1954 (ii)

[38th page – February/March 1954, in pencil]

Feb 21st or 22nd  Very dull weather  Dick & I went Pictures on Friday to see a youngster 5 yrs old in his first film  he was really good.  it was called The Kidnapper  I wonder if he will make a film actor in his grown up days.  name “Vincent Winter”   has a big chance  Sat thinking it might be nice Sunday to Garden or go visiting  however it was a dull day  drizzle & fog.  but Margaret & Derwent & girls came up about 11 ocl. so we played cards in Afternoon.  I was the winner.  the Children have ½ term holiday today I dont know if Joan has also  havent seen anything of her or the boys  I think she might send them up or one at least on a saturday & let me know how things are but why worry.  I would like to go up to Winchester on week end. & see Henry & Elsie see if Henry is progressing  it was Elsie’s Birthday last Friday & I never sent her Greetings  I think the sun is trying to get through  We are supposed to be going to see Portsmouth play in a Cup match Wed.  I’ll not go if wet  it will certainly break all records if the programme plans out as arranged  Im supposed to go into Margarets in morning  Dick will come there to Lunch & Der Dick Marg: & I go to football together  never has such a Thing happened.  I wonder if it will or will something stop us?

March 1st and its lovely  March has come in like a Lamb. down here but they are having snow in The Midlands & north  hard frost & freezing at night here also. but today the sun is really warm.  Well. Dick & I went to football but not Der & Margaret  Der had been to hospital to see about removing those steel splinters in his hand & after cutting & messing about with it for an hour & 40 minutes the splinters are still in his hand  now he is under another Dr  today we may know more whats happening to it  I went into Portsmouth Sat: to Joan’s place  she

[39th page – March 1954, in pencil]

has at last got a job in Portsmouth  dont know where yet  she has to go for a medical at 11. so I stayed & cooked dinner  she got back at 12.  so far everything is OK.  she has to go for X ray to make sure about lungs, but she has been before & everything was OK, so I dont see why it shouldn’t be this time  Mr Jeffreys took me down in his car  his Garages are quite near Joans.  the road is in a terrible mess  he got stuck this morning got a Puncture in one of the Ruts  I see he has now managed to jack up & has mended puncture & got to the safe [illegible] bit of road. 

2nd March.   almost as soon as I’d finished writing yesterday the sun disappeared & it became freezing cold.  at tea time Snow began to fall & this morning its quite 6 inches deep all over.  its stopped now & the sun is shining brilliantly although its only ½ past 8 AM.  it’s a perfect Picture to look into the garden.  with the sun shining on the snow. it looks as though a cartload of Diamonds has been sprinkled on a white Carpet.  its much more beautiful in the Country than Town in all weathers  one just cannot see the beauty in Town in any kind of weather  Derwent had nothing done to his hand in Hosp: yesterday but Dick say the swelling has gone down.  I suppose they are waiting for it to heal before messing about with it again  he may come up here today  he’s fed up not being able to do anything so I must buck up & do something

10th March.  Am sitting under the Verandah writing this  the sun is lovely & warm but a cold wind but not too bad  Sunday was the only bad day we’ve had since the really bad weather & it rained all day.  since then I’ve done lots of cleaning up inside (washing & ironing) all in one day.  Der spent last Tues: up here  arrival at 9,30 AM & went back on the 3-5. bus  couldn’t do much because of

[40th page – March 1954, in pencil]

his hand  they’ve taken the stitches out & he has to go back Friday to see what the best thing to do  a major op: or leave it alone till it troubles him again  am going accross Mrs Jeffrey for a “cuppa” this afternoon  rather wish I wasn’t  I could do something in the Garden. Mrs Shakespeare gave me a root of Iris ‘Stylosa’  they bloom during the winter months & are good for indoors if cut in the bud.  have picked a bunch of Daffodils from the garden  they are early this year   they must like a severe winter
Another 2 days & it’s the 1st day of spring  not too good at present thought Der was going to be rich enough to buy a house this week got 23 points on the Football pool. but he only got £40 for his 6d stake.  last week was a £1,500  well better than nothing but he’s unlucky with that hand of his  he’s to go into hospital on Sat for a op: in the big theatre so he’ll be there a few days at least & all I hope is they dont mess up the hand more than it is messed up.  had Mrs Fyfe & Mrs [illegible] here yesterday for Tea  just before they came I slipped on a stone that Loo had brought on to the concrete outside & have sprained my ankle the same one that I broke  a great nuisance as I cant get about  Dick is having this afternoon & tomorrow off to help me  by Monday I should be more able to do things  however I am in the throes of making Dick a burgundy colour sweater so I can get it done

Monday 22nd March.  We had Richard up here Saturday  he’s improving with age , Ianthe even asked him if he’d like to come up next Sat:  the Girls came up yesterday morning  Marg: went in Hosp: to see Derwent  they operate today this afternoon  Marg is to ring Hosp: at 8 ocl: tonight for results.  Dick went back to work this morning & I’m creeping around doing things  rather cold this morning & dull.

[41st page – March/April 1954, in pencil]

25th March.  Derwent has had the steel splinters removed & they have given a piece to him  he came out of Hosp: yesterday.  it was not very comfortable in hosp: the sister was a pig however it is a good thing done. & lets hope it will go on well now  Tues I had a very pleasant surprise  Cathie & Louis walked in at Lunch time the last folk I expected to see  I thought they both looked very well  they had come up to “Hinton Manor” 1½ miles  from here to look at some Jersey Cows  they are OK  have started farming  now evidently David the eldest wants to be a farmer & they are after a Jersey Herd.  they brought some milk with them & I never realised the difference between Jerseys milk & other cows  this Jersey milk was delicious & full of body.  ours tasted like water to it  my ankle is much better but still very painful & bruised  I suppose one must expect it  only time can heal that  I mowed a bit of lawn yesterday  I hope to manage a bit of the front lawn today if weather permits  a bit cloudy yet

April 9th  Have been very busy in garden  it really is a nice garden so very cheerful with the Daffs grape Hyacinths Anemones all out  also wallflowers & Hyacinths.  the weather has been really good  a few really cold showers. & for five nights in succession there has been hard frost  Lionels 32nd birthday tomorrow.  I would have liked to have had a weekend up there but just cant afford for both of us to go & I know Dick would be disappointed if I went alone  my ankle is far from well yet but I can get about slowly & do things  Derwent Hand is satisfactory as far as splinters removed but not the use of it properly yet  trusting it will get better as time goes on  the ministry of Pensions through the National Health has granted him a weekly pension till July of 11/- as not having the full use of hand  then he has to go before a another board which seems a good thing just in case it isn’t too good.  Sid came yesterday  hes selling ground