Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1953

November 1953

Sunday 15

Lovely warm day again, till a Southerly Buster in the evening ruined it. Worked well on ͟C͟o͟c͟k͟a͟t͟o͟o͟s͟ & got to the end of revision - now for some retyping. Quite alone all day. Wrote 3 letters. Did a little ironing.

November 1953

Monday 16

Warm day again, chilly towards evening. Beatrice rang up about ͟C͟o͟c͟k͟a͟t͟o͟o͟s͟ & I promised to deliver it by next Monday. She invited me to Eng. Ass. Dinner on Thursday and will come next Monday night. I worked unceasingly till after 4 & then gave out & was going to lie down when Del came with flowers & beans & eggs. We had a cup of tea she left at 7. I was nearly delirious with fatigue. Roland R. rang up.

November 1953

Tuesday 17

Really hot day - over 100° you cd feel it like a glorious fire on the body but it cooked the flowers. Joye ex-Andresen telephoned & said Harry was around: from what she said I suspect it was he stole Arthur's bicycle. He had stolen another in Qland & had been in jail - drink & gambling. I got to the end of chap XI in C̲o̲c̲k̲a̲t̲o̲o̲s̲. Ate the mulberries (only silk-worm ones) that Delys brought me.

November 1953

Wednesday 18

Not nearly so warm. So worn out I got little done. In the evening some young man called to interview me for something. I had to shoo him off. How a͟m I to get peace for my writing with my limited strength? Pixie called up for quite a call. I had a hot bath

November 1953

Thursday 19

Warm day. Worked as usual. Lena rang up to invite me for Christmas once more. B.D. rang & asked me to meet her at Q's Club with Geoff. Burgoyne & go to dinner by taxi. R. Bedford, Pringle, D Stewart & Judge McLelland spoke. D. Wilcox v. ill & in pain. I rang M. Dale. Got in at midnight & rain started. I sat between K. Slessor and G. Ferguson, Dr D. Anderson & wife brought me ̶h̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶ as far as to Central.