大象传媒

MARCH 1945

1 THU
Discovered what I hope to be the best route for travel Raynes Park to Croydon. Had letter card from Kay: she is better. Wrote her a letter in reply.

2 FRI
My complaint of the 10/6 watch taking the 鈥渃hore鈥� out of the day could be satisfactorily settled by day鈥檚 work terminating at 4 pm(!) Unfortunately, 4-6 pm is the busiest time, and is also the time when one is most hungry and tired. 1录 hours journey home then a delay while daylight lasts before preparing evening meal leads to irritation and a spoilt evening.

3 SAT
To work by 8.50 am. Sent off a registered parcel containing a hat and a fur to Kay: these will be part of her wedding effects at Doris and Joe鈥檚 wedding (3 weeks time). After day鈥檚 activities, home by same route, arriving at 7 pm. Hot meal of tinned herrings on toast, and spent until bed-time writing a part letter to Kay and odd jobs. Recommencement of 鈥渁lerts鈥�. Was up from my bed at about 3 this morning for 陆 an hour, and a 鈥榝lying bomb鈥� caused 鈥渁lert鈥� at 4 pm. No further disturbances in evening.

4 SUN
Minimal amount of sleep due to early rising for 7/3 watch; to an 鈥渁lert鈥� at 1 am 鈥� 2 am, additionally there were V-bomb explosions. Felt nervy and tired at work in consequence. However, did a domestic job or 2 before spending evening at Mum鈥檚. Mum was a little better, improves daily. Bath and change, home by 10.

5 MON
An undisturbed night: slept well. On early turn, leaving home by 6.50 am. Very cold, particularly on duty whilst standing behind the bench, examining baggage of out-going passengers. Was obliged to stay on duty 2 hours above usual time. Rather tired in evening, so took things easily listening to 鈥淢onday Night at 8鈥� and doing odd things

6 TUE
My usual shopping day, but being 10/6 had to secure permission to attend for duty, a little later in order to do the business as soon as the shops opened. All went well and I was once again provisioned for the week. Received my first birthday letter:- from brother George. He is anticipating returning to England for leave, this year. Quite a number of rockets there in the last few days.

7 WED
The roundabout and costly journey to Croydon airport has curtailed time for spending in the home, lengthening absence to nearly 11 hours. Furthermore, it is tiring, and when added to this comes an inability to cope with ones job, dejection results. I still cherish hopes of changing my occupation to a sedentary one. I am sometimes most unhappy as I am.

8 THU
Today, the process of work did not cause me so much despondency, and further, an experienced colleague gave me valuable assistance in the method of preparation of D/S. 3 letters from Kay (unprecedented!): 2 containing booklets with birthday verses and the usual letter-card. The call for money is unavoidably heave just now due to dentures and clothing.

9 FRI
A normal day, which dragged painfully on to 6 pm when I scooted for home. Unfortunately, I mistook my train departure time and consequently, spent nearly 陆 hour on miserable Waddon Marsh Halt (Wimbledon- West Croydon 鈥� London S.R.). A load of coal had been dumped near my bunkers, as the coalman had been unable to dispose of it all week. This I have to shovel in.

10 SAT
Disposed of the coal and laid dining room fire before setting out for 10 am duties. Know the frequency of trains and buses well enough to assure reasonably convenient journey to work, arriving today at 9.45 am. I usually have to do some running at one stage of the route to make a connection: when I do not have to run or walk 鈥� then I鈥檓 waiting. Home with reasonable speed, cooked usual 鈥榝ry-up鈥� (small piece of bacon, re-con egg and fried bread) after starting the fire and after washing up, had the usual 2 hours freedom before bed time. Spent most part writing air letter to brother George in India.

11 SUN
On at 9 am, which I think, better than 10 鈥� 6 duty. Walk through woods to St H Station, thence, train direct to Waddon. Back the old single line way, collected soiled clothing and on to Mum鈥檚. They (Mum and Dad, brother Jack and Margaret and brother Roy) sang 鈥淗appy Birthday to You鈥�, gave me a ten shilling note, and luxuries (i.e., fruit and sweets). An hour鈥檚 pleasant read then home by 11.

