page 201 — September 1942

Sunday 27^th

… biked off to the Dome (Mr. Candler) for lunch … walked back. I saw paddling A and J [from Benenden], and grinned half-heartedly at them. On the way back to school we ate our last wartime ice-cream. … ztc zfd zfr zhy

[See note]

Music Club. They played Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. I read at first, but then listened—it ought to be played outside on a still, clear cool night. Sometimes happy, sometimes beautiful. zcb zmu

Monday 28^th

… I’m not too unhappy—only slight homesickness—it’s nice here, but so much much nicer there; and I don’t like to think of Mommy all alone at Glatting, and Daddy all alone travelling so much. I hope he gets the social medicine chair at Oxford which has been created (everyone assumes that he will, but he’s heard nothing). He was offered a seat in Parliament—cert. but declined, probably correctly as he’d be rather ineffective and overworked now, and his State medicine is useful. zem zfl zmw zpl

October

Tuesday 6^th

… In JTC we did silly battle drill four times. zct zlb

Wednesday 7^th

… Have just read a book—’Back from the USSR’—Gide (French). Short, with many well-deserved criticisms. Danger of orthodoxy—not enough criticism—may be excusable but very regrettable. zbp zpn zru

About the world future I’m in a ferment. I’ve several beams of light, and I’m certain that some things must come for moral reasons. The way in which it will come, just how it will come, I don’t know. There are problems in my mind still unsolved—a mass of conflicting ideas pierced with occasional certainties. May it straighten out in time to be of use. How badly ideas are expressed by my words! zpn zwt zsy