page 116 — August 1941

Monday 4^th

… we posted a parcel and collected some foxglove leaves to make a drug with (the government have asked for them). When we got back we went and spent the morning mending leaks in [the dam of] Glatting lake. … zfl zhk zdc

Mommy got furious with the telephone in the evening, as the porter rang up [from Guy’s] for Daddy who wasn’t in. She nearly wasted much more money by breaking her spectacles. Mrs. Francis went to hospital, with query (?) appendicitis. zfl zem zil zmt

Tuesday 5^th

I spent the first part of the morning in my house, modernising the model ‘spitfire’ (by adding shell guns) and the ‘Beaufort’ (by adding backward firing turret under the nose). zcf zmd

[See note (a)]

… I went and ate about ¾ lb of dewberries (hog!) [bilberries] and saw a comma butterfly. After lunch I helped cut the lavender, and then read in my house until tea. I went for a stroll at about 6 o’clock, it rained quite hard but I sheltered under a hedge. zfd zwl zdc zwk zwr

Wednesday 6^th

… I spent the first part of the morning separating foxglove seeds for the government (for the drug digitalis) … went for a stroll. I stalked rabbits, getting 14 yds from one, which was then scared by Tinker; and within 2 yards of another, which was sitting on its hind legs facing the other way … zhk zwl zpt

Friday 8^th

… I played a little with Eric and T, as they were dressed up as Indians. Then I cooked until Dr. and Mrs. and a small East arrived (he is an Indian), when we had supper. zev zdc zra zhy

[See note (b)]