Very good, optimistic Churchillian speech 9–9.30—the best I’ve heard from him. zpl zrd
Monday 11th
… A p.card in the break from Daddy—poor old Mommy got acute appendicitis, rushed off to Hove (whence Daddy was writing), had successful operation and I wasn’t to worry. I managed not to on the whole, sending her a letter after lunch. Poor Mommy. zfl zil zmt
News recently. Lull USSR. Big naval action in S.W. Pacific, so far very favourable to us, now only planes active. 2 aircraft carriers less for Japs. 15 down over Malta over weekend. zru znb zwg zam
Tuesday 12th
… letter from Daddy … Mommy is getting well nice and quickly and “is looking very pretty and well with her two plaits spread out on her pillow”. Daddy also sent a very good book on electricity and photography—trap photography [setting off shutter remotely] by means of an electric contact. Cheap and simple—I shall do it, and I ought to get some very good bird pictures if it is successful. zfl zil zbf zph
It rained all day—good for the crops. (more crop-conscious nowadays). zwr
News: German attack on Kerch peninsular—I hope Russia still has the initiative. … zru zlb
Thursday 14th
Long letter from Mommy sympathising and advising re: Max and cricket. zfl zsd
Reference to Philistines—who are they? When I got the leave for this afternoon’s expedition signed, he said the attitude was no better—I respectfully suggested I had not played since, but apparently some satellite had reported a heresy of mine to him. In the interval I will avoid the word ‘cricket’ and will be a model of application and almost zsd zsp zsr
