 15th. So we went to see headmistress and then I saw Lorna. We decided to stay in Birkenhead.

Thursday 11th

Returned to Blaenau alone.

Friday 12th January

Still in Blaenau. Went to Dance at Women鈥檚 Institute at night. Elwyn was there! Oh, boy! Did I enjoy myself! Elwyn was too shy to dance with me but it was enough that he was there! I am madly in love with him. I think he is with me, by the way he looked at me when our eyes met!

Saturday 13th January

I had to return home with several other girls by 10 o鈥檆lock L.N.E.R. Changed at Llandudno junction and Chester. Arrived home 2pm. No one to meet me because my card had not arrived. I had so much luggage I had to leave my case at Left Luggage Office to be called for. Mr Jones gave me a lovely slate fan, he had specially made for me. They asked me to come back for a holiday and I asked Mary to come to Birkenhead. I am sorry to leave Blaenau because I have grown to like it. Besides I shan鈥檛 be able to see Elwyn.

Wed. Thurs. Fri. 17th 18th 7 19th

School. Lorna put in different form from me worse luck! I think they did it on purpose! (The cats! That old Froggie I suppose) We still have some lessons together though.

Tuesday 30th January

Off school in bed with cold. I got a letter from my beloved Elwyn!! Hurrah!! He said he thought I did not want to write to him and he had been waiting for a letter every day. He signed it 鈥楲ove Elwyn and S.W.A.L.K. He told me he wanted to dance with me that night but was too shy. Lorna off school.

Wednesday 31st January

Returned to school but had only been there an hour when 鈥榯allywags鈥� told us school was being shut because of weather. We have to use our own discretion whether we return tomorrow or not.

Thursday 1st February

Did not go to school. Knitted pixie-hood. (part of it)!

Saturday 3rd February

I answered Elwyn鈥檚 letter and am waiting for a reply. Went to pics. Saw 鈥楪oodbye Mr Chips鈥� with Robert Donat. Excellent!

Thursday 8th February

School. Can鈥檛 bear Lilian Saunders and Barbara Jones. (cats!)

Saturday 10th February

Norah鈥檚 birthday and I almost forget. I bought her a box of Cadbury鈥檚 Milk tray and a card. I had to give her the card because I forgot! We went to Gaumont at night. Saw Mickey Rooney in鈥� Andy Hardy gets Spring fever鈥�. Jolly good.

Tuesday 13th February

Elwyn is 17 yrs 1 month today. I sent my valentine to him. Looking forward to tomorrow!

Wednesday 14th February

St. Valentine鈥檚 Day! No Valentine though. Elwyn is probably too shy.

Tuesday 20th February

Late again for school.

Wednesday 21st February

Late again! Froggie really 鈥榬atty鈥� this time and she marched me to the headmistress. Miss Howells was busy, so old Frog made me wait in waiting-room until Miss Howells could see me. Froggie saw her first. When she came back, she told me to get my books and work in the waiting-room until Miss Howells was ready. Miss H was nice about it. She told me I had very pretty hair, then asked me why I was so late. She said that in Blaenau I probably let things go a bit and fell into 鈥榣ate鈥�. Habits. I agreed and she asked me if I would promise to be early for the rest of this term. (4 weeks more) I hesitated, knowing what a job it would be, but she was such an 鈥榓ngel鈥� that I promised! I love Miss Howells but can鈥檛 bear old Froggie! (The spiteful cat!)

Thursday 22nd February

I kept my promise and I was early.

Friday 23rd February

Still kept promise. I am feeling very pleased with myself. Lorna did not come this afternoon, as she said it wasn鈥檛 worth it. She only has scripture (nobody comes) 7 gym. There was no one there for our gym lesson this afternoon, so we had dancing and I enjoyed myself. Barbara Jones sat at back of hall doing homework. (The soft-sap!)

Saturday 24th February

Had a letter from Beryl. She says she saw Elwyn with a girl one night. Still, what can you expect? I wish he would write though!!! Norah ill so did not go to pics. It鈥檚 probably through her dance at Brit. Legion on Thursday.! I鈥檓 glad I didn鈥檛 go anyway! Not that I would have done, without leaving my homework and school must come first!

Good Friday 22nd March

Went to Liverpool on boat with Billy in afternoon for something to do. Went to concert at Grange Road church with Norah. Passion plays. Lots from Lowe St there. Kept us seats for front row. Very good acting.

Saturday 23rd March

Went to Gaumont with Norah. Saw Cary Grant, Carole Lombard and Kay Francis in 鈥業n name Only鈥�. Not bad at all.

