大象传媒

NOVEMBER 1944

1 WED
Am leaving home at 6.55 nowadays, and even so, am rarely at the office by 8 am. More explosions overnight. A day of packing up parcels and writing, in the office, able to read part of 鈥淪hirley鈥�: story profoundly slow. Mr Bookie phoned to say exam result out but not to worry(??).

2 THU
Another exam result rumour. Mr Maloney C.P.O. also told me not to worry! Began making a purchase tax ready reckoner in case I have really passed. 1 pm, home on 陆 day: Mr B. on phone again; says news released, I have passed: probably transfer in a fortnight! Wrote to Kay re me leaving house vacant if I go: she will probably return home. Visited Mum, received congratulations. Radio in evening.

3 FRI
2/10 duty. Not up at 5.45am of course, but under way by 7.45. There was much to do in the available daylight, particularly as the house is filthy and needs cleaning before Kay鈥檚 return (she almost certainly will). Left home noon, dinner near docks. To Custom house for fire watch at conclusion of watch. Visited room 11 and found my removal from London, imminent. Bed 11.30!

4 SAT
Usual broken sleep but most possibly my last in F.A.P. Custom House. Anyway, said 鈥榞ood-bye鈥� all round in anticipation. I am 3rd man to leave London on promotion. Letter also contained a personal message of congratulations from WS. We were 10/6 today, so I had to wait 2 hours after fire watch before duty commenced. Continued to make out Ready Reckoner Tables to aid duty- taking if called upon in near future. In evening, took things very easily, doing only necessary jobs and going to bed soon after.

5 SUN
Up at 7am 鈥� the extra hour in bed just meeting requirements. I had time to pack my attach茅 with soiled linen to avoid having to call at home for it. I was thus able to proceed straight to Mum鈥檚 after 10/6 rummage duties. Got very wet in afternoon 鈥� a gale turned into a downpour. Only Mum and Dad at home usual hospitality.

6 MON
A real gale all night and most of day. Had to hang on when crossing lock gates, etc and keep away from dockside. Wind was cold, too: went to lunch bare headed (being on a ship near canteen). 2 seizures from this vessel, but engine room very oily. In evening, cooked my usual 鈥榝ry-up鈥�: read railway magazines and wrote to Kay. Kay does not want to come home.

7 TUE
Cold all day: thought seriously of getting my overcoat out: at present am using raincoat. During the night, one of the worst rain storms I have ever known. Found curtains soaked where I had left small top window open. (in case of blast from flying bombs or rockets). Fireside best place in evening, but am only using electric fire. Did shopping.

8 WED
Cold again. Plenty to do on duty, so time passed rapidly. Phoned Brown again re 2 tiles missing off garage roof, no action since matter mentioned on 3/11. Fortunately no damage to Sid and Doll鈥檚 effects which are stored in there..

9 THU
Still extremely cold. Plenty of work at office, and in my capacity as coming PO, I was able to assist at duty taking and dock cargo movement. 鈥� some much needed practice. A letter from Kay awaited me on the mat as I got home. She is much dejected at a further increase in our separation. I wrote her a cheerful letter, packed a parcel of winter clothes she asked for. 2 鈥榓lerts鈥�.

10 FRI
Really did wear my top coat today, and will continue to do so. So cold it seemed, I disliked to get out of bed. At work sealed Kay鈥檚 parcel and disposed of it. I hope she gets it tomorrow afternoon. A full day鈥檚 work, felt inclined to take it easy in the evening. Had my usual 鈥榝ry-up鈥� for my tea: in the later part of my time, a long 鈥渁lert鈥� broke my pleasure in reading etc.

11 SAT
Up at 2 am. For a brief 鈥渁lert鈥�, and heard more than usual flying bomb explosions 鈥� fortunately, none near 鈥� in a short time. Plenty of blankets on my bed, but felt cold for a long while. Reluctantly rose after my disturbed night and promised myself a lengthy period abed tonight, for I am off duty tomorrow. The morning soon passed and by noon, we were homeward bound. Owing to the usual bad bus services on Saturday, took me 陆 hour to get home from Morden. Cooked myself a dinner, somewhat on usual lines, and later had a tea of sardines on toast. I passed away afternoon and evening quite enjoyably, reading writing and sleeping.

12 SUN
Kept my promise of 11/11 and stayed abed until 9.30 鈥� and regretted the waste of daylight. Once it becomes dark, my activities are much restricted. To Mum鈥檚 for dinner. Sid, home on a few hours leave from a toughening course in Cambridge. Jack to Margaret鈥檚 for tea. Had a nice read round fire.

13 MON
Extremely cold all day: rumours of snow up north: expect it here. Still content with electric fire in the evenings, feet remain cold though! A day assisting as boarding APO much more to my taste than rummaging. Received a letter of congratulations from A. McAuslan in Scotland. Sent Kay her money: shopped. Evening, read and listened in.

14 TUE
Slept overwell: went to sleep with cold feet but awoke in night quite warm. Fully occupied all day, just managed to get away to time at 4 pm. In the evening, after the long business of preparing and clearing up after my meal, I cleaned Kay鈥檚 iron and greased it as it was beginning to get rusty. Read book and listened in.

15 WED
The last entry for a while with which I shall end 鈥榬ead book and listened in鈥�, for my orders for transfer to Greenock were stated as being in post, and my life became devoid of leisure. Homeward bound in tube, wrote letter to Kay giving news. Visited Mum鈥檚 to enlist dad鈥檚 help in closing house. Visited Mr Willoughby re sleeper on train.

