Item 11: Miles Franklin pocket diary, 17 February-29 December 1918

SEPETMBER - 1918

1. Sunday. Finish [Fineish] coldish day. After lunch went to tea with Scott, Russell & Meilch at 216 The Grove & thence onto Margaret McMillan at Deptford. And home at 10 o'clock and packed for Bognor.

2. Monday. Let [left] Vic. at 10.10 for M.T. Ladies Home at Bognor arrived about too [two]. Desperate hole never felt so depressed for years & years by atmosphere

3. Tuesday. Went on Beach in forenoon. A terrible institution mean and snobbish paltry to a degree Terribly depressed

4. Wednesday. On beach again. Found others as depressed as myself by the pauperism of the place & its petty rules & ill bred matron Finish day again

AUGUST - 1918

29. Thursday. Dullish day but fine. Pottered in morning. In afternoon met Dr B. Dick & Sheilah & a Mrs C. at Navy stores for tea. Called at Wilton for Feathers from Serb & home. No joy in life. Just dull stagnation of soul & body.

30. Friday. Went to Minerva & worked in kitchen home at six. Very cold & comfortless in the house.

31. Saturday. Dull cold day. Wrote in morning. In afternoon, Miss Harding, A. A. & I went to Earl's Court to call on Mrs Thompson-Price. Home & wrote some just perishing so did not feel well after it oh for warmth & comfort again.

AUGUST - 1918

25. Sunday. Grey day & showers in the afternoon. Raining as we went to bed. Did not go out at all. Very debilitated.

26. Monday. Wrote & pottered about Fairfield & walked into Hitchin. Nice day.

27. Tuesday. Matron Nye & I came up to London in the morning. I went to 30 Threadneedle St. to be passed by Merchant Taylors for Convalesant Home then to 22 Harley. Dull day

28. Wednesday. Dull dreary day. Busied myself writing letters etc. Struggled to put down depression.

AUGUST - 1918

22. Thursday. Fine warm day. Mrs Nye, Miss Fawkner & I walked to Letchworth in morning & came back by train. Very exhausted. Did a little writing.

23. Friday. Fine day. Colder & grey and showers towards evening. A Miss Hornabrook came from London Hosp. All four went over to the Chilterns & had tea with Mrs Ransom

24. Saturday. Walked into town in morning and look at St Mary's old church. Feeling very weak & wobbly. Wrote on my story.

Week-end. Mist in morning with spider's webs on lawn. Lovely day. Heliotrope going off a little. Grapes & tomatoes ripening.

AUGUST - 1918

18. Sunday. Same routine. Miss F. & I went for a walk after tea. Fine day. Started a story about Sam Price

19. Monday. Fine day. Wrote all day. Walked with Miss F. after supper.

20. Tuesday. Went with Miss Lay to Hitchin market. Then met Matron Nye at stn.

21. Wednesday. Had various little walks & much talk with Mrs Nye.