Bank holiday Monday 25th

Went on outing with Norah and those from Lowe Street. Bussed to Arrow, walked to Thurstaston and had tea at Dodd鈥檚 farm. Walked back to Arrow, bussed to Charing Cross.
Went to Gaumont last house and saw Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in 鈥楤abes in Arms鈥�. Very good! It was worth waiting an hour in the queue for! I like Stan very much.

Thursday 28th march

Aunt Emmy came down again in the morning. Went to dance at night given by 鈥楲yric Male Voice Choir鈥�. Had a good time especially since I danced with Wilf. Oh Boy! Heaven! Wilf took me home. More heaven!! Paradise!!

Friday 29th March

Went to Ritz with Billy to see stage show and Ralph Bellamy in some cowboy picture or other. Not bad. Went to Lowe Street at night with Norah. Wilf there. Still no letter from Elwyn. I wrote again one day last week & told Elwyn I wanted some sort of answer. No good though. I suppose it鈥檚 almost hopeless now. Still no letter from Cyril.

Wednesday 3rd April

Put two shillings in bank. We鈥檒l win this war, I鈥檓 sure if I go on putting two bobs in every week.

Thursday 4th April

School. Did homework and then knitting. Nearly finished that stupid jumper.

Wednesday 10th April

Lorna got card from Len. He is in Ellesmere Port working! Ellyn isn鈥檛 there (worse luck!) There are quite a number of Blaenau boys there. Len says he鈥檚 coming here next Wednesday. I鈥檓 keeping well out of his way or else!!! Lorna and I both got letters from Beryl. She鈥檚 going strong with Joe Bradley! She says Mary is going to write Huh! Maybe! My arm is a lot better. That ointment is very strong. It nearly drew my arm off! It looks like a cross between an ice-cream and icing sugar (the ointment not my arm!)

Friday 10th May

Had half day for Whit. Went bike ride with Lorna on Aunt Beck鈥檚 bike. I only fell off once rounding a rather difficult corner. Lorna got caught in a bog but fortunately realised in time and got off with a pair of very muddy feet. Lowe St. at night.

Saturday 11th May

Got new coat and hat. A fawn tweed coat and lemon straw hat. Lovely! Pleased with them (for once!)

Sunday 12th May

Whit Sunday. Went to Sunday school in new things. Hurried off to attend Lorna鈥檚 confirmation at Christ Church. Very nice.

Monday 13th Whit

Had to attend school because of critical situation of war!! Tried gas-masks on in afternoon. Much talk of second evacuation. Went bike ride with Lorna after tea. It was lovely! I鈥檓 getting quite sunburned. The weather is simply glorious鈥�

Tuesday 14th May

School again when it should have been another holiday. Played tennis in afternoon. Miss Howells told us no homework all this week and Upper V & VI could have games every fine afternoon.

Wednesday 15th May

Rained all day! No tennis of course.

Thursday 16th May

Lovely day! This fickle English weather! Played tennis in afternoon. Marvellous game.

Saturday 18th May

Had to go to school in morning. War getting critical. Germans getting nearer dear old England. They have invaded Holland and Belgium last week. Holland has been taken and also half of Belgium. Arranged game of tennis with Lorna but we missed each other. Met at different places. Came back and went round Grange Rd. No pictures at night because of Norah not being well. She鈥檚 up and about though.

Sunday 19th May

Went to Sunday school. I do do do like Wilf. He鈥檚 marvellous. They wanted me to stay and play for Intermediate bit I explained I was going a little walk with N. as she hadn鈥檛 been out all week. So it was Ok. Went walk through park. Saw a lot of French-Canadian soldiers around. I鈥檝e made up my mind to practise my French on them before School Cert. Oral on May 31st. went little walk at night with N. and her mother played hamlet as we came in at *.45!

Monday 20th May

School. Tennis in afternoon for a wonder! Got to ask about evac. Dad won鈥檛 let me go again. I want to though because of School Cert. Lorna does not want to go, so between them I don鈥檛 suppose I will go1 I want to though because of School cert. The school will close if there鈥檚 an evac. 鈥� then I don鈥檛 know what I鈥檒l do. Germans advancing nearer too. They say they鈥檝e broken through the Maginot line around Sedan. They are (I think), making for Calais. Then they鈥檒l have a base from which to bomb us!

Tuesday 21st May

School. Tennis finished, and homework begun again. I hear the headmistress is going to lessen our homework. I hope so, then I鈥檒l have more time for revision. Stayed in school a little while to do a bit of homework. It鈥檚 a new plan for School Cert. girls.

