September
Wednesday 1st
4 years since the attack on Poland—I never thought it would last as long. No real second front yet, but the Russians are nearing Smolensk, and threatening the N. Ukraine. zwg zru zlb
In the morning I lined a small case with velvet, having fitted it up to take my flute—satisfactory. Women’s Institute produce show … Mommy did very excellently, with three prizes—dried vegetables, salad vegetables and most entries. zcf zcb zcp zfl
Thursday 2nd
Re-covered an old tattered ironing board in the morning; two Canadians called for water in a carrier—whom I had given pears to yesterday. We gave them pears and tea again. zfl zso zdc zhy
Later we discovered that they’d left in the pump room a box of tinned food—months of points [food allowances, particularly of tinned food, were limited by ‘points’]—very nice of them! zfd zso zfl zrn
Rather a moody day for me—bad. zme
Sumi [in Ukraine] captured. No big Allied European landing. Churchill’s Tuesday speech—which was complementary to Russia—has produced little response there, but a demand for action not words. zru zlb zpl
Friday 3rd
4 years at 11 o’clock. We marked it by landing near Reggio in the toe of Italy—no reports of what happened yet. Widespread Russian gains. … zlb zru zwg
I read and wrote during the afternoon and evening, and read ‘Deirdre’ in the evening. I’m very fond of James Stephens [Irish poet and novelist]. … zwt zbn
Saturday 4th
… I wrote and fluted in my hut until John and Melody arrived, when we sat in a lovely warm, breezy garden. … zwt zmu zwr zfl
