Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1953

December 1953

Tuesday 15

Fine, cool day 72°. Got the essay ready for posting. Had lunch & went to G.P.O to register it. Paid for box did some Christmas posting & home.

December 1953

̶W̶e̶d̶n̶e̶s̶d̶a̶y̶ ̶1̶6̶ Thursday 17

A cool-warm day. I got up early to cope with Caddie's breakfast. She is a big eater. Then I turned to vast wast[e] that more than filled the garden & at 4.30 was winded so lay down but Delys rang and said she & A. wd. be here at 5.30. So I scrambled out & cleared up the kitchen & laid the table & gathered plums for them & got in the last of the laundry. They went at 8.30 & I raced through the washing-up for 9 o'clock news. Then did a few more odds & ends & to bed. (Tus. Wed & Thursday) M. Dale telephoned about D.Wilcox's last days - she did not like her.

December 1953

T̶h̶u̶r̶s̶d̶a̶y̶ ̶1̶7̶ Wed. 16

Got out at 5.30 to get ice in for Caddie. Spent the day in chores and wrote some of the endless letters that dog me. Got dinner for Caddie & endured her dull ignorance till bed-time. She is at D. Jones. It is difficult to be sure of her statements over the phone, in her slum diction & articulation.

December 1953

Friday 18

Waked at 4 & did not sleep again. Feeling so limp after yesterday I mostly pottered about. Went to Carlton to bank etc. Dr Fraser made a long telephone call. Fay is married in Malaya. Jno discharged from Callan Pk. in June & they have had no word from him since. Xenia rang up to tell me she had found out where he was through Enid, but hers is a very adapted account.

December 1953

Saturday 19

Very hot day all over in Aus. but only 79° at Sydney. Train smash at Sydenham. I did some more letters & housecleaning and finished the laundry left over from Thursday. Had to give in at 4.30 & leave mess for tomorrow, Ruby telephoned. Had a hot bath in afternoon. Gathered last of peaches & gave some plus plums to Olly & Mrs A. Thank heaven there are only a few this year.