Friday 24th May

Empire Day. The first during wartime that I鈥檝e ever known. Went to Lowe St at night. Learned that Fred had got his calling-up papers this morning for next Thursday at Manchester. I heard news from wireless and also King鈥檚 speech.

Sunday 26th May

The last Sunday for Fred (for quite a time at any rate) said 'au revoir'. Practice for Chapel Anniversary which is a week next Sunday.

Tuesday 28th May

French Oral with Miss Rhys. Not bad. I鈥檝e passed ok. Detention for being late last Wednesday 7 Froggie took it 鈥� of all people! Supposed to learn School rules but I did my French homework instead.

Wednesday 29th May

I was late for school this morning. Froggie sent me to the ? and I got a det. But I鈥檝e no intention of staying for it. I鈥檝e had quite enough! I know the so-in-so Scholl rules by heart!

Thursday 30th May

French Oral with Dr. Fletcher from a university. He was positively charming and I enjoyed it very much indeed1 most of us did and I鈥檓 sue I鈥檝e passed ok.

Friday 31st May

Went to Lowe St. as usual but I now join the junior school 鈥� as pianist. I move up one and get an extra 拢10 per week (so Wilf says!)

Saturday 1st June

Went to Gaumont with Norah to see 鈥楾he Hunchback of Notre dame鈥�. Marvellous picture 鈥� what I saw of it! (Charles Laughton and Maureen O鈥橦ara in it) As we were going in we met two handsome territorials and they asked if they could come. There was no reason why they shouldn鈥檛 so we agreed and William Coin (so I learned later) gave me a ten shilling note to get four one and sixes! We went upstairs in the circle. He is charming and I like him very much. He comes from Nantwich and he鈥檚 a farmer鈥檚 son. He says he鈥檚 never been to school and he can鈥檛 read or write or even tell the time! He is just learning now from his pal! He says there are only three houses in his village (about fifteen people) His parents are old-fashioned 鈥� like the house. Gypsies come round trading. He has four gold rings from them, one with a ruby in it. Goes to bed at 6pm and up at 4am. Has never seen the sea, so I took him to Woodside to see the River Mersey. They got bus to barracks. I think he had to be back for 10.30pm it was about 9.30 then. (his pal, whose name I don鈥檛 know, lost his cap badge. I hope he doesn鈥檛 get into trouble) Phew, what a night! They shook our hands at Woodside and William said he would probably see us again around Birkenhead. (He seemed to forget how big Birkenhead is! 鈥� pity too!)

Sunday 2nd June

Went to Sunday school. Not many in because of glorious sunny weather. I played for juniors. Wilf says Fred is in S. Wales billeted in an empty house. Got out of staying for practice in Sunday night and went for a walk instead to Bidston Hill.

Monday 3rd June

Nan鈥檚 birthday. I gave her a quarter of tea, sweets and some black stockings yesterday. Got letter form Elsie Canozzi from California (my new correspondent) Flo and Babs came over.

Wednesday 5th June

I鈥檓 quite sun-burned from yesterday. School as usual 鈥� weather still gloriously sunny and hot. Got new anti-smoke gas filters fitted. Mine is a nice green one. (Pity it wasn鈥檛 blue!)

Monday 1st July

English Lit. in morning and English lang. in afternoon. (Great!)

Tuesday 2nd July

Geometry in morning (Lousy!) Afternoon off (History)

Wednesday 3rd June

Day off

Thursday 4th June

Geog in morning. (not much!)

Friday 5th June

French all day. (Quite nice)

Saturday 6th June

Went cycling in afternoon with Alf. We went to Park gate and back 鈥� 20 miles! (I鈥檓 feeling good!) No pictures at night 鈥� went to see Norah in General Hospital. She鈥檚 looking OK. Had operation last Wednesday. Took her some Maltesers.

Sunday 7th July

Sunday school. All asking about Norah. Stan Shaw was there today. Must be on leave from Navy. Fred has had no leave yet. I like Wilf today.

Monday 8th July

Morning off. (chemistry) Algebra in afternoon. (great)

Tuesday 9th July

Latin all day. (positively lousy). We had air-raid from 10.40am to 11.10am. We had to leave hall and sit in corridor, then go back and carry on. Examiner came and took notes. We had to enter it on our paper. Of course it would happen during Latin. As if it isn鈥檛 bad enough!

Wednesday 10th July

Day off. Rained! So couldn鈥檛 go out. Studied.

Thursday 11th July

Studied most of day because no exam today. Wrote to America after tea. Dad working late.

Friday 12th July

Biology in morning

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