Sunday 6th
… [Daddy, Nora and I] went up Farm Hill where we basked and collected blackberries, seeing two interesting birds—a redstart and my first nightjar. On the way back we collected rubber salvage (half a tire used as pheasants’ drinking trough, pre-war), which I had to carry and roll; and I arrived back hot, dirty and cross, after having to make a detour due to its refusal to roll straight. Also Nora annoyed me, as she refused to carry anything. … zwk zwl zhk zfl zem
Stalingrad drive held, Germans claim Novorossisk. zru zlb
Monday 7th
Daddy left by the 9.5, after a happy weekend. There were nice letters awaiting him too, 2 from John, happier with nice rooms, sailing, swimming and more medicine; 1 from Martin who had flown from London to Malvern in a ‘Defiant’ in 20 mins. They’d gone up in a Blenheim, but no planes large enough for 3 were available for the return, so they went in 3 Defiants flying 20ft apart. zfl zgk
Margaret is filling landmines, and has a lovely hostel to live in. Her hair may go orange if exposed (TNT). … zfl zhk zwp
Tuesday 8th
… Stalingrad still holds, we … won victory in Egypt when Africa Corps [German] tried to advance last week; Churchill reviews war situation in house. … zru zlb zwf zpl
Wednesday 9th
Lots and lots of Dieppe leaflets [dropped] in the night. … after lunch David and I collected some 70 each from Shiner’s big field, and we left the ones chewed by sheep. … zar zpg
