1953-54

[31st page – January/February 1953, in ink]

Jan 1st 1953
Dick got up OK to get the 7.5 bus to work Guess he’ll feel tired.  I never got up till 9.15  missed the Fishman so have missed my new laid eggs also which I need  however can’t have it all ways.

Jan 12th
All last week the GrandChildren were here  Richard Roger Peter Ianthe & Judith Dick stayed with Derwent in Portsmouth yesterday   Der & Marg: came up for day & took I & J back.  Ianthe was 10 years old on Sat: she is a big girl  in fact all the children are big for their age.  in Afternoon we had a business chat with Der & we have sold him the £200 policy of the Provident Ass: of London.  we are keeping it in our name & he is paying us the future premium, he has already paid us what we paid so when it’s finished in 1965 the £200 plus. is his or should anything happen to Dick before then whatever there is to come from it belong to Derwent.  Dick must make a proper will so that there will be no bother  we need the money at the moment & he has provided it.  I made the suggestion to David when he was here at Xmas but he wasn’t interested.  as fa
[now in blue ball point ]
Feb
This First week end has been a most terrible one for those on the East Coast & in Holland  Gales & Flooding  a thousand odd & more to come have lost their all & lives in Holland   in England. between 4 & 5 hundred  the figures are not yet known  “Canvey Island” is absolutely swamped  it Came so suddenly that people were caught unaware whilst in bed at night  today the Sun is shining & there isn’t too much wind but still a nasty north wind which must be worse on the Coast than here.

[32nd page – February, July 1953, now in ink]

Feb.12 1953
The weather still very bad.  Snow rain & wind  the Spring Tides happen between now & the 19th  Thousands of men the Army & Air force are working on the sea defence wall on the East Coast & hoping it will take the strain & from 1.30 today every ½ hour on the wireless will be given the warning or otherwise till the danger has passed.  Porchester & Hayling Island are beginning to be nervous  it could so easily happen there as on Canvey Island & along the coast. over 200 drowned & 50 or more missing  Animals & farms wiped out  some cows that survived were up to their necks in water & still living after 5 days without food or drink  marvellous how they refrained from trying the sea water.  this Bungalow is weatherproof & warm  Mrs Neal has just brought me in a fruit tart  she’s so very nice & generous  I’ve never had anyone do little kindnesses in thought & deed  to me out side of the family  a wonderful; neighbour to have.

July 14th 53
Have been too busy Gardening to enter here  everything has come on well.  today’s weather & all this month has been like autumn or early spring  torrents of rain & chilly  it’s spoiling the corn just beaten flat & the Haymaking is at a standstill  June was not much better.  Coronation day June 2nd was heavy shower  Richard was sick & missed all celebrations  took Ianthe Judith Roger & Jean Stanley in Richard place to Royal Tournament at Earls Court & we watched the Review from the Top of Portsdown Hill  The Ships lit up was a very nice sight & Fireworks After.  Sweet are off Ration  meat Practically but everything is so expensive  Coal has gone up to £7 odd a ton the Best & the other is not worth having  they call it “nutty slack”.  we are trying to build a coal house in between the showers  not very good for the cement.  how lucky we were to

[33rd page – December 1953/January 1954, in ink and pencil]

have such a fine spell last year at this time for the workmen.

DECEMBER 16th 1953
I must put the date clearly so that no mistake can be made  the weather is exceptional a nice ambiance [?] & believe it or not it’s been like a summer day  I’ve mowed some lawn & done some gardening in General. & flowers are still blooming  one geranium root I left in the ground has shoots on 4 inches long.  crocus & bulbs are coming up & what Gladiolis that were left are shooting  Pears trees are in bloom. & its nearly Xmas.  in The Midlands & London they have had bad fog. which they now call smog.

[Clipping attached to top of page with paper clip ]
[now in pencil]
17th Colder but sun shining Brilliantly  Have been too busy to write in this book  have been fortunate in having plants sent me Bert Squibb Sent 20 briars for the Standard Roses so let’s hope I’m successful in budding them  Mrs Sydenham came down for week end  she is wonderful for 84 years  expect to have her stay in the spring all being well.  Derwent has put a bit on the end of the Kitchen to make it more cosy but still very pleased I came here  “Nan” is expecting pups 1st week January.

21st Dec: 53  Weather has changed.  its cold & frosty. & the first winter snow has fallen in the Alps & the fog in the Midlands & north very bad.  Derwent & Family came this weekend & Derwent finished the Porch outside Kitchen which is going to make it much nicer.

Jan 7th 1954
Real winter weather  a thin layer of snow on ground. but the Sun Shining brilliantly  Joan & Three boys Came for Xmas  stayed till Sunday  haven’t heard from them since  Joan had to start school. this week and I expected to have Peter  She is either sick or some one else is looking after them  no pups yet & I’m