page 84 — January 1941

Tuesday 7^th

… the mist cleared, and all the trees above a certain well-defined height appeared a lovely silver-grey. It was very beautiful … zds

The news wasn’t much except that our mechanised forces are at Tobruk [a Libyan port]. Quick work! … zwf zlb

Friday 10^th

… I took Tinker up on the downs for a walk. … There was an icy wind and brilliant sunshine—you could see as far as Chanctonbury ring… zwk zpt zwr zds

News—40 miles past Tobruk, and several successful land and air raids on Libya, Naples and Germany, including a midday one today. The Greeks have got one of the key towns for the capture of Valona [an important Albanian town which the Italians were defending]. I should think they’ll have it by February. Lovely. zwf zar zwe zlb

Saturday 11^th

…I read ‘The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists’ … The Tuppers arrived at 7.15, and we had supper. After that they just talked, chiefly about bomb-damage in London (of which Miss Wilkinson [our cousin] had some marvellous photos) . … znb zhy zar zph