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She couldn't come by coach & good thing too as it never reached Rosedale last Tuesday at all. Rained hard
all night & nearly all day. Our "Quartette" should have been here but it rained. Wrote to H.
30th. Thursday. Raining. hard all day. Blew like fun all night. Cards from Alf & H. They had a ship-
wrecked air & stamps were washed off. Played draughts this morning & cribbage at night with Jim.
31st. Friday. Still raining a bit. Great storm up North this week. Steamer "Aramae" on a reef
for 10 hours. Thought they would be done for. Lots of boats & barges lost & 15 lives lost. No practice
tonight. Did up old books all afternoon.
1st. February. Saturday. Cleared. Went down town this afternoon. Terrible state of things
in Townsville. Houses blown down. floods. lives lost. Ma sent telegram to Bert. Don't know if
he'll get it. Hermit Park flooded.
2nd. Sunday. Church this morning. Got wet going home, shower came on. Didn't
get out any more all day. Stayed home at night.
3rd. Monday. Threatened rain all day. Got washing done & out of the way.
4th. Tuesday. Lessons. Jim went to Motedale tonight en route for Heidelberg. We went
to Reading Room, tonight. Got no answer from Arthur yet. Couldn't have got our telegram.
5th. Wednesday. Got fright last night by Jim reappearing. The coach didn't come down
from Gladstone can't cross the Boyne. He was quite disgusted. Thought of going by steamer
but then he settled on coach on Friday. I went down to Skyring's. Alby is still laid up
with his foot & 'Arry is 'ome but I didn't see him. I would like to but it's just as well not.
6th. Thursday. Down to practice at church & then went to town & got something for Elsie's
birthday. It's her 7th. to-day. Jim "down" again. Can't make him out at all. Had to talk
to him like a sage. To try & bring him to his senses. Letter from Alf containing £7-
for the rent. Glad it came. It will be handy for Jim. Big flood at Rockn. now. Answer to
Arthur's telegram to-day. We got ours on Tuesday[underlined]. He says "all safe and well". So that's good.
7th. Friday. Busy. but to practice to-night. Mr. Young walked home with us [insert here: Je voulais un autre.] & requested
that he might come in now & again to have some music. Of course we assented. Didn't
think he cared about coming or might have had him before. Jim went off again to-night. Not
certain whether the coach will be running to-morrow. She passed Miriam Vale to-day
at 1.30. but no further news. Anyway I advised him to risk it as I knew he would be
miserable at home. Piece of news. 2nd. Cooper girl (choir damsel) married in haste. What are[underlined] we coming too[sic].
8th. Saturday. Down town this morning. Windy. Another disturbance there atening up North.
Jim didn't come back last night so we hope he has gone on by coach. Sent our Alice birthday card.
9th. Sunday. Church twice & S.S. went up to S. R. in Marsh's buggy. to Grace's for tea.
Good congregation. J. W. escorted us home.
10th. Monday. Raining. Couldn't wash. Mr. Noynes didn't come. Practised & studied.
11th. Tuesday. Raining all night but cleared a little to-day. Lessons. Expect Jim home to-night
12th. Wednesday. Poured hard all night. Rained all day long & very heavily. Jim didn't come
last night after all. Saw by "Mail" that coach couldn't brave! this week. Letter came
from Percy yesterday. too. Opened it & saw that he expected Jim at Ashfield this morning
I just sat down & wrote straight away telling him why & wherefore & Ma raced out with
it before 8 o'clock. Do hope he waits for him. He will be mad having to wait like this.
Practised got lot today. Wrote to Sarah. M.
13th. Thursday. Raining all night hard. Went down town & raced after Marsh all about
town to borrow 5/6 to make up the insurance money. Didn't go to 'y' meeting.
Stayed in & finished "Cookery" Book. Phil. Concert should have been held last night
but rained too hard. Came on again to-night. Letter from Arthur but no enclosure.
He says he'll write all to myself soon. Hope so. They must have had a fearful time
up there. He says the water was under their house & for 1/4 of a mile the water was
lashed into waves & spray & it stormed for 3 days. Ivy came up with a telegram for their
14th.[repeated on next line] mother that Mrs Cowan had died that morning.
14th. Friday. Cleared to-day. But to practice. Good one. Had 2 escorts home. Rather believ[sic] one was rather offended.