16 THU
The official letter notifying me of my appointment as PO from 14th inclusive, and my removal to Greenock reached me in the office at 9 am. Throughout the whole day I was given advice and help, and in the afternoon, some practical experience in the work of the PO. I must report at Greenock within 10 days of appointment i.e. by Friday 24/11. Spent evening shopping and greasing art liable to rust. Much to do.

17 FRI
Raining almost all day: had to go to Stores Branch re uniform decorations, and to room 11 for other business. 陆 day: lunched A.B.C. Morden and home to search house for arts Kay wanted me to send. Later down to Mum鈥檚 and called on Brown, notifying my removal: Raynes Park station re luggage in advance. Asked Mr Willoughby to book my railway sleeper.

18 SAT
Meant to take fullest of the daylight, but was not up till 9. For once it was not raining and I was able to pass freely to and from garage and even do something in the front garden. Thanks to Mum鈥檚 foresight, I hadn鈥檛 a dinner to cook, but just one to warm up. Dad came afterwards and fixed up coal bunker top and putting on hasps and a padlocks to prevent theft of coal during my absence.

19 SUN
In my new rank of PO, I was not permitted to turn out for rummage duties as usual, so had a much needed Sunday off duty. Dad came down at 11 and drained the water system in case of burst pipes. Went up to Mum鈥檚 for dinner, taking suitcase, destined to be sent in advance, and took to Raynes Park. Wrote 5 letters, and a postcard to Betty, she is 13 on Tuesday.

20 MON
To office as usual: some unpleasantness re my inclusion in a seizure. To room 11 to hand in gear and collect 拢10 advance. Then home (after business and lunch in Morden) and gave bedrooms a clean. After evening 鈥榝ry-up鈥� removed rust and applied grease to household utensils. Made out labels for suitcase I am carrying with me. A good day鈥檚 work.

21 TUE
Followed yesterday鈥檚 procedure and got permission to leave early and square up affairs at home. Lunch at Morden, home to cleaning of dining room, stocking coal bunkers (R.A.C.S. made delivery at 3); bonfire in garden, greasing of metal arts about house and in garage on account of rust. 2 phone calls (1)Doris removing furniture from garage for safety, (2) trunk call from Kay: 鈥榞ood-bye鈥�.

22 WED
Attended Surrey 8am till noon. Evacuated locker and bid all good-bye. Visited Streatham cemetery, Peter鈥檚 rose tree looks tiny against others. Lunch in Morden and home to final preps for departure from house, locked all up secure, and went to Mum鈥檚. Good meal, then good-bye to all (including Margaret) and set out. Arrived Euston 8.15, set sail 9.20. Shared compartment with 2 Americans.

23 THU
Dosed in uncomfortable positions throughout whole journey, and was agreeably surprised when ticket collector appeared to find it was 6.30 am. In Glasgow at 8. To Central for 9 o/c train to Greenock, Arrived 10 am. To office, general introduction, and wash and shave prior to digs search. Lunch in Greenock and through agency of W.V.S., found a Miss Watt of Ashton who will put me up. Gave me a meat tea, sat round fire afterwards with a fellow lodger Mr Hilderith.

24 FRI
Slept fairly well except for worrying re time 鈥� alarm-clock not working. Found 20 minute walk to office = no fares except rainy days. CPO allowed me time off to attend to other business i.e. to Greenock for other suitcase, sent in advance 19/11, and food office business, etc. Lunched at 鈥楳egs鈥� 鈥� 2/9d! cost of fares 4d at most though. First experience as PO, with assistant at Naval dock. Wrote letters in evening.

25 SAT
Awoke at 7.30: My own alarm clock is broken and Miss Watts鈥� is at watchmakers, but between us we awake to time. Sent to patrol Gourock Pier, intercepting possible landing in tenders etc. Very cold job, extending to 7pm, mostly exposed to wind. Back at office, found I was off duty tomorrow, but told to have phone nearby in case. Arrived in digs at 8.30. Miss W. has agreed to give me breakfast and a meal on return home from work at lodgings. I am to be charged 30/- a week. After the meal today, it was bed time, so that I had no leisure whatsoever. However, I shall get used to that, I guess.

26 SUN
A day spent in pleasing circumstances, not envisaged a week ago. 鈥淥ff duty鈥� so able to assist Miss Watt by doing a few jobs in house and garden. Very cold, but digging, soon became acclimatised to it. Asked for bath in compensation for my labours, and enjoyed it. Wrote letter to Kay and studied part codes while in sitting room round fire. Bed.

27 MON
A day with a contrasting beginning and ending. It being almost full moon, the frost was chill early morning: homeward bound at 9 pm, it was warm, but rain fell in torrents, so that I had to change immediately, Miss W. raising my clothes on airer. First effort at duty taking: nearly 30 slips for duty and purchase tax. Worked in office till 9. After meal, there was little to do but bed.

28 TUE
As yesterday evening, this morning it poured with rain, so that my feet were wet before my work-day commenced. It was a long intensive day of duty-taking, and then of prime-writing, and, unfortunately, one error made in yesterday鈥檚 1st venture at this important job. I left the office at 9 pm, and was not in Miss W鈥檚 till 9.30.

29 WED
Wore both overcoat against cold, and raincoat over it against rain, this seems wisest provision. But watertight footwear a problem 鈥� even my boots will not stand continuous rain. Had to change again, boots and socks in evening: bus strike enforcing walk in rain again. Another day at duty taking, and 1陆 hours at making permits. Sewed on shoulder tabs.

30 THU
One week passed in Greenock: another 103 before I can claim right to return to London! I hope some development there will cause my recall ere that. Report of 25/11 duties, at first thought to be onerous, but now regarded favourably. Straight home after last tender, giving time for overdue letter to Mum and other writing. Still drizzling wet: feet damp as usual. Letter from Kay.

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