Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1952

February 1952

Wednesday 13

X Still not warm. In morning posted play to Mabel in town & went to Newsreel & then went to Empire with Mrs Bennetts & Mrs Boyd & Laura to see Chas dance as the Prince in "The Sleeping Princess" & he showed me behind scenes after. Many good ballerinas & male dancers Very creditable performance. In evening went to ask May & W. of their mother who was operated on this afternoon. May in bed with cold. 9 a.m 97.8° 10 p.m 98.6°

February 1952

Thursday 14

Cool day again; chilly towards night. I went down to ask after Mrs F. She is going on all right. May still in throes of a cold. I had a busy day of odds & ends plus letter writing. Did some laundry - silks & dress & dressing gown.

8.00 am 99.8 8.30 pm 99.6

February 1952

Friday 15

Cool day. Struggled to get ready for Melb. & finish essay. Mrs. B in to telephone, also ran messages for Mrs. A. Listened to King's funeral in evening. Few last figs very good. In morning went to Mrs Chapman to try on dress & then to bank etc.

7.30 a.m 97.8 2.30 99.4 10.30

February 1952

Saturday 16

Cool day. Finished typing essay again. Did some house redding & in toddled Marie at 12.45 for lunch & stayed till 3 - she's a sticker. Did some sketching - I have to suffer this for Jno. Then got bags ready for Mrs Bennetts. Got last of figs. and went down to ask how Mrs Fogden was & May came back to telephone. Thought to correct & assemble essay but Joe telephoned for half an hour - Mrs Morgan came for another & it was after 11 - not finished had to go to bed dead exhausted.

7.30 am 6.30 97.8 98.4

February 1952

Sunday 17

Nice warm day. Spent it in doing a full laundry. cleaned and washed the laundry. Also assembled and bound a full copy of the essay. Ruby Brydon called at 7.15 and stayed till 8.30. I went down in afternoon to see how Mrs Fogden was getting on.

[Written at bottom of page:] p.m am p 8.30 2 p.m 6.30 98.00 98.4 98.4