Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1953

February 1953

Saturday 28

Fine day again. 82º in sun room in morning. Finished my ironing & pressed the brown costume. Did some more in garden. Started on front bedroom windows - had to desist exhausted. Ruby telephoned asking me to dinner tomorrow as Arthur and Alice are there. Went to bank in morning and shopped at Dodds. Big hot bath & to bed at 11.

March 1953

Sunday 1

Lovely day. Got up at 8 still tired and worked hard. Finished doing some laundry and finished cleaning front windows & put up the curtains clean. Wrote 2 letters and at 12 left for Ruby's at 53 Clarence Street to see Arthur and Alice. Arthur seems depressed about the injury to his back poor fellow. R's house very nice & a lovely dinner & afternoon tea. Alice's bro & wife & child came for afternoon tea. I got home at 6:30. Glen telephoned also Marj Tynan wanting me to go there. Hope I can get out of it.

March 1953

Monday 2

Nice warm day. Took Mrs B. little tomatoes. Found the poor old pair both suffering. Did a bit on essay but was too weak. Did a bit in garden.

March 1953

Tuesday 3

Lovely warm day again 82° but a cool wind rising in the evening. Mrs Fogden made a long telephone visit & invited me & Mrs Morgan to lunch, but I was too busy to go. On essay corrections & re-typing. Did a bit more in garden.

March 1953

Wednesday 4

Warm day collapsing into rain & drizzle wrestled with the shop a/c in morning & after lunch & seeing Mrs B & cooking her quinces & giving her tomatoes, went to Permanent Trustee. Lambert away saw King: he's no use. Ran into Dal on St & he brought Col Shepherd. I tore away & went to Newsreel & home in rain exhausted. Also saw Sawtell about B. Miller's departure & inspected status of Sea-gulls - plenty of seats for matinees. Nell Jordan rang up in evening. No sleep till after 3 a.m, Then only fitfully.