page 57 — August 1940

Sunday 4^th

I was rather tired all day. Harry [a friend of Martin’s] was there, he is going into the navy as a wireless operator, and has just got his uniform. … Harry went on the 2.5. We brought a woman RAF Sargeant who had missed the train back, the next train being at 5.4. … zhy zsl zan

A Handley Page Hampden dived down over the house, pretty manoeuvrable. … zpp

No news really. Japan a bit uppish. zpn

Monday 5^th

I did several scale drawings for Mommy in the morning. They were of the different rooms in their new flat in London. Very wiggly in and out walls, about 20 corners per room. That is a not very slight exaggeration. zdc

[See note (a)]

I did nothing most of the rest of the day, except … cook supper (omelette with fried potatoes and onions). zdc zfd

Wednesday 7^th

… News—Ominous Quiet. …

We heard from the Headmaster that it [the maid’s fatal illness] definitely was not I. Paralysis but angina or something. We aren’t going back earlier all the same. zil zsr

I painted a kitchen table which is going to London. zdc

Thursday 8^th

… In the afternoon I painted the kitchen table, and had another bath. zdc

News. Big [German] attack on a convoy [in the Channel] with MTBs [Motor Torpedo Boats] and dive-bombers escorted by fighters. We lost some ships. Got one MTB and 53 aeroplanes! We lost 16 fighters. znb zar zam

[See note (b)]