page 121 — August 1941

We had parsnip wine at supper to drink John’s health, it being his birthday. zfd zfl zcl

Sunday 31^st

A real summer day. We left Glatting at about 10.30 and picked blackberries. When we got back I read in the sun, Mommy bottled 29 lbs of blackberries. zwr zfd

Another of Margaret’s fellow timber measurers came to supper, with two New Zealand foresters. … A lovely evening. zfl zhy

September

Wednesday 3^rd

… I spent the morning clipping the green parts of potato plants off, as we have got blight. Very tiring job as your back is bent the whole time. … After tea I failed to shoot rabbits. zdc zwp zwl

Two years of war. zwg

Friday 5^th

… Mommy and Daddy arrived [back from London] with two books for learning Russian with, and a loose leaf note book for birds. zru

Saturday 6^th

… In the morning I learnt Russian (part of the alphabet) and did my bird note-book. … zru zwl

Sunday 7^th

… In the morning I did my Russian with Daddy—I now know the alphabet. After that I and Margaret strung beans while Daddy read us a book about Russia—’Country with a Plan’ by Pat Sloane. zru zfl zdc zfd zbf

I spent the afternoon doing bird notes. After tea we set off on a family blackberrying, which Margaret ruined by marching on miles ahead looking glum, and later sitting in a mood and yelling to us in a furious temper to come and see some long-tailed tits. Of course they flew away. She may do lots of work but she’s damn disagreeable to live with. … zwl zfl zfd zem zop

[See note]