page 290 — December 1943

enjoyed it quite a lot. We got back to find Martin just arrived, having worked all day. zfl zcl

Saturday 25^th

Christmas day—a day of much eating after much preparation by Mother. Very nice food. Lots of presents. … Thoroughly extravagant, thoroughly lovely. We walked before lunch, and slept after, also ‘New World’ [symphony]. Mickey [Margaret’s friend] came to lunch and tea … zfl zcl zfd zdc zmu zwa

After a late supper we went again to firewatchers’ party—rather similar, quite amusing, not quite so good as before. Several very decorative girls—Martin quite enjoyed it, talking to one observer corps girl a lot of the time. zcl zfl

Martin is cheerfuller than before, but John is beastly with him—John I think despises him for lack of Toughness—which shows lack of sensitivity on his part. Anyhow we kept fairly happy all day. zfl zop zem

Tuesday 28^th

Felt Pretty bloody. Wood to lunch, I managed to stomach only cornflakes. A useful chemi. lesson, followed by an interesting discussion on penicillin and etc.—he showed us where he is growing some new stuff—a yield of 2 grams in six months, this is all he’s got—he’s trying to find the formula C32. A bit of a job. I came back, and retired to bed and sleep. John left in the evening. I had diarrhoea and felt sick. zil zfr zca zsa

Wednesday 29^th

In bed, not feeling too good.  Good news—the ‘Scharnhorst’ sunk off N. Cape—no losses. zil znb

[See note]