joan-marion-drake-1944

JANUARY 1944

1 Sat - New Year's Day. Bank Holiday in Scotland Dog and Annual Motor Licences renewable s.r. 8.6, s.s 4.1

Not a very nice day. Did a Lot of work in the morning to get ready for the party. We had four airmen there, Taffy, Oren, Harry and Clarence, and Uncle Harold and family. We had a lovely time and played games all the evening. Did not go to bed until past 1 o'clock.

Push on with the digging of vacant ground when conditions are favourable. Review the past season's cropping results and try to account for any failures which have occurred with a view to obtaining better results in the coming year.

JANUARY 1944

2 Sun-2nd after Christmas First Quarter, 8.4 p.m.

Got up feeling very tired but managed to get to Sunday school in time. Clarence cycled over to chapel in morning. Went to Sunday school again in afternoon. Read in the evening.

3 Mon Cleaned the lounge in the morning Mummy washed, but it rained all the morning. She got them dry in the afternoon. Listened to Monday night at eight in the evening.

4 Tues Very cold. Helped Mummy in the morning and then went to Sutton and did errands. Did some knitting and read in the afternoon and evening. Mummy & Daddy went out in the evening.

5 Wed Still very cold. Cleaned my bedroom and the dining room in morning. Gave my bicycle a good clean in the afternoon. Packed for Cambridge in the evening. Clarence came for supper.

JANUARY 1944

6 Thur-Epiphany Finished packing in morning and went with Auntie Marion to Cambridge. Helped Auntie in the morning and took Ian for a long walk in the afternoon. Mrs. Farmery came in, in the evening.

7 Fri June's Birthday Helped Auntie in the morning and watched Ian have his bath. Auntie and I took him for a long walk in the afternoon. Cooked some things for Saturday's supper in evening.

8 Sat-Christmas Fire Insurance ceases s.r. 8.5, s.s. 4.9 Helped Auntie in the morning until Mummy, Daddy & Janet came for me. We went to Lyons to dinner and afterwards went round the shops and then last to theatre to see the Toy Princess. It was very good. In evening had a supper party at Auntie Marions, Mrs & Mrs Farmery came in.

Draw up in good time a scheme for cropping the vegetable garden and order the necessary seeds early. A carefully thought-out plan avoids waste of space and unnecessary labour. Endeavour each year, if possible, to bastard trench a third of the garden, adding manure or compost.

JANUARY 1944

9 Sun-1st after Epiphany Mummy, Daddy and I went to Castle Street chapel in morning, came home in car after dinner. Read all the afternoon. S. L. Hump came for tea and brought F. O. Tony Morland with him. They did not stay for supper, but Clarence came in.

10 Mon-Full Moon 10.9 a.m. Helped Mummy in morning and then went to Sutton. Went with Auntie Winnie to get rations for Primary Treat. In afternoon went & helped Auntie make things for treat I made shortbreads. Stayed for tea. Read in evening.

11 Tues-Hilary Law Sittings begin Very cold snowed rained and sleeted in afternon. Helped Mummy in morning and read my Librarary. Went to Sutton in afternoon and helped with Primary Treat. 20 children there 10 boys &10 girls.

12 Wed Started school again. Didn't have any lessons until after break. Had three history lessons. Read my library and finished it in the library as had no homework.

JANUARY 1944

13 Thur Not quite so cold weather. Didn't have a very nice gym lesson. Had a horrible French test in afternoon and had very boring math lessons. Janet & I were on our own in evening Clarence came for supper.

14 Fri Quite a nice day. Had some fun in free lesson. Started to put cuffs on in needlework. Played games in afternoon I had to be an inner which was awful. Did homework in evening.

15 Sat-s.r. 8.1, s.s. 4.18 Very very foggy all day. Clarence came for the day and with the help of Daddy & Olive layed our path from gate to door. Had a bath in afternoon. Finished my English essay in evening.

If not already done, seize every opportunity to finish the tar-oil spraying of Apricots, Cherries, Peaches, Plums, Currants and Gooseberries. Pears are next in order, followed by Apples in the course of about a fortnight according to the nature of the season.