12 MON
From a very misty to a gloriously sunny day. Lunch at Aerodrome Hotel (officers mess), time to look at model railway news in afternoon, and others, a game of chess, between arrivals. Sent 拢6 off to Kay who has many debts. Arrived home to find letter from Kay requesting permission to return home 24/25 March. Kay in highly nervous state: suspect neurasthenia, agreed.

13 TUE
A very long day: duty extended from 7 am (officially) until 6 pm, then home by the awkward route: The Chase, Wallington, Cannon Hill, home. Tired as I was, I put a fitting finish to the day, by achieving something; in this case, a carefully worded letter to the L.M.S. re an allowance on Kay鈥檚 outward tickets last year. To bed at 10.30 pm 鈥� early rising.

14 WED
Ordered process of domestic duties and toilet to enable another early start of duty: trains and buses being very convenient for the early turn (because of rush hour). Another protracted day due to staff shortage: not able to do more than the usual household jobs on getting home at 7. Shortage of wood for fire lighting is my present worry.

15 THU
Rose at 6 am and rushed to get off to work. Fortunately, owing to more staff being available, I was able to leave work after 8 hours instead of staying on for overtime (unwanted). I did my weekly shopping homeward bound, taking the meat to Mum, who made us all a nice meal. I had pleasant time in company of the family: returned home 11 pm.

16 FRI
My first day off duty for 7 weeks (approximately), and I had to get up at 5.45 am for an alert! But only for a few minutes. Finally up at 9.15 am. Principal achievement of the day was to clear away the forest of sticks in the front garden. However, advantage was taken to make the day one of leisure 鈥� reading and radio.

17 SAT
Felt the benefit of my day off, did not feel so tired in the morning: a good thing too, for I was on the early train and had to stay till 6 pm. Brothers Fred, Jack and Roy, went to see a semi-final football match, and have great hopes of securing tickets for the final, but they will be hard to get. I returned to my home from Croydon by the long route )but was fortunate in getting a lift in a colleagues car part way. Nevertheless, it was 7.15 before I was home, and what free time I had, I spent writing to Kay.

18 SUN
Sunday, Wednesday and Friday times of attendance advanced to 9 am now. With the longer daylight hours, it is necessary to remain later occasionally also. Quite a pleasant day: work not too intense, and bright in intervals when the WAAF鈥檚 pay calls and drink tea. Difficulties of travel spoil an otherwise bearable day. To Mum鈥檚 (no improvement).

19 MON
Got off Kay鈥檚 penultimate remittal (拢5), and her penultimate billeting payment to Surrey County Council (who collect on behalf of the government). Couple of 鈥渁lerts鈥� early morning. A normal working day. Beautiful sunshiny weather. Fitted new washer to kitchenette tap, not without much difficulty, for my tools have been stolen, wrong type of washer.

20 TUE
A beautiful day, beginning with a frosty morning, work was therefore continual, and as I am at last conversant with the particular kind of duties down here, and now friendly with all personnel, the work becomes more interesting. Home 7.15 pm, fire, cooking, cleaning up as usual, and letter to Kay, for when I send fare money.

21 WED
Attendance on duty at 9 am, till 6 pm. A 鈥榣ift鈥� kindly given by a colleague in his car, saved me 20 minutes on my homeward journey, which I made by bus from Wallington. Although very tired (as I am always now) I did a good evening鈥檚 work with household jobs and letters. Letter from Kay, she has seen a specialist.

22 THU
Another sunshiny day, which, however, only means additional work to an aerodrome. Being temporarily short staffed the 3 afternoon men were on the move continuously. Left 6.15 pm and had but a small balance of time to do much in the home. Unable to send Kay鈥檚 fare money because overtime not arrived yet (due Monday). Wrote Co-op re supplies.

