Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1953

November 1953

Friday 20

A few thunder showers during night. Got up at 5.30 to take in ice. Much cooler - back to woollens & a cardigan. Worked as yesterday. Mrs A in to telephone in evening. Got a slip of double white fuchia [fuchsia] from girl opposite. Gave Mrs Morgan some of my currant fruit cake. Went to butcher.

November 1953

Saturday 21

Lovely warm day. Finished the penultimate chap. of ͟C͟o͟c͟k͟a͟t͟o͟o͟s͟ Arthur did my shopping & I rewarded him with a large piece of plum cake. Dusted the little semi-paralysed bantam. She is clean & healthy otherwise. Did a tiny bit of weeding. Looked out some pictures for E. Venman's Thursday Island Hospital folks.

November 1953

Sunday 22

Lovely warm day again. Finished last chap of Cockatoos. Wrote some letters. Washed kitchen, bathroom, lavatory & Beatrice's room & made the bed. Mrs Morgan came & squatted ½ an hour when I was too tired & busy to endure her. Oh, her banality.

November 1953

Monday 23

Grey chilly day. I had to crawl back into my woollens & still was cold. Did a lot more house-cleaning. Went to butcher. Went to Bank & to Dodds where I had a chat with Mrs Watson. Got up at 5.30 to take in ice & did not go to sleep again. tho. I did not get to sleep till 2.a.m. Caddie telephoned ̶t̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶at 5.30. I put her off till next Wednesday. B. did not come till 7. I gave her chops grilled & salad & spinach & potatoes, Friar's pudding & stewed cherries & cream & black coffee. We went through ͟C͟o͟c͟k͟a͟t͟o͟o͟s for press & to bed at midnight - getting cold. Dal. telephoned.

November 1953

Tuesday 24

Got to sleep after 3 & waked at 4. Got up at 7 & got Beatrice's breakfast & she left after 8. I laundered her sheets, redded house & to town after lunch, to G.P.O., Newsreel & shopping errands. Home at 5.30. Letter from K.S.P. saying she is coming. So cold I got a slight chill. Rain threatened in afternoon but only a few drops.