33412-0001-0002

Date of Birth 26th January 1871
DIARY DIARY DIARY
1896. Florence Powe = F.E.P. = Florence Powe @ 1896
Age 24
1st. January 1896 Wednesday. New Year's Day. First day of '96. Home all
day excepting usual walk to gardens with Jim late in afternoon. Janet & children
were here all afternoon. Mrs. Mellor took all the others away to the coast for the day.
Lovely day. Feel bit queer suppose it's late hours last night. May this be the forerunner of a
good year to all of us. learning cribbage at night. Dieu nous blesse. This will be the Leap Year. I must have a try at some one
2nd. Thursday. Poking round all day. Public holiday. mostly cleared out drawers &c. to
day. Feel bit choky.
3rd. Friday. Feel nasty. managed to get things done. Ma & Jim went down to Hamilton solicitor
to get her will drawn up. Went down to church to practice. Didn't go out at night to choir prac.
Learnt cribbage some more. Jim drawing a plan for his home to be 4-roomed in Yargo-Walker Ltd.
Made suggestions regarding it. Glad to see he has started.
4th. Saturday. Better to-day. Down town this afternoon & to reading-room.
Telegram from John Mann to say Alice & D were coming on Tues.
5th. Sunday. Memorable services to-day. Mr. Ellison must have been inspired to preach them
specially for us. They were lovely especially the morning. My favourite hymns too. Such promises
of comfort & of loving watchful care & special messages. they seemed all for us. Tuesday S. too. Mrs. Ellison
invited all to go back to tea with her but I didn't. When I got home the two Mrs. Friends were here
on their way down for Sydney. Stayed here till 5.30. Then I took them to Mackenzie's B-H & his
relations are estranged - don't speak - all on account of young Macalister. Fearfully hot day. Nearly melted.
6th. Monday. Home all day. Mrs. Marsh in for few minutes. Played more cribbage at night.
7th. Tuesday. Got things done & all straightened. Lessons. Went down to church to teachers
meeting but it was shut. Came back. Jim went to train at 1/2-10 for Alice & Daisy. They were
very tired. Came across Mr. Bolton in Pear's this afternoon. He talks 40 to the dozen.
8th. Wednesday. We all went up to Gardens this afternoon with all the children for picnic.
Lovely there. Miss Skyring first came as were leaving home. Promised to go there next week.
Had nice time. Alice seemed glad of the rest. She has managed to go home tomorrow. I
thought she would be staying till Saturday at least. Went with her to B. of H. meeting at Church
9th. Thursday. 12[underlined] years today. Down to train this morning to see A. & D. off. Lounged round all day after.
Threatened rain & storm so didn't go out all afternoon. Played cribbage again. Can play bit now
Letter from Arthur. Offers Ma & I home but seems (as Jim says) to think it bit of
a hardship. No! I don't loaf on anyone. If he likes to help Ma as much as possible - all
right - but I must work[underlined] & earn[underlined]. Isn't "teetote" neither nor does intend to be. Felt bit
hurt over that. Seemed to let us know that we needn't try our hand to make him one.
10th. Friday. Busy. Lesson. Had offer of a new pupil Wed. morning. She might start
this quarter & might not. Wish she would start now. Out to town this afternoon. Not to
practice to-night. Looked like rain. Wrote to Arthur.
11th. Saturday. Edie S. came for her lesson. I went down to church to practice for while
then to town. Jim mending to-day. Has work in view at Ashfield. Very glad. There's
no chance of him settling down if he has to leave here.
12th. Sunday. Church twice & S.S. Went up to Mrs. Ellisons for tea after S.S. had
nice time. Good congregation at night. Went late but had time to play short vol.
13th. Monday. W. Mr. Noynes came to practice.
14th. Tuesday. Lessons. Rosie came to-day.
15th. Wednesday. Madame C. came over this morning & stayed long while. She wants
to make an exchange with me for lessons. I teach Julie Christie music & she (M) give
me French lessons. Very glad indeed of the chance. have been wondering how I could
manage to get some lessons. Ivy & I went down to Skyring's this afternoon. Had