23 FRI
The overtime arrived at Croydon 1st post and I hastened to Post Office to cash postal draft and send Kay 拢5. Expected 拢12 overtime: received 拢8 odd: balance = income tax. Received a long distance call re the money in evening. Terrible shock in afternoon when I received orders to go to Bovington (Herts). Aired room on Monday 26th 鈥� Kay鈥檚 home coming day! Later, order put in abeyance.

24 SAT
On of the most beautiful of sunshiny days. Most of Croydon staff sat out of doors after lunch and during intervals between planes. Am now friendly with all regular staff at the airport, and am better at my work, and thereby, of greater assistance to my colleagues. Day passed quickly, home via Wallington and St H. Station. Light had failed by the time I had cooked my meal and cleared up, but put in 20 minutes outdoors 鈥� my first this year (i.e., in the evenings after work). Late did some writing. Bed early because I鈥檓 up early in morning.

25 SUN
Complete change of weather: grey clouds and slight rainfalls. As a favour, (!) away from duty at proper time instead of having to stay on. Home for 鈥渄hobi鈥�, then walked to Mum鈥檚. Mum slowly mending. Packed 3 parcels sent in advance by Kay into suitcase for home.

26 MON
Again, dull and misty: 7 鈥� 3 duties, involving getting up about 5.45 am. As yesterday, allowed away from duties, sooner than circumstances would normally permit, as Kay and children were due home. Shopped homeward bound: lit fires to air dining room and front bedroom and to dry bedding, and then to Euston. Train 陆 hour late, Kay looked ill, but the rest well and glad to see me. Bed finally mid-night.

27 TUE
A bad night: Kay has nasty cough, 2 鈥渁lerts鈥� and up at 5.45 (!). Kiddies downstairs were good and slept well: they gave me a real family welcome when I reached home at 7 am. Kay had worked hard, and the house bore evidence of her鈥檚, and Betty鈥檚 work. Found time to sit down for an hour after children in bed, and Betty had gone to a Youth Organisation.

28 WED
A better night, but Kay had a fit of coughing for 录 hour. There were no night 鈥渁lerts鈥�, but one early morning. Long day at the airport, 7 am till 6 pm. Home by 7pm 鈥� too late even to see my children. Kay and Betty went to see Mum and Dad and I wrote a letter to Myrtle and filled in ration books.

29 MAUNDY THU
Up at 6 am, feeling very tired. One thing I very much miss since Kay came back is the glorious rest enjoyed while sleeping alone. There is no substitute. Back to "Harpy" having finished at Croydon for a day or two. Salary sent home by money order. Kay went with me to cash it in Grand Drive. Quiet evening, read round fire and listened to radio.

30 GOOD FRI
Ordinary working day (for most), but Sunday rights of overtime apply. Many City offices and shops were closed. 8/4 "Harpy", cleared up arrears of clerical work brought back from Greenock, and sorted amendments. Happy evening with kiddies, and when they were in bed, with Kay and Betty. Betty had spent the day boating on the river Thames! And enjoyed herself. Kay and I read and listened in. 鈥淎lert鈥�.

31 EASTER SAT
Privilege day (i.e., a day off duty if can be spared, or a day in lieu later). I was 鈥渙ff鈥�, my 2nd free day since my return to London at the end of January. Kay and the kiddies were pleased to have me, and after I had lit the fire for the children to be dressed by, they joined me in the garden (after their breakfast) where they hung around me worshippingly (I am still a novelty to them), as I mowed the back grass patch for them to play on. Also, I 鈥渦ngreased鈥� some of their toys, including tricycle, and this kept them amused. After dinner, we all went to Mum鈥檚 (Pauline in rickshaw). K met Margaret: also present: Sid (9 days leave) and Doris; Fred, Mabel and children, Roy, Jack, Mum and Dad. Mum still bent with sciatica. Home at 9 pm.

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