Item 17: Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1924

1924 January

10 Thursday

Pottered in morning. After lunch old Jim Miller harnessed nice creamy pony & took us to call on Stella & P.F. O'Brien The Bardens & Mr & Mrs Ike Fisher & Jack. High wind & I hated the old horrible places and their aboriginal lack of progress.

January 1924

11 Friday

Got up at 8.30. Still a frightful wind. Did chores & wrote a little. Orr inspected post office. In afternoon Andy & Mrs Baxter came in car & took us to Longfield via Stillwater where I went up & looked at kurrajong tree & had mulberries off tree (struck by lightning). Noted grass along wire fence like mat. Old places changed by killing timber. Arrived at Longfield found it unchanged. Bert & I went over to look at old school ground & found old tree blown out - got some wattle gum - noted blue burrs. In evening Mr & Mrs Andy, family, Mrs Cropley & Miss Tom all had yarn. Cold & clear & windy

1924 January

12 Saturday

After breakfast Bertha took me over to see the Lightfoots in McKechnie's old place. I had a feed of fruit & lunch after which Mr Baxter took F. & I in sulky to Yarra. Called en route on Olive Crouch & Bella Somerville. Mr Baxter left us at McK's gate. Bert & Mr McK. were [where] [alone?] gave us tea & escorted us to Yarra. where Mr Baxter had arranged for Mrs Kelly to take us to McDonalds by car. Got a lovely reception there & found Mr & Mrs McD quite unchanged.

January 1924

13 Sunday

Rested until 9 in lovely bed. Mr McDonald drove F & I around in forenoon to see T. Hebblewhite, Mr Neeley, Les & Ray, May & Joyce, thence to Mr J. Macauly & Daisy. Then on to Elsie. Then I went into the cathedral & looked around. In afternoon McDs & F & I went out to Yarra to see Will & his wife & Enid & Jessie. Cocky enchanted me. After supper we went to call on Mr & Miss Wood - a Mrs Fletcher also there. To bed late in clothes & Mr Mc put us on train at 5 to 2 for Cooma

1924 January

14 Monday

Lovely morning, bush beautiful. Arrived in Cooma about 7.45. Breakfast at 8 at P. of Wales Hotel & took service car to Adaminaby. Found no car for Kiandra so stayed at Commercial & had a good sleep all afternoon as far as fleas wd. allow. Got up & wrote a little. Heard Kookburras laugh goodnight uproariously & frogs croaking once again. Country looking lovely. Fairy trees of blackthorn & gum blossoms wafting honied perfume. Old brittle gum & sallies & great grey granite boulders by the way.