大象传媒

Sent: 06 August 2012 09:46
To: Writing The Century
Subject: 'WRITING THE CENTURY'

听I attach extracts from my father's business diary which I hope may be of interest.

听Penelope Ayliffe

Thursday, 10th October 1935

听

Doris called at the Club on her way from night school.听听 At 10.05 pm we left to catch our bus.听听 It was a grand night.听听 The moon was like an opal sun with not a cloud in the sky.听听 We were both extraordinarily chummy.听听 I felt like saying 鈥淟et鈥檚 get married and we鈥檒l live in a house on the common for the rest of our lives, but change the furniture every year鈥�.

Friday, 17th April 1942 鈥� 00.30 hrs. Saturday

听

Doris and I have been talking this evening about our marriage.听听 She thinks she prefers a Registry Office wedding:听 no fuss, just relations and a quiet ceremony, then away for a short honeymoon.听听 The date is still obscure, but I have made up my mind to get married before I go into the forces.听听 If my call up catches me before that time I shall get a special licence.听听

听

There are several problems to be looked into:听 income, home and the liability of income tax falling upon Doris when I am called up.听听 I think Doris will rent a room from her mother and prepare it for such times as when I get leave.听听 But all these things must be well thought over during the coming weeks.

Christmas Day, Friday, 25th December 1942 鈥� 12.45am听

听

I have so much to write about and yet so very little time to write it.听听 For almost three days now I have been a married man and have been enjoying the happiest hours of my life.听听 On Tuesday, 22nd December 1942 I met my Darling Doris in the Church of St Peter and St. Paul at Mitcham at exactly 4 pm.听听 She looked lovelier than ever in a two-piece tailored suit of hyacinth blue, little black suede shoes on her feet and a snappy little hat of black beaver fur crowning her golden hair.听听 She carried no flowers, but a little black handbag and her demeanour was serene and lovely.听听

听

Standing beside her in my sailor鈥檚 uniform I felt deliciously happy and proud and find it impossible to describe the change that I felt coming over me.听听 From that moment onward I have sensed a feeling inside of me different to any awareness I have had before.听听 A great contentment has come over me.听听 I am without fear of the world and life.听听 A great confidence in the future and the joys and troubles it may hold for us both is filling me.

听

Monday, 9.30 pm 12/12/49

听

Mitcham

听

My Darling,

听

The evening is nearly over and Dad and Jim have already retired to bed.听听 Mother sleeps in the chair and the washing-up is ignored until the morning.听听 We broke open the bottle of port and toasted both you and baby, and Penelope Jane is already accepted as her name.

听

When I got home this evening I was besieged with questions and everybody was pleased to hear that you were progressing.听听 I made them laugh when I told them that our baby yells louder than all the others.

听

Muriel has been writing to you this evening and has probably given you all the news from the office.

听

Mother delivered the pram this afternoon and it looks marvellous.听听 I feel that I shall have to get myself a new suit to go with this Rolls Royce affair.听听 You will be absolutely thrilled with it.

听

Mrs Bentley, next door, must have seen Mother wheel it in, because shortly afterwards she knocked to ask how everything was.听听 I wish you would write a few lines to my Mother and perhaps thank her for her wonderful gift:听 it really is a beauty, and I know you will love it.听听 It seems a pity that we may have to negotiate Culvers Avenue with it, but I suppose we shall manage somehow.

听

I am getting ready to go home now, Darling, and when I get there I shall be thinking how wonderful it will be when we three are settled in for a proper routine of living.听听 It is only ten days now before you come out of hospital, and we should be settling into听Lime Close about the weekend of January 3rd 1950.

听

When you receive this letter, Darling, I shall be following it in about ten or eleven hours.听听 It seems a shame that throughout your stay in hospital I shall have been allowed to see you for only four hours, and I have had 1陆 hours already.听听 Never mind, Christmas is coming and it is going to be the most wonderful Christmas ever.

听

Good morning and good night, my lovely Darling.听听 I love you more than ever, and will be always your loving,

听

Frank xx 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 for Penny xx