Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1953

March 1953

Tuesday 10

Lovely, lovely, warm Sydney day. At 9 set out for Chatswood to Nell Jordan to take a dress to her tailor. He can't help me so we went back to Artarmon to Nell's for lunch. I got away by 3, went to newsreel & home before 6 dead exhausted. A whole precious day wasted & Jean looming - such is my life. Dr A sent me a prescription for soporific. Nell, a poor kind fluttering thing that twitters like Lena & Ivy. Rang me up before I went to bed.

March 1953

Wednesday 11

Grey morning - collapsed into rain & cold. Delys rang up - a miracle. Says she is to meet Jean D. on Sat. & take her & care for her for at least 3 wks. I did a bit more in garden. Rang Pixie. She has all her family ill & is very tired. I went to butcher.

March 1953

Thursday 12

Cloudy day. H Williams telephoned he was coming & put me off writing so I cleaned bath room, kitchen & sun room & did some letters. Mrs Morgan called in to telephone, etc. Wms came at 2.45 & worked till after 4. I got up on roof too & borrowed Ollie's ladder. Telephoned Nell J. & invited her to theatre on Sat night. Dal called in for half an hour & we chatted on the verandah.

March 1953

Friday 13

Grey drizzling day. Tried another stroke on essay but a letter from Delys wanting to bring Jean on Monday for the day so upset me that I got little done. Went to Carlton to shops & bank. In evening went to Central to see Billy Miller off. He was not on either Melb. Express. Mavis Mallinson & Dagmar & a man named Palmer waited too. Such a waste of time & strength. Got home by 9 p.m.

March 1953

Saturday 14

Struggled to the end of the essay once again - now for final typing. Exhausted. Lay down for 1½ hours in afternoon. In evening went to New Theatre to see "Christmas Bridge" by Nancy ̶ ̶F̶e̶l̶t̶o̶n̶ ̶ McMillan - Nell Jordan my guest. Spoke to Jean Blue & Geoff. Thomas - now a wreck with some species of sclerosis. Went to G.P.O after to buy stamps. Home by 12. When I went out it was a starlit night, coming home a fine rain was falling. Went to butcher etc. in morning. A man was in to test 'phone. Telephone man came in & said line was out of order.