page 124 — September 1941

Thursday 18th

I spent the first part of the morning puttying my house up, and most of the rest lying under a groundsheet waiting to photograph a cole-tit … when he went in the right place the first time the string stretched and did not work the shutter, so I moved the ‘hide’ (a groundsheet over a camera-tripod) under the tree, and took two photos of the tit and one of a robin. Good. zdc zph zwl

Packed after tea—depressing, very. zem

to Newquay

Saturday 20^th

… Tired and feeling a little down in the evening, but it’s no good not accepting school life. zem

Monday 22^nd

… Sometimes I feel rather frightened when I think of the invasion if it should come; chiefly selfishly afraid about Mommy and Daddy, but when I read of what the Russian people do behind the lines and by Leningrad, Odessa, and now in Kiev, I feel rather ashamed. I wish we could help them more; why not risk sending most of our tank output? zda zwe zem zru zlb

[See note]

Tuesday 23^rd

… JTC in the afternoon. Rifle drill (without rifles) and ‘drill’ by cadets; T told us to wheel half right when we weren’t moving, Ha Ha. I’m sure being able to form platoon at the halt on the left is awfully useful when one’s being a guerilla—no doubt the Russian peasants all learn it. … zct zru

Wednesday 24th

… I’m in the school routine coma now … zem